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Getting Around

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Airport & City

Navigating Dakar with Confidence

Arriving in a new country comes with both excitement and practical considerations. Whether you're visiting Senegal for the first time or returning to a familiar destination, understanding your transportation options can help you navigate Dakar with greater ease and confidence.

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Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) serves as the primary international gateway to Dakar. Because the airport is located outside the city center, attendees should plan ahead for transportation to their accommodations. Depending on traffic and your chosen mode of transportation, the journey into Dakar generally takes 60–90 minutes, although travel times may vary.

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Several transportation options are available, including pre-arranged private airport transfers (coordinated via hotel is best), standard taxis, ride-hailing services, and airport express buses. For first-time visitors, travelers arriving late in the evening, or those carrying substantial luggage, we strongly recommend arranging a private airport transfer in advance. This can help reduce uncertainty upon arrival and provide a more comfortable transition into the city.

Getting Around Dakar

Dakar is a vibrant, bustling coastal capital, and navigating the city is part of the travel experience. Transportation options include traditional taxis and ride-hailing services such as Yango and Heetch. Unlike many U.S. cities, Uber is not available in Dakar.​  When using traditional taxis, fares are generally negotiated before departure rather than calculated by a meter. We recommend confirming the fare with your driver before beginning your trip, carrying some West African CFA francs (XOF) for transportation and smaller purchases, and arranging reliable mobile connectivity to access maps and transportation apps.​ Traffic can be significant, particularly during busy periods. Allow additional time when traveling between your hotel, conference locations, restaurants, and other destinations.

Transportation During BMPC2026

Because BMPC2026 programming will take place across Dakar and Gorée Island, attendees should distinguish between personal transportation arrangements and transportation coordinated as part of official conference activities.

 

BMPC2026 will coordinate designated group transportation associated with official programming - this is limited to round trip ferry arrangements for scheduled activities on Gorée Island on Friday December 18. Attendees are responsible for arranging their own airport transfers, transportation between their accommodations and designated conference meeting points, and independent travel outside scheduled activities.

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Our travel partner, Touchdown Experiential & Hospitality Group, can also provide personalized planning guidance for attendees who would like assistance identifying transportation options and preparing for arrival. The information below introduces the primary transportation options available to visitors, including approximate costs, travel times, and practical recommendations to help you determine what best suits your needs.

1. AIBD Express Bus — Affordable Airport Transportation

The AIBD Express Bus, operated by Dakar Dem Dikk, offers an affordable way to travel between Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) and Dakar. These air-conditioned airport shuttles are a practical option for budget-conscious travelers who are comfortable using public transportation. The service connects the airport with designated stops in Dakar, including the HLM Grand-Yoff transport terminal. Unlike a private airport transfer, the bus does not take passengers directly to their hotels, so you may need to arrange a taxi or additional transportation to reach your final destination.

  • Best for: Solo travelers, budget-conscious attendees, and visitors traveling with manageable luggage who are comfortable arranging the final portion of their journey independently.

  • Before You Travel: Confirm the current departure schedule, boarding location, baggage arrangements, and payment options directly with Dakar Dem Dikk. Allow additional time for connections to your hotel, especially if arriving late in the evening.

  • Travel Tip: Save your hotel's address and location before departure so you can arrange transportation from the bus terminal once you arrive in Dakar.

  • Estimated fare: 6,000 CFA (approximately $10 USD) one way | Travel time: approximately 75 minutes

2. Standard Taxis & Yango Ride-Hailing

Taxis and ride-hailing services offer a more direct and flexible option for traveling from Blaise Diagne International Airport to accommodations in Dakar.

Traditional Taxis: Standard taxis are available at the airport and throughout the city. Unlike metered taxi services in many U.S. cities, fares are generally negotiated with the driver before departure. Be sure to confirm the total price, including any highway tolls, before entering the vehicle. Prices may vary depending on your destination, arrival time, and luggage requirements.

Yango Ride-Hailing: Yango is a ride-hailing platform operating in Dakar (similar to Lyft and Uber) that allows travelers to request transportation through a mobile application. Similar to other app-based services, it can help simplify the booking process and provide fare information before confirming a ride. Travelers should have reliable mobile data or a compatible local SIM/eSIM and ensure their account is ready before requesting transportation.

  • Best for: Attendees who prefer direct transportation to their hotel, want flexibility in departure timing, or are comfortable arranging transportation independently.

  • Before You Travel: Confirm your driver's identity, pickup location, agreed fare, and payment method. If using Yango, download the application before departure from US and check that your account and payment arrangements will function in Senegal.

  • Travel Tip: Carry some West African CFA francs in smaller denominations for taxis, tolls, and incidental expenses. Consider arranging your ride before leaving the airport terminal rather than accepting unsolicited transportation offers.

