A jet ski tour in Dakar means seeing the city from the Atlantic, wind at your back and the coastline rushing past at full speed. Here is everything you need to know before you hit the throttle: where to start, how a session works, how long to book, what you see from the water and the safety rules to follow.
At Senegal Nautique, jet skiing runs from our Mermoz base, on the beach near the Wassa Beach restaurant, right in the heart of the corniche. Every day we welcome travellers passing through, Dakar residents treating themselves at the weekend, couples, groups of friends and teams on an outing. Some have never ridden in their lives, others come back every month. This guide gathers what we explain to each of them before they set off, so that your first tour runs as smoothly as possible.
In short: the jet ski tour in Dakar leaves from Mermoz beach, every day from 11am to 7pm depending on the sea. It costs 15,000 F for 10 minutes, 45,000 F for 30 minutes and 70,000 F for an hour, per jet ski. You can ride alone or with a passenger, the life jacket is provided and mandatory, and a safety briefing is given before every ride. To book or check the day’s conditions, contact Alioune on +221 77 404 02 31.
Why take a jet ski tour in Dakar?
Dakar is one of the few African capitals entirely surrounded by the ocean. The Cap-Vert peninsula juts into the Atlantic, and the western corniche offers a coastline of cliffs, small beaches and rocky coves that you only really see from the water. From the road, you catch the sea between two buildings. From a jet ski, you discover the city head on, with its neighbourhoods stacked above the rocks, its lively beaches and the open horizon out to sea.
Jet skiing is also the most direct water activity there is. There is no complicated technique to learn: after a few minutes of explanation, you hold the handlebars, you control the throttle and you feel the machine respond. The first seconds are often cautious, then confidence comes quickly. That is what makes jet skiing so popular with very different people: thrill seekers get speed, calmer riders enjoy a coastal ride at their own pace.
Finally, a jet ski tour fits easily into a busy schedule. A ten-minute session is enough to try the experience between two meetings, a lunch on the corniche or a visit in town. Half an hour lets you really let go, and an hour leaves time for a grand tour. Many travellers tell us that those few minutes on the water were the most memorable moment of their stay, precisely because they did not expect it.
For Dakar residents, it is a simple way to get a change of scene without leaving the city. At weekends, groups of friends book several jets at once and meet on the water for a session together. Couples come to celebrate a birthday, colleagues organise a team outing, parents treat their teenager to a first ride as a passenger. Jet skiing is not just for athletes or regulars: it is an accessible leisure activity, supervised by a team that knows the Mermoz coast and its conditions inside out.
How a session works
It all starts with booking. You can book online on our booking page or message Alioune, who runs the Mermoz base, directly on WhatsApp at +221 77 404 02 31. He offers you a slot and confirms the state of the sea. On the day, we always recommend calling before you travel: swell and wind can change from one hour to the next, and the team would rather warn you than have you come for nothing.
On site, meet us on Mermoz beach, near the Wassa Beach restaurant. By taxi or ride-hailing app, just ask for “Wassa Beach, Mermoz”. The team welcomes you, gives you a life jacket in your size and explains how things will go. Payment and final details are settled before departure, so that once on the water all you have to do is enjoy it.
Then comes the safety briefing. It is an important moment, even if you have ridden elsewhere before. The team shows you the jet ski controls: throttle, brake or reverse depending on the model, and the kill switch attached to your wrist. They explain the authorised zone, the distances to keep from the beach, swimmers and other boats, and the signals used to call you back. They also show you how to climb back onto the jet if you fall into the water, which rarely happens but is worth knowing.
Then it is time to go. The first few dozen metres are taken slowly, while you get a feel for the balance and how the machine responds. Once past the swimming area, you can speed up and follow the route suggested by the team. Throughout the session, the team stays on the beach and keeps an eye on the riders. At the end of your time, you come back slowly towards the beach, the team takes the jet ski and helps you off. Allow about fifteen minutes on top of your time on the water for the welcome, the briefing and the return, and leave a little margin if you have another appointment afterwards.
10 minutes, 30 minutes or one hour?
