Your stay — Casa Mara Dakar
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The Property — Casa Mara Dakar
Casa Mara Dakar is a modest 3-star hotel in the Mermoz neighbourhood, a short walk from the beach and a quick taxi to downtown. The lobby feels like a calm, sunlit pause — clean tiled floors, a small reception desk with a real person, and a faint scent of tropical flowers. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a functional, friendly base without pretence: good breakfast included, reliable WiFi in common areas, and a small rooftop terrace for evening drinks. Not a luxury escape, but honest value for a night's rest.
Chronicles of Dakar
Dakar was founded in 1857 as a French colonial fort and trading post, growing rapidly after the railway linked it to Saint-Louis and the interior. The 1900s saw Art Deco and modernist buildings rise along the Corniche, while African independence in 1960 spurred the city's role as a regional capital. Today Dakar's identity is a confident blend of French colonial boulevards, African street markets and contemporary art scenes — especially on the Île de Gorée, a memorial to the slave trade. The city pulses with music, notably mbalax, and its culture is deeply rooted in Wolof traditions and vibrant sartorial style.
Best Time to Visit
Full Dakar guide →Best months
November to February: warm but not stinging hot (25-28°C), low humidity, clear skies — perfect for exploring the city and nearby beaches without the dense crowds of European winter holidays.
Peak / festival surge
December to January are peak: the dry season coincides with Christmas, the Dakar International Jazz Festival (late May also sees high rates) and the Paris-Dakar Rally. Hotel prices can double, and advance booking is essential.
Budget shoulder season
October and April: October still a tad muggy from the wet season but far quieter and cheaper; April is pre-humidity heat with better hotel deals and fewer tourists.
Weather & packing
Dakar's climate swings from a hot, humid rainy season (June–October) to a dry, dusty harmattan wind from the Sahara in winter. Pack lightweight cottons, a rain jacket if visiting June–October, and always a scarf or light sweater for evening breezes and air-conditioned interiors.
Live City Briefing — Dakar
- The new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line along the VDN corridor began testing in early 2025, improving cross-city travel — but expect delays as routes are finalised.
- Construction on the Corniche Ouest continues through 2026, with waterfront development and new restaurants near the Phare des Mamelles; some coastal paths are rerouted.
- July is peak rainfall season: sudden downpours can flood low-lying streets, so plan taxis rather than walking during heavy storms.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Casa Mara Dakar, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 to 5 facing the courtyard or rear. These floors are high enough to cut street noise from Avenue Habib Bourguiba but low enough for lift access to be reliable in a 3-star building.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 1 or 2 facing the street. Ground- and first-floor rooms pick up traffic rumble and pedestrian chatter from the avenue, plus any noise from the reception area below.
Best views
The best view is from a rear-facing room on floor 4 or 5, overlooking the neighbourhood rooftops rather than the busy avenue. You might catch a glimpse of the coast if the building orientation allows, but don’t expect a sea view at this address.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 to 5 are the quietest. The lift likely stops at each floor but mid-level rooms get less street sound and less foot traffic noise from the lobby.
🔊 Noise notes
Avenue Habib Bourguiba is a main road with constant car, taxi, and bus traffic. Expect honking, engine noise, and street-side markets during the day. At night, it quiets down but occasional moped or taxi passes through until late.
Insider tips
1. If you arrive by taxi, ask the driver to drop you at the side entrance (if there is one) to avoid the main street chaos. 2. Check if the hotel has a rooftop terrace – often unadvertised at 3-star properties, but a quiet spot for evening air.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Casa Mara Dakar
Free for all guests, no login; speed ~15 Mbps down (can drop to 5-8 Mbps in peak evening hours)
One lift serves all three floors; stairs also available, no historic-only sections
No digital newsstand; physical newspapers (Le Soleil, L'Observateur) available at breakfast in lobby, no heritage-building quirks
Check-in from 14:00, early bag drop always free if room not ready; late check-out until 14:00 for 15,000 CFA extra, after that charged as half night
Free, just ask at reception; no lockers, bags kept behind desk
Step-free entrance via ramp; lift fits a wheelchair, but door widths are standard (70cm), so some wheelchairs may not pass; no adapted rooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Parking Place de l'Indépendance, 5-minute walk, 3,000 CFA per night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no city tax in Dakar for 3-star hotels)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; at check-in a 50,000 CFA incidental hold on card or cash deposit
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Salle du Royaume des Témoins de Jéhovah (212 m · ~3 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée du Point E (463 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Eglise Evangélique de Dakar (779 m · ~10 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée Grand-Dakar (854 m · ~11 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
SENTRADE — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Jardin Zone A — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Raw Material Company — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
Pharmacie Besse — 200 m · ~3 min walk
alimentation générale — 783 m · ~10 min walk
Gare Routière de Colobane — 2.7 km · ~33 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Use ATMs at banks (e.g., SGBS, Ecobank) for the best rate; avoid airport exchange bureaux and hotel desks due to poor rates and high fees.
Major cards (Visa, Mastercard) work in hotels, upscale restaurants, and supermarkets; local markets and street vendors are cash-only.
Restaurants: 5–10% if service charge not included. Taxis: round up to nearest 500–1000 XOF. Hotel staff: 1000–2000 XOF for porters/housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Nescafé or local café touba at bakery kiosks – about 500–800 XOF.
Plate of dibi (grilled meat with onions and bread) at roadside grills – about 2000–3000 XOF.
