Cape Verde

t’s not just Open Ocean that separates Cape Verde from the rest of West Africa. Cool currents, for example, keep temperatures moderate, and a stable political and economic system help support West Africa’s highest standard of living. The population, who represent varying degrees of African and Portuguese heritage, will seem exuberantly warm if you fly in straight from, say, Britain, but refreshingly low-key if you arrive from Lagos or Dakar.If Dakar only could, it would burst its beaches and lead its cacophonic parade of furious drumbeats, screeching traffic, exuberant nightlife, market shouting, street hustling and boundless creativity in ever-wider circles across the country. This is a feverish city that brims with life. It’s got some of the best nightclubs, live venues, and film, music and arts festivals in the whole of West Africa. You’ll rarely have a boring day in Dakar, and the city charges only an occasional fee in unwanted hassle and sly con jobs easily negotiated once you’ve learnt a few tricks.