Our prices are set per jet ski, whether you ride alone or with a passenger. The 10-minute session at 15,000 F is made for a taste of speed. It is the ideal option for a first time, for a curious passenger or for anyone who simply wants to know what riding a jet feels like. Ten minutes go by fast, but they are enough to get out of the swimming area, try a few accelerations and turns, then come back with a smile.
The 30-minute session at 45,000 F is the most popular. It gives you time to build confidence, then really let go. After the first few minutes of getting used to it, most riders find their rhythm and start enjoying the scenery as much as the speed. It is also the right length for a couple who want to take turns: one rides on the way out, the other on the way back, on the same jet and for the same price.
The one-hour session at 70,000 F is the grand tour. The team suggests a route between headlands and coves, depending on the sea and the authorised zone that day. It is the favourite of groups of friends who book several jets, and of regulars who already know the basics of riding. Over an hour, bring water and sunscreen and take a break if needed: jet skiing works your arms and back more than you might think.
How to choose? If you have never ridden before, start with 10 or 30 minutes: you can always come back for a full hour once you feel at ease. If there are two of you on the same jet, half an hour lets each of you ride. If you come as a group, book several jets in the same slot to ride together, and let Alioune know in advance so the machines are ready when you arrive. Finally, keep in mind that the sea decides: in heavy swell, the team may shorten a session or offer you another time.
Ready to hit the throttle?
Jet ski in Mermoz from 15,000 F for 10 minutes, briefing and life jacket included. Every day from 11am to 7pm, depending on the sea.
Book a jet skiThe coast from a jet ski
The route of a jet ski tour in Dakar is never quite the same. It depends on the length you choose, the swell, the wind, traffic on the water and the authorised zone that day. The Mermoz team gives you the route before you set off, and it is important to follow it: it is designed so you can enjoy the coast safely, away from swimmers, fishing pirogues and dangerous rocky areas.
From Mermoz beach, you first head out a little to leave the swimming area. Very quickly, the perspective changes: the corniche appears as a whole, with its cliffs covered in greenery, its buildings perched above the rocks and its small beaches tucked between two headlands. This is often when riders slow down to look, before setting off again even faster.
Depending on the day, the water can take on very different colours: deep blue offshore, emerald green over the rocky seabed, darker after a gust of wind. We cannot guarantee its colour or clarity, which vary with the swell and the season, but every outing has its own scenery. On a clear day, you can see the Madeleine Islands in the distance, a national park you can discover up close on a boat trip.
On longer sessions, the suggested route lets you follow more of the coast and alternate fast stretches with calmer passages, where you ease off the throttle to enjoy the view. This rhythm is the most enjoyable: you keep the adrenaline of the accelerations while taking the time to see Dakar from an angle few people know. At the end of the day, the low sunlight on the corniche makes this tour especially beautiful, and many of our customers choose this slot for their souvenir photos. Just remember to keep your phone in a waterproof pouch that is securely attached, or to leave it on shore.
Safety and rules to follow
Jet skiing is a safe activity when the rules are followed, and that is why we care about them so much. The life jacket is provided and mandatory for every rider and every passenger, without exception, even for strong swimmers. The kill switch, attached to the rider’s wrist, stops the engine if you fall: it must stay attached throughout the session.
The briefing is not a formality. It tells you the area where you can ride, the distances to keep from the beach, swimmers, kayaks, pirogues and other jets, and the moves you need to know to stop, turn around or climb back on board. Listen carefully, ask your questions, and do not hesitate to ask for a demonstration if anything is unclear. The team would rather spend two more minutes explaining than see you hesitate on the water.
On the water, a few simple rules make all the difference. Leave and return slowly near the beach. Always keep a good distance from other boats and never cut across a pirogue’s path. Stay away from rocks and areas where waves are breaking. Avoid tight turns at full speed, especially with a passenger. And come back immediately if the team signals to you: from the beach, they see the sea and other users better than you do.
For younger riders, children are welcome from age 6, accompanied by an adult. The passenger must be able to hold on firmly and follow instructions. We refuse to let anyone who has been drinking alcohol go out, for their safety and that of others. Finally, outings always depend on the weather: in heavy swell or strong wind, the team may shorten, move or cancel a session. It is never a decision taken lightly, which is why we advise you to call Alioune on the day before travelling.
