Dar es Salaam, called “Dar” for short, is Tanzania’s largest city and commercial center. It is also sits seaside and one of East Africa’s busiest ports. A favorite among traveling tour-ists on the east coat of Africa, it is loved for its laid-back vibes, and eclectic mix of African, Arabic and Indian influences which is also evi-dent in its architecture.
Straddling some of the most important sea routes in the world, Dar es Salaam, which means “haven of peace” in Arabic and which was once a sleepy fishing village, is now a booming metropolis. A city of six million on the Indian Ocean, is expected to have 10 mil-lion within a decade, making it the 5th largest city in Tanzania as well as becoming its main port. While visiting Dar es Salaam, we’ve put to-gether a list of ‘Where To Go’ or things to do on your visit:
1. NATIONAL MUSEUM & HOUSE OF CULTURE
Originally opened in 1940 as a memorial to King George V, The National Museum & House of Culture takes you on a journey through Tanzania history. From displays of important fossils of some of the earliest human ancestors unearthed during the Leakey digs at Olduvai Gorge to Tanzania’s tribal heritage and the impact of the slave trade and colonial periods to ethnographic displays on traditional crafts, customs, ornaments, and musical instru-ments, there is much that can be learned and valued at this museum.
2. VILLAGE MUSEUM
The Village Museum showcases traditional dwellings from some of Tanzania’s 120 ethnic groups. You can wander through replicas of tribal homesteads, scattered across 15 acres, and learn about traditional customs and crafts. Most visitors take a self-guided tour here, as each hut has interpretative signs detailing how the dwellings are constructed and the ma-terials used. But you can also hire a guide if you want more information. The museum also hosts tribal dances, and other cultural activities.
3. DAY TRIP TO MBUDYA ISLAND
Mbudya Island is a beautiful, natural marin reserve where you can lay and bask on the island’s white-sand beaches as well as snor-kel and swim in the turquoise waters. Bandas (thatched huts) are available for rent on the beach, and locals sell fresh barbecued seafood and cold drinks. You can catch a trip here with a motorboat ride from the White Sands Resort & Conference Centre.
4. DAY TRIP TO BONGOYO MARKET
Lying off the Msasani Peninsula, Bongoyo Island makes an idyllic day trip or half-day trip from the city. Popular things to do here include relaxing under the shade of thatched umbrellas on the white-sand beach and cool-ing off in the clear waters. Behind the beach, nature trails wind between baobab trees to the island’s opposite shore. The open-air snack bar serves cold drinks and fresh barbecued seafood. Bongoyo lies about four miles north of the city, and you can catch a boat here from the Slipway pier. The trip takes about 30 minutes.
5. KARIAKOO MARKET
This market is an indoor/outdoor market spills into several city blocks where the locals shop. Fabrics, spices, baskets and baskets of fruit and fresh food are just a few oof what can be purchased here.
6. KIVUKONI FISH MARKET
Feel like some fresh seafood? Kivukoni Fish Market on the waterfront sells the catch of the day fresh off the boats.
7. OYSTER BAY
Oyster bay is home to hip boutiques and art galleries. This is also the home of where the Tinga Tinga painting style originated, and where you can purchase these colorful art pieces. This affluent expat enclave of Oyster Bay is one of the best hangout places in Dar es Salaam — especially on the weekends. Locals and tourists alike come here to stroll Coco Beach, savor street food, and listen to live music.
8. OYSTER BAY SHOPPING CENTER
Oyster Bay Shopping Center houses farmers mar-kets, boutique shops, and art galleries. Look for the famous Tinga Tinga paintings in the galleries — this vibrant artistic style reputedly originated in Oyster Bay before spreading across East Africa.
9. SLIPWAY SHOPPING CENTER
The Slipway is a stylish shopping complex inspired by the Swahili coast and culture. Based on the Dar es Salaam Peninsula with beautiful views across the bay, this shopping center is a palm-lined Swahili-inspired shopping mall located on the waterfront. Here, you’ll find everything from col-orful clothing to local artwork, sculptures, masks, and hand-made bags. The Slipway is also a great place to enjoy nightlife with live music from some of the waterfront venues. This is also one of the popular places to eat in Dar es Salaam. You’ll find several restaurants here — some with lovely views over the water which some are listed in the previ-ous article.
10. ST. JOSEPH CATHEDRAL
Built by German missionaries from 1897 through 1902, this Gothic-style Roman Catholic church is the seat of the Dar es Salaam archdiocese. Most notable are its shingled spire, vaulted interior, and beautiful stained-glass windows. The cathe-dral also contains many of the original German artwork, including a carved relief above the main altar.
11. WELLWORTH KUNDUCHI WET ‘N’ WILD WATER PARK
Wellworth Kunduchi Wet ‘N’ Wild Water Park is the largest water park in East and Central Africa and next to the Wellworth Kunduchi Beach Hotel and Resort. the park is a colorful mix of pools, playgrounds, fast-food restaurants, and more than 29 water slides of varying heights, catering to both adults and young children. There’s also a Go Kart race track there as well.
12. AZANIA FRONT LUTHERAN CHURCH
With its red-tile belfry rising above the surround-ing rooftops, Azania Front Lutheran Church is a major landmark in Dar es Salaam that German missionaries built it in 1898. At one time, Azania was the center of the original 19th-century Ger-man mission; it is now the cathedral for the dio-cese.
13. ASKARI MONUMENT
Cast in bronze, the Askari Monument depicts an Askari (soldier) in a World War I uniform, the bayo-net of his rifle pointing towards the nearby harbor. It commemorates the African troops who fought as the Carrier Corps in World War I. The statue stands about a block back from the Azania Front Lutheran Church.
14. BOTANICAL GARDENS
Home to the Dar es Salaam Horticultural Society, the Botanical Gardens were established in 1893 by Professor Stuhlmann, the first Director of Agri-culture. They were used as a trial plot for testing different types of plantation crops and tree spe-cies. Today, you can admire a lush mix of indige-nous and exotic plants, including purple bougain-villea, blue jacaranda, scarlet flame trees, and red hibiscus.They are also one of the few places in the world to see the beautiful coco-de-mer palm tree outside its native Seychelles.
15. THE STATE HOUSE
Built in the late 1890s, the State House was the original residence of the German Governor. The State House is now the home of the current president.
