Dar es Salaam means "House of Peace" in Arabic. For a city with such a name it is a surprisingly busy and lively place where it is sometimes hard to find some rest. Unfortunately, security has deteriorated and it is no longer safe to walk in town after sunset. Dar es Salaam is the largest city and the political and economic capital of Tanzania located in a quiet bay off the Indian Ocean coast.
Restaurants, shops, office buildings, and government buildings are all a common features of Tanzania’s urban center. To most travelers, Dar es Salaam is just a convenient port of call on the way to more exotic destinations of
Zanzibar, the game parks,
Pemba Island or Mafia Islands. Life in Dar es Salaam revolves around the huge harbour, with the business district fanning out from here in a series of fascinating side and main streets.
Activities in Dar es Salaam
Seven kilometres north of the city, to Bongoyo Island Marine Reserve offers good snorkelling and diving sites for those who want to explore the water. The reserve boasts beautiful beaches, secluded islands, and many varieties of marine species. Although the variety and population of coral and fish species are not as numerous as other sites on Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia Island, the Bongoyo Island Marine Reserve is well worth a visit and is a great way to spend a day out and see the coast.
Dar es Salaam is a hustling, bustling seaport on the east coast of Tanzania that straddles some of the most important sea routes on earth.
There is something irresistible about whiling away a few hours sitting at the water's edge, watching dhows slipping skilfully under the bows of huge cruise liners and cargo ships.
The main sights are the very colourful Kariakoo Market and clock tower, the National Museum, and the Botanical Gardens. All of these are either in or not far from the city centre.
About 10 km from the city centre along the road to Bagamoyo, you find the the Village Museum, which is also worth a visit. The best beach close to the capital is Oyster Bay. Other beaches, with better security, our found further north along the coast.
On the northern arm of the harbour is Kivukoni Front, with its fish market, where every morning at dawn the dhows sail in to offload the night's catch.
in the city centre include the botanical gardens, and the adjacent National Museum.
Safety
Be warned though: like all seaports, Dar es Salaam has its dangers. You are strongly advised not to wander around the city at night in small groups, particularly around the port and on the beaches north of the city around Kunduchi.
Never exchange money on the streets with the touts who offer you "best rates in town".
Climate
Dar es Salaam's weather is humid and hot during the dry season from September to March, and humid and cooler following the long rainy season from June to August. Dar has two rainy seasons, the short rains from late-October to early-December and the long rains from March to June. During the dry season temperatures can easily soar to above 35°C in Dar. You should seek shelter from the sun during the midday heat and use copious amounts of sunblock, SPF 30+.
Getting to Dar es Salaam
You can get to Dar es Salaam by plane from different international destinations.
There are two trains running out of Dar Es Salaam from different station. Bus travel is generally reliable if you pick the right company. It can be somewhat scary as Tanzanian's seem to value arriving quickly more than arriving safely.
Some of the cheaper lines run buses which are remarkably dilapidated, uncomfortable, will take a very long time to fill up, and will likely have to stop more often on the way, assuming they make it at all. Bus travel by night is not allowed, so most buses except for those to nearby cities will leave early in the morning.
