African Renaissance Monument
Fifty-two metres of bronze on a hill, taller than the Statue of Liberty.
Duration
1 hr – 1 hr 30 min
Difficulty
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Best time
Late afternoon
Open
Every day
Entry price
To confirm
The monument is fifty-two metres of bronze and copper, taller than the Statue of Liberty without its pedestal. It was unveiled in 2010 for the fiftieth anniversary of independence and caused controversy on almost every count: its cost, its construction by a North Korean company, its depiction of a lightly dressed woman in a mostly Muslim country, and the agreement giving the president a share of the takings.
You go up inside to the viewing platform in the man's head, which looks over Dakar and the ocean on both sides of the peninsula.
Getting there
On the Mamelles hill, west of Dakar. Taxi from the centre, twenty minutes; a lift runs up inside the statue.
What the price covers
the esplanade is open; going up inside is charged, rate to be confirmed
What to bring
- Walking shoes
Rules on site
Access to the esplanade and the climb inside the statue are charged separately. The wind at the top is strong, and the flight of steps up to the base is steep before you even reach the lift.