Overview
Dar es Salaam offers attractive colonial architecture, labyrinthine streets, reasonable restaurants and lively markets. The ubiquitous music of the city, a sort of guitar and brass-driven dance form, permeates everything and encapsulates the laid-back attitude of the Tanzanian capital.
Dar es Salaam (meaning ‘haven of peace') is a city which blends African, Arabic and Asian influences. Within the city itself, Arabic and Indian districts thrive and Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus tolerantly coexist. Despite being a large commercial metropolis, Dar still has the air of a much smaller coastal town. A rectilinear grid of streets spread inland from the waterfront, where traditional dhows (long, flat sailboats) and modern hydrofoils compete for space.
While Dar es Salaam is the gateway to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti or Zanzibar, there are appealing destinations closer to the city. Try the readily accessible beaches to the north and south of Dar es Salaam, climb into the tropical forest around Pugu Hills or make the short hop to one of the outlying islands.
Dar es Salaam began as a small fishing village and has become a melting pot of cultures, encompassing African, Arabic and South Asian flavours. But this city is anything but peaceful. A bustling metropolis of east Africa and largest city of the exotic land of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam is a major port, which straddles some of the world's most important sea routes.
On a nice day you can head to the Botanical Gardens, while the colorful and vibrant Kyriako Market and clock tower is also very popular with tourists and holidaymakers. Those in search of sandy beaches to sun worship will do well to head to Oyster Bayor take the ferry to Bongoyo Island, while Kigamboni on the south coast has picturesque beaches that will enchant and captivate.
Distance Airport
Dar Es Salaam International Airport is located 13 km ( 8 miles ) from the city center.
Transport Airport
Taxis
Taxis can be easily hailed from outside the terminal building but few of these have meters so it is best to negotiate on a price first. The journey to the city can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic. Many hotels provide transport on request.
Buses
There are buses, which run to and from the airport 24 hrs a day for and leave from the New Posta Transport Stand, which is located on Maktaba St. A shuttle bus service meets all flights and can take travellers to the city centre for TZS 150.
Car rental
Local car hire companies operate at the airport.
Flying Time from UK
Approx travel time from:
London 09Hr 17Min
Manchester 09 Hr 36Min
Edinburgh 09Hr 55Min
Glasgow 09Hr 58Min
Birmingham 09 Hr 29Min
Attractions
With a vast and turbulent history, Dar es Salaam offers a multitude of attractions for holidaymakers and other travelers to enjoy while visiting this historic city. From the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve to the Pugu Hills Forest Reserve and Bongoyo Island, the outdoors has a lot to offer in this picturesque city.
The Botanical Gardens
Home of the Dar es Salaam Horticultural Society, the Botanical Gardens feature a wonderful selection of indigenous plants, including purple bougainvillea, blue jacaranda, scarlet flame trees and red hibiscus as well as the coco-de-mer palm tree, native to Seychelles. Located next to the Tanzania National Museum, Dar es Salaam's Botanical Gardens is the perfect place to escape the frenetic pace of the city and relax and unwind.
National Museum
Located next to the Botanical Gardens, the National Museum was opened in 1940 in the King George V Memorial Museum. A new wing was built in 1963 and King George V's car can be viewed here. Visitors can see archaeological finds such rock paintings and a 3.6-million-year-old hominid footprint. The colonial years and anti-colonial struggle can be seen through a display of photos, documents and objects, while the History Gallery presents the Kilwa period (9th - 15th century), the English and German colonial period, the slave trade, local rebellions, and Independence.
Makumbusho Village Museum
A popular tourist attraction, the Makumbusho Village Museum displays traditional Tanzanian traditional homes, representing 18 ethnic tribes. Visitors are taken on a tour through the homes, which include furnished huts, meeting places and cattle pens, and can view artists and craftsmen weaving, carving and painting. Traditional dances are held every Thursday and Sunday.
Kariakoo Market
An authentic and exhausting shopping experience, the Kariakoo Market, which consumes numerous city blocks and is known as the largest market in East Africa, will appeal to all holidaymakers and shoppers and will quell just about every splurging urge. Offering everything from clothing, African drums and stone jewellery to agricultural goods, housewares, and many other items. As busy and exciting as this market is, many foreigners find it too overwhelming and pickpockets and other petty thieves take advantage of this. Shoppers should leave their valuables at home and only take as much money as they want to spend.
#Bongoyo Island##Located 1.5 miles (2.5km) north of Dar es Salaam, Bongoyo Island is an uninhabited island and makes up part of the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve. Popular with tourists and other travellers seeking leisure activities, this island offers some fantastic snorkelling opportunities as well as beautiful sandy beaches and great hikes. The island can only be reached by means of a dhow and takes approximately 30 minutes.
Shopping
Shopping in Dar es Salaam is a bargain hunter's dream. Haggling is the norm here and tourists can find themselves walking away with some fantastic gifts and souvenirs to take home for a great price. A must is the Kariakoo Market, which is a bustling and chaotic tangle of stalls and people. Popular tourist buys in these markets are kangas (or khangas), which are colourful, sarong-like pieces of cloth with Swahili sayings printed on them. Another popular buy are tinga-tingas (local Tanzanian paintings).
