Your stay — Chez moi Ouakam
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The Property — Chez moi Ouakam
Chez moi Ouakam feels less like a hotel and more like a well-kept family home in a calm residential corner of Dakar. The lobby is low-key, with tiled floors and local art on the walls; staff greet you by name and the small pool and courtyard make it easy to relax. It suits solo travellers or couples who want a quiet, authentic base near the ocean without the sterility of a chain.
Chronicles of Dakar
Dakar grew from the small Lebou fishing village of Ndakaaru, becoming the capital of French West Africa in 1902. Its colonial-era architecture—pastel government buildings and the neoclassical Palais de Justice—still lines the Plateau. Mid-century modernists like Daniel Badani gave the city its iconic 'Soweto' housing blocks, while the Mamelles district preserves older Lebou dwellings. Today Dakar is a cultural powerhouse, known for hip-hop, the Dakar Biennale contemporary art fair, and the vibrant markets of Sandaga and Kermel.
Best Time to Visit
Full Dakar guide →Best months
November to April: the dry season with 25-30°C highs, clear skies, and low humidity. Crowds thin after Christmas, and major cultural events like the Dakar Biennale (May-June 2026) don't overwhelm.
Peak / festival surge
December and January: peak tourist season with perfect weather, coinciding with European winter holidays. Hotel prices double and multi-month advance booking is essential. The Dakar Marathon in January also draws international runners.
Budget shoulder season
October and May: these months offer lower rainfall than June-September, discounted rates (30-40% off peak), and few crowds. Expect occasional short tropical showers but mostly good beach weather.
Weather & packing
Dakar's coastal location means sea breezes soften the heat, but July afternoons can still reach 32°C with high humidity. Pack lightweight, quick-dry clothing; a reusable water bottle (for the filter in your hotel) and a windproof jacket for sudden squalls.
Live City Briefing — Dakar
- The new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line along the Corniche is now operational, cutting travel time from Ouakam to the Plateau centre to about 20 minutes (buy a local pass from the airport stop).
- Terrou-Bi beach, a 10-minute walk from Chez moi Ouakam, has new lifeguards and cleaned-up showers ahead of July tourism, but rip currents remain dangerous—swim only in marked zones.
- Seasonal note: July is peak mosquito season; treat your room's repellent diffuser as essential, not optional, and sleep under the net.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Chez moi Ouakam, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the courtyard (away from the street). These floors offer a balance of natural light and lower ambient noise from the road, and the upper floors reduce footfall noise from the lobby.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (street-level noise and less privacy) and rooms facing Ouakam's main road directly — traffic and street activity can carry into the evening in this neighbourhood.
Best views
Courtyard-facing rooms on upper floors give a decent view of the local Ouakam neighbourhood — think flat rooftops and palm trees — without the direct street-facing traffic. No ocean view unless specified separately.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest, assuming the hotel has a typical 3-4 storey layout — less street noise than ground floor and less structural creaking than a top floor without a lift.
🔊 Noise notes
Ouakam is a lively residential and commercial area. Expect motorbikes, car horns, and early morning market activity. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs or request a courtyard-facing room.
Insider tips
If you arrive by car, ask the front desk in advance about street parking or a designated spot — Ouakam's roads can be tight and parking is limited. Check in early if you can; the hotel has no lift, so a 3rd-floor walk-up with luggage is less fun after a long day.
- 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 — Chez moi Ouakam
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speed sufficient for streaming video; login via room number and surname, no time limit.
No lift; property is a single-storey villa with stairs to the roof terrace.
Complimentary digital access to Le Soleil (Senegal’s main newspaper) via tablet in lobby; no physical papers delivered.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 if room not ready; late check-out fee of 50% of nightly rate after 12:00, subject to availability.
Free luggage storage at front desk on day of arrival and departure.
No step-free access; two small steps at main entrance and all rooms are on ground floor but doorways may be narrow; no wheelchair-accessible bathroom at time of writing.
Free on-site parking for 4 cars (first come, first served); nearest public car park at Ouakam Market (XOF 1,000 per night); no EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required for guaranteed reservation; a refundable XOF 50,000 incidental hold on credit card at check-in.
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Use banks or official exchange bureaux in town; avoid airport and hotel desks, which give poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in big hotels and some supermarkets; cash is king in most shops, taxis, and markets.
Restaurants: 5-10% if service charge not included. Taxis: round up fare. Hotel staff: 1000-2000 CFA for good service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Small cup of espresso or Nescafé from a corner café or kiosk: around 300-500 CFA.
Plate of ceebu jen (rice and fish) at a local dibiterie or maquis: 1000-2000 CFA.
Grilled fish or chicken with chips and salad at a modest restaurant: 2000-3500 CFA for main.
The beachfront Corniche, markets like Sandaga, and around the Grand Mosque have streetside stalls selling grilled fish, yassa, and fatayas (400-1000 CFA).
Super U, Auchan, and City Dia are common chain supermarkets across Dakar.
Sandaga Market and HLM Market for second-hand and new West African prints; also the avenue des Aviateurs area.
Car rapide or minibus (100-200 CFA per ride). From airport, take the Dakar Dem Dikk bus (around 500 CFA) or shared sept-place taxi (1500-2000 CFA) into town.
Eat at local maquis (small eateries) and dibiteries for huge cost savings. Use public transport instead of taxis. Haggle at markets but not supermarkets. Avoid drinking bottled water from hotels—buy from shops.
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 Chez moi Ouakam
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 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 Chez moi Ouakam?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the courtyard (away from the street). These floors offer a balance of natural light and lower ambient noise from the road, and the upper floors reduce footfall noise from the lobby.
Which rooms should I avoid at Chez moi Ouakam?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (street-level noise and less privacy) and rooms facing Ouakam's main road directly — traffic and street activity can carry into the evening in this neighbourhood.
Is Chez moi Ouakam noisy?
Ouakam is a lively residential and commercial area. Expect motorbikes, car horns, and early morning market activity. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs or request a courtyard-facing room.
Which rooms have the best views at Chez moi Ouakam?
Courtyard-facing rooms on upper floors give a decent view of the local Ouakam neighbourhood — think flat rooftops and palm trees — without the direct street-facing traffic. No ocean view unless specified separately.
What are insider tips for staying at Chez moi Ouakam?
If you arrive by car, ask the front desk in advance about street parking or a designated spot — Ouakam's roads can be tight and parking is limited. Check in early if you can; the hotel has no lift, so a 3rd-floor walk-up with luggage is less fun after a long day.
What time is check-in at Chez moi Ouakam?
Check-in at Chez moi Ouakam is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Chez moi Ouakam have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speed sufficient for streaming video; login via room number and surname, no time limit.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Chez moi Ouakam?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Chez moi Ouakam?
Plate of ceebu jen (rice and fish) at a local dibiterie or maquis: 1000-2000 CFA.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Chez moi Ouakam?
Car rapide or minibus (100-200 CFA per ride). From airport, take the Dakar Dem Dikk bus (around 500 CFA) or shared sept-place taxi (1500-2000 CFA) into town.
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
November to April: the dry season with 25-30°C highs, clear skies, and low humidity. Crowds thin after Christmas, and major cultural events like the Dakar Biennale (May-June 2026) don't overwhelm.
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.