13/01/2024
Thing To Do in Dar es Salaam Tanzania
Wondering about the Things to do in Dar es Salaam? We will answer that after a little background. Dar es Salaam (Meaning “haven of peace” in Arabic) has grown from a quiet fishing village to become Tanzania’s largest city and one of East Africa’s busiest ports. Dar es Salaam was the capital of Tanzania up to 1974 when it lost the status to Dodoma. It remains more influential with most of the key administrative offices in the country. The city has a population of about 6 million residents and because of that, is a commercial and industrial hub. The main charm of the city is its history and location along the Indian ocean. The architectural style in the city has heavy German, British and Asian influence.
Like most large capitals in developing countries, there is congestion and traffic jam. The Tuk-tuk or motorcycle can be the only savior during the chaotic evenings within the city center. Many tourists overlook Dar es Salaam as an important tourist destination and only use it as a gateway to the major national parks in the countryside or to the islands of Pemba and Zanzibar. Dar es Salaam is a city with its own attractions with pristine beaches, monuments, artisan centers, shopping centers, restaurants, night clubs, museums and botanical gardens to mention but a few. You can also take part in many activities as we shall discuss in a moment. You might also want to read about the tourist attractions in Mombasa, the things to do in Kampala and the top activities in Arusha. We even have an article on the places to visit while in Zanzibar. For those who are interested in a full safari, you should check out our amazing 3 days Serengeti Safari or the 6 days gorilla trekking and Ngorongoro crater safari.
Night clubs and bars: There are several high end bars and night clubs within the city center and in the suburbs where you can go a party after a hard day of work or during the weekend. You can check out Havoc Nightspot or High Spirit for the best wines and music. If you want to catch the latest soccer matches on giant screens, you should look no further than Slow Leopard. They have a variety of imported beers that you can sip as you wait for the game to begin. If you are looking for the best music bar, then check out O’Donovan’s Reggae Bar or Jollies Club. Walking at night in Dar es Salaam is very risky. Ensure that you move with a trusted person or in car.
Kivukoni Fish Market: This is the place where fresh fish from the ocean is bought. It is located in a suburb known as Kivukoni. The best time to go is early in the morning(7:00am) when the fishermen have just returned from a night of fishing to auction their catches.
It is also the time when you will get the freshest fish and catch most of the action as fishermen bargain with retailers and consumers. The main species are squid, snappers and crabs. One of the great things about going to this fish market is the impressive collection of fish species from the Indian ocean. For a bird eyes view of the market, one needs to climb one of the flight stairs leading to the offices in the market. If you cannot take home fish for one reason or another, you can make an order and have it fried for you from one of the restaurant
architectural buildings: In the 19th century, Dar es Salaam was a major city under the rule of the Sultan of Zanzibar. When the Germans and later the British took over control, it became the main commercial and administrative center of Tanzania. The Arabs, British and Germans all left a mark in the city with pieces of architecture, monuments and buildings like the St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the Azania Front Lutheran Church, several mosques and other great buildings. The State house was rebuilt by the British in 1922 with a blend of African, European and Arabian architectural style. We shall discuss some of these architectural wonders as separate attractions on their own sooner or later.
Askari Monument: Tanzania was one of the African countries that supplied troops to Britain during World War 1. The Tanzania soldiers fought as Carrier Corps. The Askari monument was built to remember these brave soldiers. The bronze stature depicts a soldier in a World War 1 army uniform carrying a bayonet which points towards the harbor. There is an inscription in praise of the brave soldiers written by the famous British poet and writer Rudyard Kiling. Askari monument is found in the middle of a roundabout that separates Maktaba street and Samora Avenue.
Visit the National Museum and house of culture: This facility is one of the top cultural sites in Tanzania. It was built in 1940 and in memory of King George V. The Museum attempts to describe and illustrate all that there is to know about Tanzania through art, biology, archaeology and ethnography. The Museum takes you through the different phases of the country’s past including insights into the lives of the early Islamic traders. On display are fossils of the earliest humans that where dug up from Olduvai Gorge by the famous archaeologists Louis Leakey and Mary Leakey. The skull of the Nutcracker man which was unearthed in 1959 is a key attraction. You can also learn about the country’s slave history, the different tribes and the era of colonialism. Other items of interest are the musical instruments, ornaments, traditional crafts and vintage cars used by the former president Julius Nyerere. Entering the museum costs 6500 Tanzanian shillings and it is opened from 9am to 6pm.
Visit Temple Road: This is the road where most of the Hindu temples are found. If you want to see their unique architecture or are of the Hindu faith and just want to meditate, then you should go here.
Visit the town of Bagamoyo: This historical town was once the capital of the German East Africa colony which included Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania. Bagamoyo has the same beautiful setting that is seen in Lamu and Mombasa is Kenya. The Swahili culture thrives here as a result of intermarriages between the first Arabs to the island and the local population. While in Bagamoyo, you can visit the pristine beaches, ancient mosques and old churches. The town also has the only university specializing in arts known Chuo Cha Sanaa. If you are lucky to visit at the right time, you could take part in the Bagamoyo Festival of Arts and culture. This festival is organized annually hence attracting large crowds and bringing life to a usually quiet town.
Bongoyo Island: This is a small marine reserve and uninhabited island found close to the city of Dar Es Salaam. It is the nearest place to go if you want to discover the Indian ocean, the marine life and take part in all the amazing water activities that the East African coast is famous for. The waters are clean and suitable for swimming and other water sports. You can spend the whole day snorkeling, lazing in the sand beaches or eating fries and fish. Do not forget to search the coral reefs for angelfish, clownfish, starfish, sea urchins and other sea creatures. Alternatively, you can go for a nature walk alone the trails behind the beach and the baobab trees. To get to the island, you would need to take a boat which costs about $20 for a 30-minute trip. The island has a limited number of self-contained roofed huts for rent hence planning in advance may be necessary.
Jangwani and Mbudya Islands: If you are done with visiting Bongoyo Island, you can also spend a few days at the beaches of Janwani and Mbudya. These islands are uninhabited and considered marine reserves. Like all the other beaches in the Indian ocean, the scenery is amazing (blue waters, palm trees and long stretches of white sand) hence offering a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. They are also better preserved compared to many others in the area and one can swim or go snorkeling knowing that the waters are clean. While on the Island, you can order for freshly caught fish, barbecue, cold drinks and other sea foods. To get to these two islands, you need to hire a boat. Accommodation is in form of self-contained thatched huts.
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