The exuberant capital of West Africa's Senegal - and once a French overseas territory - friendly Dakar is a thriving seaport and city where today's skyscrapers, old colonial buildings and animated street markets (look out for some tempting craftware!) are juxtaposed in bizarre incongruity. You'll find French the common language, but with a wealth of tribal dialects much in evidence! Within easy reach, too, are some excellent Atlantic beaches, and nearby N'Gor offers good snorkelling.