Mwenge Carvers’ Market
This market, opposite the Village Museum, and just off New Bagamoyo Rd, is packed with vendors, and you can watch carvers at work. Take the Mwenge dalla-dalla from New Posta transport stand to the end of the route, from where it’s five minutes on foot down the small street to the left.
Kariakoo
If you're looking for an authentic shopping experience, a visit to Kariakoo market, especially on Saturday morning, could be just the thing. Kariakoo is the cheapest market in Tanzania. If you want to buy cheap souvenirs, this is the place for you. If you're a Muzungu (i.e. white person) shop owners will try to charge you much more that is worth. But that will be cheaper than what you get in the city or everywhere else in Tanzania.
lala Market
Mitumba is the Swahili word for second-hand stuff, the hand-me-downs of the developed world, and Ilala Market has some of the best and cheapest mitumba you can find in Tanzania. Sweaters, jeans, shoes, bags, etc. With an extra emphasis on that etc. Also you can find handcrafted jewelry (bracelets, anklets, earrings, and such) at good prices, making it a good place to buy simple gifts en masse. There's plenty of street food. Its stalls and kiosks are in tight, narrow quarters and it feels a bit claustrophobic, so it's not ideal for all travelers.
Tanzanite
When it comes to expensive souvenirs, Tanzania has cornered the market with a gemstone that can only be found (mined) in Tanzania, hence the name Tanzanite. Shops selling this exquisite blue stone are located in all major cities and towns, especially those popular with tourists like Zanzibar, Arusha and Dar. Your biggest problem will be knowing that what you're getting is the real thing and worth the money you're shelling out for it.
Fun & Family
Dar es Salaam is the largest city and the political and economic capital of Tanzania. There are many places for visit and enjoy with your family and friends.The reserve boasts beautiful beaches, secluded islands, and many varieties of marine species. Although the variety and population of coral and fish species are not as numerous as other sites on Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia Island, the Bongoyo Island Marine Reserve is well worth a visit and is a great way to spend a day out and see the coast.
Village Museum
The Village Museum is 12 km north of the centre of Dar es Salaam. The taxi fare is Tsh 4000 (4 euros). It is an open-air site with replicas of houses of the different tribes who live in Tanzania. They are surrounded by plots of local crops. Everything is clearly labelled both in Swahili and English.
Kunduchi Wet ‘N’ Wild
This large and crowded place next to Kunduchi Beach Hotel & Resort has several pools, water slides, video arcades, a small playground, an adjoining go-kart track and a restaurant. Although the complex opens at 9am, the slides and pools usually don’t get going until closer to 10am.
Sea Breeze Marine
Diving around the coral gardens near Bongoyo and Mbudya islands, and diving certification courses (PADI), can be arranged year-round at the long-standing Sea Breeze Marine next to White Sands Hotel.
Cultural evenings
This is for the once who want to experience the real traditional music and the amazing dancers. Enjoy some good drinks, nice talks with your friends, while you see the big show. The tough ones are also joining at the dance floor!
#Askari Monument Description##The Askari Monument stands on the location of statue to Major Herman Von Wissmann, a German explorer and soldier, who became Governor of German East Africa in 1895. The first statue of Von Wissmann was erected in 1911 to celebrate the German victory in 1888, and then demolished in 1916 when the British occupied Dar es Salaam.
Night Life
While Dar es Salaam is not overly blessed with cafes or bars, the city remains the musical centre of East Africa, with a number of great nightspots that get going after 2300 and run through the night.
Masaki
Mingle and dance to live music at Dar stalwart Q Bar or dance till dawn on open air dance floors at Garden Bistro and Mambo Club, where you can also eat till late, and local favourite Bar One. Live music rocks The Slipway most nights of the week but the show is usually over before midnight.
Around Posta
Hotel bars at the Kilimanjaro Hotel and New Africa Hotel are a good bet for cocktails. Both have casinos, or you could try the more atmospherically seedy Las Vegas Casino.
Oyster Bay
Sweet Easy is a popular bar/club with live music and great food. Thursday nights are packed, sweaty and sociable. Next to the Ugandan High Commission, Trinity is a new-ish bar and club with garden seating and eclectic, danceable music, mostly catering to European tastes.
Around Upanga
Dance till dawn at Club Bilicanas and Much More. Both tend to be crowded on weekends and play a mixture of R&B, hip hop and Tanzanian music. Look out for live music events at Leaders Club and Gymkhana's.
#O'Willies Irish Whiskey Tavern##At the Peninsula Hotel, near the Slipway. Tanzania's only Irish pub. Founded by affable Irishman Justin in late 2006. Excellent selection of import beers, especially Guinness, however, local beers are quite expensive, typically around Tsh. 3000. Good food, including Irish stew and fish & chips. Extremely popular with the local expatriate community-- a great place for meeting people. Outside deck overlooking the Msasani bay with pleasant ocean breezes and a good view. Inside, karaoke, salsa dancing lessons, and trivia on some nights (trivia usually on Monday nights).
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