Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics: what to do in Dakar between events?

For the first time in its history, Africa is hosting an Olympic event: the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, from 31 October to 13 November. Thousands of young athletes, their families, national delegations and fans from all over the world are discovering Dakar at the same time. And between two events, one question keeps coming up: what is there to do in Dakar during the Youth Olympics?

Our answer fits in three words: the sea, first. Dakar is a peninsula jutting into the Atlantic, and its most beautiful side is seen from the water. The Ouakam cliffs, Ngor Island, the Mamelles lighthouse, Gorée, Sarpan Island: within an hour, you go from the buzz of the competition venues to the calm of a turquoise cove.

At Senegal Nautique, we show visitors another side of Dakar from our bases in Ouakam, Ngor, Mermoz and the Port of Dakar, every day from 11am to 7pm. More than 4,000 clients have already seen Dakar’s crystal-clear water through our kayaks. Here is our guide to making the most of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and living, between two medals, the water experience that shows Senegal in a new light.

Dakar 2026 at a glance

The Youth Olympic Games bring together the best athletes aged 15 to 18. The Dakar 2026 edition runs from 31 October to 13 November 2026 and gathers around 2,700 athletes across 25 sports and more than 150 events. It is a historic moment: an Olympic event had never been held on the African continent before. For Senegal and its visitors, it means two weeks of sport, culture and celebration, with a whole city focused on its youth.

The competitions are spread across three hubs. In Dakar, the Tour de l’Œuf Olympic pool, the Iba Mar Diop stadium and the Corniche Ouest host swimming, athletics, rugby sevens, breaking and skateboarding among others, as well as the start and finish of the road cycling races. In Diamniadio, the new city around thirty kilometres away, you will find the Olympic Village, the Abdoulaye Wade stadium, the Dakar Arena and the Exhibition Centre. Finally, Saly, on the Petite Côte, welcomes the beach sports: beach volleyball, beach handball, beach wrestling, coastal rowing, sailing and triathlon.

This three-hub layout has a very practical consequence for visitors to the Youth Olympics: you will have free time. A morning with no event, an afternoon between two sessions, a rest day before a final… It is the perfect moment to discover what has made Dakar famous among travellers: its coastline, its islands and its clear waters.

As for tickets, the organisers have announced affordable prices, starting from a few thousand CFA francs, and free fan zones on booking. Prices, access and schedules may change, so always check the official Youth Olympic Games ticketing site before you travel. Once your sports programme is set, keep a few slots for the sea: that is often where the best memories of a stay in Dakar are made.

Between two events, head for the sea

Good news for spectators at the Corniche Ouest events: our bases are right next door. Ouakam beach, below the Mosque of the Divinity, and Mermoz beach, on the corniche, are a few minutes from the Dakar hub’s competition venues. You can watch an event in the morning, have lunch facing the ocean, then set off for an hour of clear kayaking or a jet ski session in the afternoon, without crossing the whole city.

During the Games, Dakar will live to the rhythm of the competitions, the Corniche Ouest festivities and the fan zones. It is a unique atmosphere, but also a busier city and sometimes longer journeys. On the water, the contrast is striking: the city noise fades away, the Ouakam cliff rises above you, and you can see fish and rocks through the hull of the kayak. Many of our clients tell us it is the moment they truly “saw” Dakar.

Sea outings fit easily into a busy Olympic schedule. A clear kayak is rented by the hour, a jet ski session lasts from 10 minutes to an hour, and the boat tour of Ngor Island takes only about twenty minutes. For a free half-day, the kayak exploration from Ouakam to the Mamelles, around two hours, or a boat trip to Gorée are ideal. And for a day without events, the open sea awaits, all the way to Sarpan Island.

Our tip: look at the schedule of the events you want to see, spot your free slots, then message us on WhatsApp. We will suggest the best activity for the time you have, the nearest base and the hours when the sea is most pleasant. Our teams are on the water every day from 11am to 7pm throughout the Youth Olympic Games, and we reply quickly on WhatsApp to set up your outing at the right time.

Clear kayaking, the signature experience

If you only do one activity during your Youth Olympics stay, make it this one. Clear kayaking in Dakar has become Senegal Nautique’s signature experience: a fully transparent hull that lets you float above rocks, seagrass and schools of fish, as if you were walking on water. In Ouakam, the volcanic cliffs and the Mosque of the Divinity are your backdrop; in Ngor, it is Ngor Island that stands on the horizon.

A clear kayak costs 6,000 F per kayak, solo or tandem, with or without an instructor. The life jacket is provided and worn throughout the outing: it only comes off for a few photos, if you wish. The activity is open to everyone, from age 6 with an adult, and requires no experience. For the more adventurous, the exploration from Ouakam to the Mamelles, about two hours along the coast, reveals caves and coves you never see from the road.

