DAR ES SALAAM

Dar es Salaam, translated as ‘Haven of Peace’ is one of Tanzania ’s major cities located on the shores of the Indian Ocean . From its humble beginnings as a small fishing village, its importance changed in the 1880s when Christian missionaries made it a starting point for their journeys to the interior of the country. Dar es Salaam was the capital of Tanzania until the 1980s when the political capital moved to Dodoma , a more centralised location. Dar es Salaam is still the country’s commercial capital and most of the diplomatic missions and embassies are located in the city. The city is also one of the largest ports in East Africa .

HAVEN OF PEACE - DAR ES SALAAM
Dar es Salaam is a city full of surprises, where traditional African culture and colonial roots combine with international taste and sophistication. Nestled between coconut palms and acacia trees, the azure blue sea and milk white sands draw everyone to the shores, especially to see the breathtaking sunsets.

The city centre has many historical buildings and interesting architecture. Its mixture of Arabic, Asian and European history gives a special atmosphere to surroundings, streets and life. A tour though the city to experience the true warmth and hospitality of the people of Dar es Salaam is a must!

DAR ES SALAAM CITY TOUR

A half day or a full day tour of Dar es Salaam allows visitors to explore some of the following:

THE ASKARI MONUMENT

On the roundabout between Samora Machel Avenue and Maktaba Street at the centre of the city is the Askari Monument, a statue erected in memory of the soldiers who fell during World War 1. What is not known to many people is that the same site in 1911 formerly held a statue of Hermann von Wissmann a German governor who played a key role during German occupation of Tanganyika!

ST JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL

St Joseph's is a Roman Catholic Cathedral built by the Germans between 1897 - 1902. The gothic cathedral with its lovely stained glass windows, is situated on Sokoine Drive overlooking the Harbour. The cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam.

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
The museum was formerly established in 1940 as the King George V Memorial Museum.  This is a small museum but it covers pretty much all aspects of Tanzania's cultural history. The outstanding attraction is the Hall of Man where Dr Leakey's finds from Olduvai Gorge, including the skull of the Nutcracker man (Zinjanthropus Boisei) and other prehistoric hominid fossils are displayed. The stages of man's development over the last 10 millenia are clearly traced and illustrated, serving to remind visitors that East Africa is the Cradle of Mankind.

The museum also offers an outstanding ethnographic collection of artefacts and objects from different regions of Tanzania - from tribal ornaments, head-dresses and ceremonial masks, to witchcraft paraphenalia and traditional musical instruments.

Upstairs,  years of colonialism and the anti-colonial struggle are presented through a historically fascinating mishmash of objects, photos and yellowing documents including Chinese porcelain, glazed pottery from  Portugal and other countries, beads from India and a collection of copper coins depicting the Sultan of Kilwa.

THE MAKUMBUSHO VILLAGE (ALSO KNOWN AS THE VILLAGE MUSEUM)
In the Village Museum situated 10 kilometres north-west of the city centre on Bagamoyo Road, you find a collection of authentically constructed traditional houses from different tribes around Tanzania. The museum displays several distinct architectural styles with building materials ranging from sand, mud, grass, woodn poles to rock and coral. Villagers demonstrate their ancient skills of carving, weaving and pottery and offer their products for sale. At the Village Museum you can also enjoy traditional dance performances (Ngoma).

THE STATE HOUSE

The State House accommodates the offices of the President of Tanzania. It has an ornate structure reflecting a blend of African and Arabian architecture. The state house partly lies on the foundations of the old German Palace.

 MNAZI MMOJA PARK

This park is situated between the Jamhuri and Uhuru Streets. On one sideo f the park is the Uhuru Torch Monument marking Independence and commemorating the Freedom Torch that was placed on the peak of Kilimanjaro at Independence in 1961.

On the other side of the park is The Republic Fountain, which commemorates the Foundation of the Republic of Tanzania in 1964.

KARIAKOO MARKET

Thisis the famous and largest market in East Africa spanning several street blocks and housing the food market and small-scale economies. The name "Kariakoo" is said to be a corruption of the words "Carrier Corps", the infamous British legion that were based in the area in colonial times and where thousands of Tanzanians were conscripted to work as war porters,a job that was grossly hated and despised.

Today the market is a bustling centre of micro and macro economies, a thriving centre for small and medium level businesses from those selling vegetables and other food provisions to businesses selling homeare, building materials, bicycles, spare parts and other items.

