Traffic can be very heavy and is unpredictable; it is important to note that this is a significant issue, particularly during rush hour and a short distance can easily take 60 minutes by road. It is advisable to plan your journey accordingly and allow for extra travel time.

Taxi, shuttle, rail are the most convenient travel options for congress participants

The Dakar regional express train, or TER, is an electric fast rail system designed to link the Dakar city centre with the Blaise Diagne International Airport. Currently it only has 13 stops, ending at the Diamniadio station, approximately 4km from the CICAD conference centre. The train travels at speeds up to 150km per hour making the Dakar city centre-to-Diamniadio journey a 20-minute express trip. Although an extension is planned, and it is hoped that further progress will be made during the year, this rail is NOT currently an option between the airport and the city.

Dakar is approximately 60km from the Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS). You can make the journey from the airport to the Dakar city centre by using a pre-booked shuttle, a taxi, or the bus.

Pre-booking an airport shuttle is the safest and most comfortable means of transport. Shuttle bookings are available HERE. The shuttles are being offered and managed by our local partner:

CTA Incentives and Events – contactable HERE

Taking a taxi is also a reliable means of transport. The trip takes approximately 60 minutes by taxi, and the fare is approximately CFA 30,000 (USD 50). Try and avoid the touts and look for the yellow taxis in a rank outside of Arrivals, and be sure to agree the price with the driver before you depart.

Several bus lines run from the airport to the Dakar city centre. The express shuttle bus runs all day and night and costs CFA 6,000. The local 404 bus runs during the day and costs CFA 1,000. Note that travel time on the local 404 is approximately 90+ minutes.

It is best to have local currency on hand to settle with the taxi driver or to purchase your bus ticket.

The CICAD conference centre is situated in the Diamniadio area, about 30 kilometres from Dakar city centre and traffic between the centre and downtown Dakar is challenging.

From the City Centre:

• Shuttles: The congress organiser will facilitate daily transport for AORTIC delegates between the CICAD conference centre and downtown Dakar. This service will run each morning going from the city centre to the CICAD and returning in the evening. These shuttles will service only the official hotels in the Fann area and the Plateau area will be serviced from the central Place de I’Indepedance. More schedule detail will follow soon, but please note that this will not be a hop-on-hop off system, it will be a single point-to-point system on a fixed schedule.
• Taxi: You can take a taxi from the city centre to the CICAD conference centre. The journey takes approximately 45 – 60 minutes, depending on traffic and the fare is approximately CFA 30,000 (USD 50).
• Public Transport: The Dakar regional express train, or TER, is an electric fast rail system links the Dakar city centre (located downtown), 13 stops, the Diamniadio station which is approximately 4km from the CICAD conference centre. The train travels at speeds up to 150km per hour making the Dakar city centre-to-Diamniadio journey a 20-minute express trip.

From the Diamniadio train station:

• You can take a taxi or public transport to the CICAD conference centre, which is located approximately 5 kilometres away. Taxis and public transport are easily accessible from the train station, and the journey should take around 10 minutes, depending on traffic. Train schedules and more information will be made available closer to the time of the conference.

From the Saly / Somone area:

• No congress transport will be arranged from these two areas; participants will be responsible for their own transport by taxi or any other means of transit.

Please note that these areas are 55km from Diamniadio (congress venue) and 85km from the city centre (dinner venue).