For young athletes and their coaches, it is also a gentle way to unwind after a competition: no hard effort, plenty of laughter and a real breath of sea air. For fans and families who came to cheer on a loved one, it is the perfect souvenir to take home from Dakar, especially if you add a drone photoshoot: your aerial photos and videos, taken above the clear kayak, are delivered the same day.

During the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, we recommend coming in the late morning or early afternoon, when the light brings out the turquoise of the water, and letting us know on WhatsApp if you are a group. Kayaks are available without booking for small groups, but during the Games, a message the day before guarantees an immediate departure when you arrive at the beach.

A clear kayak between two events?

6,000 F per kayak, life jacket provided, from age 6. In Ouakam and Ngor, every day from 11am to 7pm.

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Boat, jet ski and drone photoshoot

A boat trip in Dakar is the best way to understand the geography of the Cap-Vert peninsula, the westernmost tip of Africa reaching into the Atlantic. From the Port of Dakar, our 8-seat boat takes you around Ngor Island, to the Almadies point and lighthouse or all the way to the Mamelles lighthouse. Shared departures run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11am, 2pm and 5pm, from 8,000 F per person, with a 30% deposit by Orange Money or Wave.

For delegations, groups of fans or large families, the big boat takes up to 15 people: a trip to Gorée Island, a half-day at sea or an excursion offshore to Sarpan Island, on quote. You can add a sweet and savoury platter on board to turn the trip into a real celebration, ideal after a qualification or a medal.

Looking for adrenaline? Jet skiing in Dakar starts from our Mermoz base, on the corniche, with Alioune and his team. Count 15,000 F for 10 minutes, 45,000 F for 30 minutes and 70,000 F for an hour, enough for a grand tour between islands and points. It is the favourite activity of young athletes who want to keep the competition buzz going, always supervised and wearing a life jacket.

Finally, the drone photoshoot is the ultimate postcard of Dakar 2026: a pilot films and photographs your outing from the sky, above the clear kayaks and the turquoise water. Prices start at 35,000 F, kayaks extra, and the files are delivered the same day. Enough to share, that very evening, an image of Dakar that nobody else will have.

Delegations, supporters and families

The Youth Olympic Games are also a collective adventure. National committees, clubs, schools, travel agencies and fan groups are all looking for the same thing: a reliable, supervised activity that is easy to organise for several people and leaves a shared memory. That is exactly what we offer, with a single contact for your whole group.

For a group, we are happy to combine activities: part of the team in clear kayaks while the others try paddleboarding, then everyone on board the big boat for a trip to Gorée or the Mamelles. Groups of 6 people or more should ideally book 24 to 48 hours in advance; during the Games, the earlier you message us, the more flexible we can be with times. The big boat also makes an ideal meeting point for a group of fans before or after a final, with sweet and savoury platters served on board.

For families accompanying a young athlete, our activities are designed for all ages: clear kayaking from age 6 with an adult, a 20-minute boat tour of Ngor Island, the water ball on Lac Rose on request. Little ones love seeing the fish through the hull, and parents enjoy a real break in the middle of two intense weeks. Find more ideas in our guide to family activities in Dakar.

Are you an agency, a hotel, a guide or a committee welcoming visitors during the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games? Let’s talk. We know how to organise outings for regular groups, hold time slots and adapt the programme to your competition schedule. Tell us about your project on our contact page or directly on WhatsApp: we will reply quickly with a clear proposal tailored to your group.

Practical tips during the Games

Plan your journeys. During the Youth Olympic Games, Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly move to the rhythm of shuttles, fan zones and events. Leave some margin between a competition and a water activity, especially if you are coming back from Diamniadio or Saly. The Ouakam and Mermoz bases, close to the Corniche Ouest, are the easiest to reach from the venues in central Dakar.

Book on WhatsApp. For the boat and the jet ski, message us the day before with the date, the number of people and your chosen activity: you receive a confirmation and, for the boat, the 30% deposit is easily paid by Orange Money or Wave. For clear kayaking, a simple message is enough for us to get your kayaks ready. You can also use our booking page, which calculates the price and prepares your message.

Get ready for your outing. Bring swimwear or clothes that can get wet, sunscreen, sunglasses, a bottle of water and a waterproof pouch for your phone. The life jacket is provided and mandatory: safety always comes first at Senegal Nautique, and our teams adapt every outing to the day’s sea conditions. If the sea is not calm enough, we offer you another slot rather than take the slightest risk.

Think about the memory. The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are a once-in-a-lifetime event, the first Olympic gathering in Africa. A photo in a clear kayak above the Ouakam rocks or a drone video of your group off Dakar will last long after the closing ceremony. And if you enjoyed your stay, the sea is waiting all year round: Dakar can also be discovered after the Games, at your own pace.

Frequently asked questions