MSASANI SLIPWAY
Here you can buy books as well as gifts and souvenirs of good quality. Every Saturday there is a craft market held at Msasani Slipway. There are also many cafes and restaurants where one can get refreshments or stop for lunch on a full day tour of  Dar es Salaam city.

TINGA TINGA CENTRE
Tinga Tinga is a popular style of art originated in Tanzania in the 1950s. The style is named after its original painter, Edward S. Tinga Tinga, who began to paint in this style under the influence of popular painters from Zaire (now Congo) . The themes of the pictures include African wildlife, village and market scenes, and scenes of modern life. The paintings are done in oil (or acrylic) on canvas. The style also includes pictures on bowls, trays, postcards, and other items. Tinga Tinga is one of the many forms of impressionism the beautiful and mysterious continent of Africa has given birth to. Unlike Western styles of impressionism, Tinga Tinga Art gets its unique and vibrant style from the magnificent natural surroundings of Africa . Artists have the freedom to use their brushes to express their thoughts in bright, eye-catching colours. A striking feature in most of these paintings is the way the artists capture the animals of the Eastern coast of Africa, in what appears to the a distorted yet a very interesting image of the original creature!

Gifts with Tinga Tinga art are unique and serve as lovely souvenirs of Tanzania. One can purchase trays, name plates, mugs, canvas paintings, keychains and t-shirts with tinga tinga paintings - great gifts for yourself or your family/friends back home.

MWENGE CRAFT MARKET
Mwenge Village is the site of a score or more stalls selling carvings, jewellery, exotic cloth and trinkets of all kinds at bargain prices. Makonde carvings are probably the best known art work produced in Tanzania . This art is produced by the Makonde people of southern Tanzania , and their material of choice is Ebony (African blackwood) although these days carvings are also made from rosewood. Their work is both traditional and contemporary, reflecting a tribal past as well as modern response to urban life. They utilize their tribal myths and stories as inspiration for the masterful work; one carver, for instance, specializes in ghost spirits and clouds. Animal statuettes, and human and demon-faced ceremonial masks are common. Modern Makonde carvings fall into three main categories: representing men and women carrying out traditional roles within the community; intertwined figures participating in ceremonial rituals or showing several generations derived from a common ancestor, known as ‘people trees’; and depictions of ancestors & spirits from mythology in human form, often with an enlarged left ear. Many communities actually believe the sculptures are embodiments of the spirits, and make offerings of maize and corn to them. Some still hold that they possess supernatural powers, and male Makonde carvers can carry a female figuring as a good luck charm.

This is a worthwhile stop for gift and souvenir shopping whilst in Dar es Salaam.

THE UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM AT UBUNGO

The first university of Tanzania is superbly laid out amidst lawns and gardens on the Ubungo Observation Hill, about 14kms from the city centre. The hill offers some magnificent views over Dar es Salaam city. One of the most famous architectural landmarks is Nkrumah Hall with its unique curved arches and domed structure.  The university is now spread over 5 different campuses dotted around the city, however the College of Engineering and Technology and The Faculty of Law are still based at Ubungo Hill (also known as Mlimani)

HOUSE OF ART (ALSO KNOWN AS NYERERE CULTURAL CENTRE)

This is a unique venue where artists create, display and sell various forms of art. their output is generally of ihgh quality and includes jewellery, textiles, pottery, ceramics, Makonde woodcarvings, paintings and etchings and weaving. Visitors can take part in workshops where one can indulge in painting, drawing, batik and etching. There is also a small restaurant on the premises offering snacks, refreshment and lunch.

DAY TRIP TO BAGAMOYO

Aim 4 Africa can organise a day trip from Dar es Salaam to Bagamoyo visiting historical and cultural sites. Click here for more information on the sites you can visit on a day trip of Bagamoyo.

Lazy Lagoon

A lovely little island   where one can spend a few days away from Dar es Salaam, for more information, click here

TRAVEL TO & AROUND DAR
Dar es Salaam International Airport is one of Tanzania’s major airports. Amongst the many different airlines flying into Dar are British Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, Emirates, Air France, Air India and Lufthansa.

Dar es Salaam offers connections to Arusha, Nairobi, Entebbe, Zanzibar, Mwanza, Tanga, Kigoma, Dodoma and other cities and towns in the country.
There are also small scheduled and chartered flights to the various parks and game reserves around the country such as Selous, Ruaha, Serengeti (via Arusha) and Saadani.

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See Also: Bagamoyo , Swahili Coast, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Enquiry Form