Dar es Salaam City Tour
- general info
- rates & booking
- map
- photo gallery
The modern history of Dar es Salaam dates from 1857, when the then Sultan of Zanzibar decided to turn the inland creek just south of Mzizima into a port and trading centre. Appropriately, this town was named Dar es Salaam, meaning "Heaven of Peace". Its importance rose with the steam ship services, which rendered the the former port of Bagamoyo impractical.
In 1891, the German High Commissioner transferred the seat of his government from Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam, and in 1902 a floating dock was made operational. The construction of the Central Railway to Lake Tanganyika further enhanced the importance of this port.
- Duration: 4 hour(s)
- Location: Dar es Salaam City Centre
Sights visited include:
Askari Monument:
A statue erected in memory of soldiers who fell during WWI.
Mnazi Moja Park:
This is near Jamhuri and Uhuru Streets. On one side is seen the Uhuru Torch Monument, erected to symbolise the Freedom Torch placed on the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro upon Tanzania's attainment of Independence. On the other side of the park is the Republic Fountain which commemorated the foundation of the republic in 1962.
University:
The University is superbly laid out amidst lawns and gardens on the Ubungo Observation Hill, some 14 kms away from the city. The hill offers magnificent open view of Dar es Salaam city. The main campus area is built on three low hills, well-wooded with cashew nut trees.
Mwenge:
Local craftsmen can be seen at work as they carve traditional wooden carvings - an excellent stop for souvenirs.
Village Museum:
This is 10 kms along Bagamoyo Road and has a collection of authentically constructed traditional houses of various Tanzanian tribes. It displays several distinct architectural styles with building materials ranging from sand, grass and poles to mud and rock. Villagers demonstrate their ancient skills of carving and weaving and offer their products for sale.
Tinga Tinga:
Tinga Tinga Centre is a house of arts where local painters portray their skills in the local 'tinga tinga' art from. Sometimes referred to as crazy art, due to the very bright colour schemes and distorted figures of reality. At the Tinga Tinga centers guests will be able to see painters at work, and will have ample opportunity to purchase various souvenirs and household utilities that have been painted in Tinga Tinga style e.g. letter openers, trays, name plates, cup holders, keychains, as well as actual paintings on canvas.
State House:
The State House accommodates the offices of the President. It has an ornate structure reflecting a blend of African and Arabic architecture, partly built on the foundation of the old German Palace in 1922.
National Museum:
The outstanding attraction is the Hall of Man where Dr.Leakey's finds from Olduvai Gorge including the skull of Nutcrackerman (Zinjanthropus bosei) and other human fossils are displayed. The stages of man's development over the last 10 millions years are clearly traced and illustrated. The museum offers an outstanding ethnographic collection of tribal ornaments, head-dresses, witchcraft paraphernalia and traditional musical instruments collected from various regions in Tanzania.
Also the history of the East African Coast is well portrayed with Chinese porcelain, glazed pottery, trade wide beads from India and a series of copper coins of the Sultan of Kilwa.
