Dar es Salaam, meaning, "haven of peace", is affectionately called "Dar" by admirers of the city. Dar, an energetic and busy seaport, is the junction of some important international sea routes. Most travellers use Dar only as a stopover before moving on to more interesting and popular places such as Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia Islands, or the game parks near Arusha. Visitors don't realise that this tropical port has several places of incredible beauty, not to mention the intriguing maze the city is, and the number of quality Dar es Salaam hotels there are.
The new capital of Tanzania is Dodoma but most people consider still consider Dar es Salaam to be the real capital.
The city centre of Dar es Salaam is quite chaotic. It centres around Samora Avenue and has shops, exchange bureaus, banks, and places to stay among other amenities. The Asian Quarter is to the northwest of the city centre and is a maze of small streets. It is home to many Indian merchants and traders. Taking a Dar es Salaam tour is a great way to see this fascinating city.
The area to the northeast of the city centre is more peaceful. Dar es Salaam's tourist attractions are distributed in this area and there is a lot to see and do. Here, you will find the National Museum, the Botanical Gardens and the State House, which is extremely well protected. The museum has antique tribal artefacts, some World War memorabilia and also the skull of "Nutcracker Man". Peaceful tree lined avenues are a hallmark of this area - distinctly different from the noise and hurry of the busier districts.
The middle class suburbs and other residential areas of the city are located along the coast, further north. The stretch of sand at Coco Beach, near Oyster Bay, is the only beach that Dar es Salaam can boast about. Better beaches are located to the north and south of the city. If you would like to stay close to a particular landmark or tourist attraction, our map shows the hotels in Dar es Salaam you can book with us.
The huge harbour at Dar es Salaam is the hub of the city. The streets and side streets off the harbour constitute Dar's business district. A popular way to relax here is to sit at the water's edge and watch the traditional dhows skilfully navigate their way among the huge cruise liners and cargo ships docked at the harbour. A loud and busy fish market is in Kivukoni Fort, on the northern part of the harbour. It is a great place to first watch the fishermen unload the night's catch at dawn every morning followed by the women competing very noisily to get the best of the catch.
The Asian business district is another interesting area of Dar. Walking along India Street and Indira Gandhi Street here will transport you to India while the flavours and aromas of little Bombay will tempt you. This is the best place to buy everything for the rest of your holiday.
The Asian business district houses some of the best restaurants of East Africa. The most popular among them are on Jamhuri, Kisutu, Mkunguni and Zanaki Streets. If you go a little further, where Ohio Street becomes Upanga Road, you will find the Nyumba ya Saana, the House of Art. It is near the Gymkhana Club and stands out with its Makuti-palm roof. An American nun began this co-operative in 1972 and it now supports around 200 young artists. Their work encompasses a wide range of art forms, from batik through carvings, clothing, oil painting, pottery and weaving.
The city's architecture reflects the influences of the many cultures that dominated the area at some time or the other - Asian, British, German and Swahili. It was the Sultan of Zanzibar, Sultan Majid bin Said, who realised that Dar's location at the centre of the East African coast could be used advantageously by turning it into a deep water port. It was again Sultan Said who coined the acronym - "haven of peace". In 1866, the Sultan began construction of his palace on Changuu Island, just off Zanzibar. Coral blocks were cut to give shape to the palace. Unfortunately, he could not complete it in his lifetime and it subsequently fell into ruin.
The Germans arrived eleven years later and took over Dar from its Arab rulers. They also fought off a revolt by the local Bushiri tribe. This was the beginning of the German influence and the remnants of their work are still seen today. The chaotic port became a disciplined little town with well planned and neatly laid out streets. They built many large structures near the waterfront, such as the Lutheran Church, St. Joseph's Cathedral and the German Hospital.
Dar es Salaam is the main transport hub of Tanzania, and is the gateway to exploring many other parts of the country such as Arusha, Zanzibar, as well as other great African destinations like Kenya, Madagascar, and South Africa.
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