  • Estimated taxi fare: approximately 20,000–30,000 CFA [$34 - $51 USD] | Travel time: approximately 60–90 minutes

3. Pre-Booked Private Airport Transfer

For travelers seeking a more predictable and comfortable arrival experience, a pre-booked private airport transfer is an excellent option. This service allows you to arrange transportation from Blaise Diagne International Airport directly to your hotel before departing for Senegal. Depending on the provider, private transfers may include an assigned driver, airport pickup assistance, luggage support, and transportation directly to your accommodations. Some providers also monitor flight arrival times and adjust pickup arrangements if your flight is delayed. Private transfers can be particularly helpful after a long international journey, especially for those unfamiliar with Dakar, arriving late at night, traveling with family members, or carrying multiple pieces of luggage.

  • Best for: First-time visitors to Senegal, travelers arriving during evening or overnight hours, families, small groups, and attendees who prefer door-to-door transportation arranged in advance.

  • Before You Travel: Confirm the total price, pickup instructions, vehicle capacity, luggage allowance, driver contact information, and whether airport parking and highway tolls are included. Request written confirmation of your reservation.

  • Travel Tip: If traveling with other BMPC2026 attendees arriving around the same time, consider coordinating a shared private transfer to reduce individual costs.

  • Estimated fare: approximately 25,000–30,000 CFA per vehicle [$43 - $51 USD] | Travel time: approximately 60–90 minutes

As a flagship initiative of Muslim Wellness Foundation’s Omar ibn Said Institute for Black Muslim Studies & Research, BMPC advances Black Muslim Psychology as an interdisciplinary field of inquiry, practice, and community-rooted knowledge production that centers the lived experiences, strengths, spiritual lives, racial identities, cultural traditions, and psychological well-being of people who identify as both Muslim and of Black/African descent. We seek to understand how Black Muslims make meaning, cultivate belonging, develop healthy racial and religious identities, heal from trauma, resist oppression, and build lives rooted in dignity, faith, joy, and self-determination. 

 

Lastly, Black Muslim Psychology insists that Black Muslim life cannot be understood through suffering and deficit-based frameworks alone. We reject narratives which only ask:

"What harms Black Muslims?"

and ignore deeper, more fundamental questions such as:

"What sustains Black Muslims? What wisdom do Black Muslim communities carry? What forms of healing, leadership, and liberation emerge from Black Muslim life?” 

 

Developed and advanced by Muslim Wellness Foundation since 2015, Black Muslim Psychology responds to a long-standing gap in psychology, counseling, public health, religious studies, and Muslim community life: the failure to adequately understand Black Muslims on their own terms. 

​​Need more assistance? 

For attendees who would appreciate additional support, Aidah Z. Muhammad, BMPC2026 Official Travel Guide and Founder of Touchdown Experiential & Hospitality Group, is available for personalized travel consultations to help you develop a practical plan for your journey. Bring your half-made plans — flights you're weighing, questions about where to stay, what December in Dakar will actually cost you. You'll leave with a plan and written notes to book from. One (1) hour sessions run virtually through November 17. Availability is limited. Schedule a consultation through the links below.

US Based & Global North Rate

For attendees based in the United States and other Global North countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Western and Northern European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea. This rate provides personalized, one-on-one travel planning support, including guidance on flights, accommodations, local transportation, travel readiness, and preparing for your journey to Senegal. Attendees who are currently students may select the reduced rate of $75 USD. Sessions run virtually through November 17. Availability is limited. Book today!

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*Consultation fees cover travel planning guidance only. Travel bookings, accommodations, transportation, and other travel expenses are not included.

$125.00 USD

Student & Global South Rate

For attendees based in Global South countries, including those in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and much of Asia, as well as students at any level of study, regardless of country of residence. This rate provides personalized, one-on-one travel planning support, including guidance on flights, accommodations, local transportation, travel readiness, and preparing for your journey to Senegal. This reduced rate is intended to reduce financial barriers for students, including doctoral candidates, and participants traveling from regions where international travel costs may represent a greater financial burden.

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*Consultation fees cover travel planning guidance only. Travel bookings, accommodations, transportation, and other travel expenses are not included.

$75.00 USD

Prepare
for the Journey

BMPC2026: Rasikh — What We Carry Forward

December 17–19, 2026

Dakar + Gorée Island, Senegal

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BMPC2026 is an invitation to remember truthfully, reconnect responsibly, and reclaim futures rooted in dignity, faith, healing, and collective care. As we gather in Dakar and on Gorée Island, we do not come seeking symbolic return alone. We come to honor memory, build relationship, and deepen our shared responsibility to the past, present, and future of Black Muslim life.

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