Map›Senegal›Ngor – Yoff, Dakar›Plage MonacoNgor – Yoff, Dakar
Plage Monaco
Dakar Region · Dakar - Ngor/Yoff
also known as Plage Monacco
Riding essentials
Season
Nov–May
Months riders and schools name
How windy
15-20 kt
Character: mixed
Room to launch
ok
access rules on record, below
Water
mixed
27 °C in summerFlat with small waves, and reported as not very clean
Hazards
6
Reported by riders
Level
Intermediate only
With a caveat: see Your level
Crowds
medium crowds · busy Jan Feb Mar Apr
Schools
1
named at this spot
From the airport
60 min
Diagne International Airport (DSS)
When it fills in
The trade often swings into a NW sea breeze in the afternoon along the Atlantic coast. No onset time is confirmed for Monaco Plage itself.
Backup spotsWhere riders go when the wind doesn't work here.
- Plage de la Voile d'Orno page yet
- Saly
- Somone
- Saint-Louis / Hydrobase
The spot
Wind and access
Water quality
The wind
locals call it Alizes / NE trade winds, with Harmattan episodes
Direction
Dominant direction
ENE-ESE for this spot; the broader Dakar/Senegal region also sees NE trade winds and an afternoon NW sea-breeze effect.
Character
Typical strength
Regionally 15-20 kt NE trades from December to July, and 10-15 kt north winds November-May around Yoff. One model dataset gives Plage Monacco monthly averages of 8-10 kt against its own threshold notes. All indicative, none measured at the launch.
Forecast
Live forecast
Month by month
- Jan, riders' month95
- Feb, riders' month98
- Mar, riders' month98
- Apr, riders' month97
- May, riders' month89
- Jun78
- Jul73
- Aug73
- Sep58
- Oct49
- Nov, riders' month77
- Dec, riders' month84
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Nov, Dec.
- 15 ktJan23°
- 17 ktFeb19°
- 17 ktMar19°
- 17 ktApr20°
- 15 ktMay23°
- 13 ktJun27°
- 13 ktJul29°
- 13 ktAug29°
- 12 ktSep29°
- 12 ktOct30°
- 13 ktNov28°
- 14 ktDec25°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (2022-2024), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds.
Every figure, month by monthForce 4+ · Knots · Wind from · Air · Water
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | Wind from | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 95% | 14.7 kt | NNE | 23.8 °C | 22.9 °C |
| Feb | 98% | 17 kt | NNE | 22.1 °C | 19.1 °C |
| Mar | 98% | 16.6 kt | N | 20.4 °C | 19 °C |
| Apr | 97% | 16.9 kt | N | 21.4 °C | 19.7 °C |
| May | 89% | 15.3 kt | N | 23.2 °C | 23.3 °C |
| Jun | 78% | 13.2 kt | NNW | 25.3 °C | 26.6 °C |
| Jul | 73% | 12.7 kt | NW | 27.3 °C | 29 °C |
| Aug | 73% | 13.1 kt | W | 27.5 °C | 29.2 °C |
| Sep | 58% | 12.2 kt | WNW | 27.6 °C | 29.3 °C |
| Oct | 49% | 11.6 kt | N | 28.5 °C | 29.5 °C |
| Nov | 77% | 13.1 kt | NNE | 27.8 °C | 27.9 °C |
| Dec | 84% | 13.7 kt | NNE | 25.4 °C | 25.4 °C |
How this is modelledmodelled · 2022-2024
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
ERA5 reanalysis grid point (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical weather API — ECMWF ERA5/ERA5-Land reanalysis, not a ground station · 2022-2024
The water
Type
mixed
Tides
Dakar runs semi-diurnal. Tide tables for 27 August 2026 give roughly 0.54 m low to 1.70 m high at Dakar. Riding at Plage Monacco is reportedly not tide-dependent, unconfirmed locally.
Temperature
27 °C summer · 20 °C winter
Modelled monthly average: 19–30 °C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts and a rash vest in late summer and autumn. In the cold upwelling months Dakar water sits around 19–22 °C, so a shorty or a thin full suit earns its place.
Conditions
Your level
not for beginners herenot for advanceds here
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
1 school names this spot
On your own
Room to launch: ok
Somewhere else
2 spots nearby
Rescue
Launch
Sandy beach inside the private Monaco Plage facility in Hann Bel-Air. You get in through the two hotels, the launch is medium-sized, and paid access, restaurant, bar, transats and other water activities are confirmed.
Rules & access
1 min read
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Schools that ride here
Rider tips
- Ask Monaco Plage staff or a Dakar local rider before rigging; no kite zone or permit information was found for this beach.
- Ride it on easterlies. When the wind goes north, drive to Yoff.
- Check the Dakar tide and wave forecast before you go, even though the riding here is reportedly not tide-dependent.
- Do not go in after rain or near a visible discharge in Hann Bay; check the water on the day.
- Budget for the gate and expect loungers, a bar and non-kite users rather than an open launch: 1,000 F CFA on a weekday, 2,000 F CFA at the weekend (2026).
Getting there
Airport
Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS)
Route
The beach is in Hann Bel-Air, close to central Dakar, on a private beach in Bel Air. The road transfer from DSS runs about 56-65 minutes depending on traffic.
Transfer
60 min
Cost level
medium
Staying
Hotel Monaco Plage on site has 35 rooms and the private beach. Dakar has plenty of other hotels and guesthouses, and Yoff and Ngor are the better-documented surf and kite neighbourhoods if the plan is to ride every day.
No-wind days
Monaco Plage sells paid beach access, restaurant and bar, events, jet-skis and pedalos subject to sea conditions. Around Dakar the usual no-wind options are Goree Island by ferry, the African Renaissance Monument, markets, museums, dive operators and the Yoff and Ngor surf beaches.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite at Monaco Plage?
The season runs roughly December to May, when steady Alizes trade winds blow from the northeast, with January-February Harmattan bursts adding stronger easterly gusts.
Is Monaco Plage suitable for beginners?
No local school confirms it as a beginner beach; it is classified as an intermediate flat and small-wave spot.
What is the wind like?
The spot works with easterly winds, and riders switch to Yoff nearby when the wind turns northerly.
Are there rules or access fees?
It is a paid private beach, with 2026 entry fees of 1,000 CFA on weekdays and 2,000 CFA on weekends for adults.
What are the main hazards?
Swimmers, boats and jet-skis share the water, and Hann Bay has documented industrial and domestic pollution, so water quality should be checked before entering.
The bigger pictureEverything about Dakar - Ngor/Yoff
Last updated: August 2026