Soumbedioune Market

Soumbédioune has two halves that sit next to each other on the corniche: a craft market of woodwork, leather, jewellery and cloth in a purpose-built enclosure, and a fishing beach where the pirogues come in through the surf in the late afternoon and the catch is landed, gutted and sold on the sand. The second is the reason to time a visit for the evening. Boats to the Madeleine Islands leave from the same beach.

What you actually see

• The fish landing - pirogues coming in through the surf in the late afternoon.
• The beach market - the catch sorted, cleaned and sold directly on the sand.
• The craft market - woodwork, leather, jewellery and cloth in the enclosure above.
• The pirogues - painted boats drawn up along the whole beach.

When to go

November to May is the dry season. Late afternoon is when the boats land, which is the point. The craft market runs through the day and is quieter in the mornings.

Honest expectations

The craft market is aggressive: sellers work hard, prices open at several times what they end at, and walking through without engaging is not really possible. Much of the craft is not made in Senegal. The beach is a working one and the smell in the afternoon is considerable.

Nearby

The Madeleine Islands boats leave from the same beach, and central Dakar is inland.