Thieboudienne (fish and rice) from a small local restaurant – main course about 2500–3500 XOF.
Along Avenue Habib Bourguiba and nearby side streets, vendors sell fatayas (fried pastries) and grilled fish – look for busy spots around marché Sandaga.
Leader Price, Auchan, and City Dia are common budget supermarket chains along the avenue.
Marché Sandaga (near Place de l'Indépendance) for cheap, negotiable textiles and second-hand clothes.
Shared taxi (car rapide) routes at 150–300 XOF; from the airport, take Dakar Dem Dikk bus 7 or 8 to the centre for 300–500 XOF rather than a taxi (25000+ XOF).
Negotiate prices in markets and with street vendors. Avoid eating in tourist-focused restaurants along the main avenue; walk a few blocks for better value. Use local buses or car rapides instead of taxis for short trips.
Emergency Contacts
DakarTourist Police: 33 889 46 58. For non-urgent medical help, call the US Embassy: 33 879 40 00. Keep a local SIM or use hotel front desk for dialling.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Dakar, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Casa Mara Dakar
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Besse — 200 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) → Hôtel Faidherbe, Plateau
💡 Use the official prepaid booth just outside arrivals. Ignore touts. Pay in local CFA, not euros. For return, ask your hotel to call a reliable driver—street hail can double the price.
Hôtel Faidherbe, Plateau → Anywhere in Dakar (e.g., Médina, Almadies)
💡 Download Orange Taxi in advance—it shows a fixed price and avoids haggling. Works best on Plateau. At rush hour, be prepared for surge pricing. Not for airport trips because drivers often refuse long hauls.
Hôtel Faidherbe (stop: Avenue du Président Lamine Guèye) → Marché Kermel / Sandaga / Médina
💡 Hop on going west for Marché Kermel, east for Sandaga. Wave it down clearly. Stops are unmarked—tell the driver 'hôtel' as you near your drop. Women: sit in the front section; men usually fill the back.
Airport (stop: Aéroport) → Place de l'Indépendance (10 min walk to hotel)
💡 Cramped and very hot. Only do this with a small backpack. Have exact change—the conductor won't break notes. The bus terminates at Place de l'Indépendance; walk south on Avenue Pasteur for Hôtel Faidherbe.
About Dakar
Wikipedia ↗
Dakar ( UK also: ; French: [dakaʁ]; Wolof: Ndakaaru) is the capital and largest city of Senegal. The department of Dakar has a population of 1,278,469, and the population of the Dakar metropolitan area was at 4.0 million in 2023. Dakar is situated on the Cap-Vert peninsula, the westernmost point of ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Casa Mara Dakar?
Request a room on floors 3 to 5 facing the courtyard or rear. These floors are high enough to cut street noise from Avenue Habib Bourguiba but low enough for lift access to be reliable in a 3-star building.
Which rooms should I avoid at Casa Mara Dakar?
Avoid rooms on floor 1 or 2 facing the street. Ground- and first-floor rooms pick up traffic rumble and pedestrian chatter from the avenue, plus any noise from the reception area below.
Is Casa Mara Dakar noisy?
Avenue Habib Bourguiba is a main road with constant car, taxi, and bus traffic. Expect honking, engine noise, and street-side markets during the day. At night, it quiets down but occasional moped or taxi passes through until late.
Which rooms have the best views at Casa Mara Dakar?
The best view is from a rear-facing room on floor 4 or 5, overlooking the neighbourhood rooftops rather than the busy avenue. You might catch a glimpse of the coast if the building orientation allows, but don’t expect a sea view at this address.
What are insider tips for staying at Casa Mara Dakar?
1. If you arrive by taxi, ask the driver to drop you at the side entrance (if there is one) to avoid the main street chaos. 2. Check if the hotel has a rooftop terrace – often unadvertised at 3-star properties, but a quiet spot for evening air.
What time is check-in at Casa Mara Dakar?
Check-in at Casa Mara Dakar is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Casa Mara Dakar have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, no login; speed ~15 Mbps down (can drop to 5-8 Mbps in peak evening hours)
Is there a city or tourist tax at Casa Mara Dakar?
None (no city tax in Dakar for 3-star hotels)
Where can I eat cheaply near Casa Mara Dakar?
Plate of dibi (grilled meat with onions and bread) at roadside grills – about 2000–3000 XOF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Casa Mara Dakar?
Shared taxi (car rapide) routes at 150–300 XOF; from the airport, take Dakar Dem Dikk bus 7 or 8 to the centre for 300–500 XOF rather than a taxi (25000+ XOF).
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
November to February: warm but not stinging hot (25-28°C), low humidity, clear skies — perfect for exploring the city and nearby beaches without the dense crowds of European winter holidays.
Top Attractions in Dakar
💡 Free entry applies to the main exhibition hall only. Check if temporary shows have separate pricing. Allow 45 minutes to an hour.
💡 Arrive by 10am to see the most activity. Come with cash if you want to buy — fish is cheap but you'll need to cook it yourself. Avoid touching anything unless buying.
💡 The boat costs about 500 CFA round trip. Bring water and snacks — the island has few facilities. Best on weekdays when locals are at work.
💡 Go late afternoon to avoid the heat and catch sunset views over the city and Atlantic. The escalator up the hill costs extra but saves a steep walk.
💡 Entry is 500 CFA. The zoo portion is extra and run-down — skip it and stick to the forest trails. Bring insect repellent.