Practical tips
When to come? The Mermoz base is open every day from 11am to 7pm. The sea is often calmer in the late morning, which makes it a good slot for a first time. Late afternoon offers beautiful light on the corniche and a more festive atmosphere, but it is also in higher demand, especially at weekends. If you have a specific date in mind, book ahead. During the dry season, from November to June, the sky is often clear; during the rainy season, from July to October, the water is warmer but a few showers can disrupt plans.
What to wear? Come in swimwear or light clothes that can get wet, because you will definitely get splashed. A UV T-shirt or rash guard protects well from the sun and from the life jacket rubbing. Sunglasses with a strap and a well-fitted cap are useful, but watch out for anything that can blow away. Leave jewellery, valuable watches and fragile items on shore. Remember sunscreen, applied before you arrive so it has time to soak in.
What to bring? A towel, a bottle of water and dry clothes for afterwards. If you want to film, use an action camera that is firmly mounted or a waterproof pouch with a wrist strap. Plenty of phones end up at the bottom of the sea every year on beaches all over the world: better safe than sorry.
How to get there? Mermoz beach is on the western corniche, near the Wassa Beach restaurant. The easiest way is by taxi or ride-hailing app, asking for “Wassa Beach, Mermoz”. If you come by car, allow some time to park, especially at weekends. All access information is on the page of our Mermoz jet ski base, with the map and Alioune’s contact.
Combine it with other activities
A jet ski tour goes very well with Dakar’s other sea activities. Mermoz is for jet skiing only, but our other bases are a few minutes away. Clear kayaking in Ouakam, at the foot of the Mosque of the Divinity, offers the perfect contrast: after the speed, the calm of a paddle above the rocky seabed. In Ngor, the bay facing the island is often more sheltered and suits families well.
To keep an exceptional memory of your day, the drone photoshoot in a clear kayak gives you aerial photos and videos, delivered the same day. It takes place in Ouakam, Ngor or Almadies, from 35,000 F for one person, kayak extra. Many couples and groups of friends combine jet skiing in the late morning with a drone shoot in the early afternoon, while the sun is still high.
If you are a large group or want to discover the islands, the private boat trip leaves from the Port of Dakar or Ngor. You can sail around Ngor island, follow the Almadies coast, go as far as the Mamelles or reach Gorée on the big boat. It is a good way to extend your day at sea at a gentler pace, with a gourmet platter on board and swimming breaks depending on conditions.
For a full day, here is a sequence that works well: clear kayaking in Ouakam at 11am, when the sea is often calm, lunch on the corniche, then a jet ski tour in Mermoz in the afternoon. The most energetic finish with a sunset boat trip. To plan your programme, our guide to sea activities in Dakar details every option, the prices and the best times.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a jet ski tour in Dakar cost?
With Senegal Nautique, jet skiing costs 15,000 F for 10 minutes, 45,000 F for 30 minutes and 70,000 F for an hour, per jet ski. The safety briefing and life jacket are included.
Where can you jet ski in Dakar?
Our jet ski base is on Mermoz beach, near the Wassa Beach restaurant, on the corniche. By taxi, ask for “Wassa Beach, Mermoz”.
Do you need experience to ride a jet ski?
No. Before every ride, the team explains the controls, the authorised zone and the navigation rules. The 10-minute session is ideal for a first time.
Can two people ride one jet ski?
Yes, you can ride alone or with a passenger. The price is per jet ski, and every rider and passenger wears a life jacket provided.
From what age can you go jet skiing?
Children are welcome from age 6, accompanied by an adult. The passenger must be able to hold on firmly and follow the team’s instructions.
When is the best time for a jet ski tour?
The base is open every day from 11am to 7pm. Late morning often brings a calmer sea, late afternoon beautiful light on the corniche.
How do you know if the sea allows a ride?
Call Alioune on +221 77 404 02 31 on the day. He confirms the state of the sea and can offer another slot if conditions are not good.