The Best of Dar-es-Salam: Top 10 Things to Do in the City

Have you always wanted to visit Tanzania, but never knew where to start? Or, do you have too many options in mind, from all the research you’ve done on the internet and through your friends? Well, we at the best tanzania safari company are here to  make the decision simpler for you, by curating a list of all the various activities you can indulge in on your trip to Dr-es-Salam. The most well known city in Tanzania, Dar-es-Salam brings together the perfect serenity of an ideal tourist spot, without the excessive tourist crowds. Basically- just what you’ve been looking for! Ranging from the most scrumptious street foods, to the National Museum of Tanzania, to the most beautiful beaches in the country, Dar-es-Salam has plenty to offer, and is likely to become one of your most cherished vacations!

Safari tours in Africa are increasingly becoming popular across the globe. But what has also simultaneously gained popularity is the city of Dar-es-Salam, which functions today as the financial, fashion, economic and media hub of the country. So, if you do plan on visiting Africa, best to include a visit, even if a short one, to the lovely city of Dar-es-Salam too! Here is  a list of top 10 things you can do while you’re here:

• WINDOW SHOPPING AND THRIFTING

One can perhaps never know a city in its most authentic sense till they visit its dusty, busy and bustling street markets. Dar-es-Salam has plenty of those, and the most popular one perhaps is the Kariakoo Market. It has everything that you can possibly need, all in one place. Ranging from food, to clothing to everyday essentials including grocery, this market has options for every category possible.

• INDULGE IN A FOOD FEST

The best way to know a place is to know its culture, and there is nothing more telling of a culture than its culinary practices. A well known spot is the street barbeque at Barbeque House  close to Ali Hassan Minawi Road, which invites hundreds of food enthusiasts almost every day. A beloved spot for locals and tourists alike, the street barbeques serve an array of chicken,mutton and beef delights all hot and sizzling, that are likely to water your mouth every time you visit. Another famous spot is the Mamboz Corner, where meat, chicken and fish are served with various chutneys and your pick of naan bread. So get your taste buds ready to truly savour the city!

• A VISIT TO THE FISH MARKET

Nothing like traveling a city down to its roots! The Kivukoni Fish Market truly offers the most authentic Dar experience. If you do plan on visiting, best to do it in the wee hours of the morning, Fisherfolk are heard hawking their fish meat to the buyers, the hustle bustle of an early market, and the rather pungent smell of fresh fish, it is truly an experience coloured in and by the local environment of the city!

• STROLLING AT THE BEACH

If you’re the kind of traveler who doesn’t enjoy busy, happening places, then you can take a quiet stroll on the beach instead. Though Tanzania has a lot of options to choose from, the Coco beach, near the Msasani Peninsula, is a beloved choice, of the locals and the tourists alike. With the waves of the sea gently caressing the shores, the sun in a stunning hue at the horizon, and the light breeze, you are sure to find the relaxation you have been looking for. Locals are often found buying small items from local vendors, or drinking coconut water or beer, also sold by hawkers and vendors along the shore, and basking in the serenity that the beach offers.

• WATER ACTIVITIES

If you are more adventurous with water than just taking a stroll along the beach, then Dar-es-Salam has plenty of options for you too. The city is actually set off the coast of the Indian Ocean, and snorkeling, diving and other water activities are a popular sport here. The city’s yacht club also hosts sailing and fishing excursions and you can also sail to some of the neighboring islands like Mbudya and Pangavini.

• VISIT THE MUSEUMS

The city of Dar -es-Salam has plenty of archival history displayed at its museums, a fact that is often overshadowed by its being a beloved wildlife safari destination and hiking spot. Two out of the five museums that constitute what is called the National Museum of Tanzania consortium. The first of the two is the National Museum, which is a carefully curated archive of Tanzania’s history, also featuring the famous archeological findings of Louis Leaky at Olduvai. The second, which is called the Makumbusho Cultural Centre and Village Museum, allows one a glimpse into the ethnic tradition and culture- a vivid display of the evolution of the tribes that are an extremely important part of Tanzania’s history.

• EXPLORE THE ART

A trip to a city remains incomplete if one does not explore its art. Dar-es-Salam offers a number of opportunities for artists and art enthusiasts to view the brilliance and splendor that its art carries. The Nafasi Art space, located in Dar-es-Salam, is counted in some of the most reputed art galleries in Africa. You may find artists still at work, engaged in the process of crafting a piece of sheer brilliance.

• TOURING THE CITY CENTRE

There are very few ways to completely know Dar-es-Salam other than through one of the tours offered by Afri Roots. These tours, usually taken on a bicycle, allow one to really get to know the city inside out, from knowing its historical landmarks to famous food places, they cover everything there is to know about the place!

• MORE THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, THE BETTER!

If you love being surrounded by lush greenery, a cool light breeze that makes leaves of trees rustle quietly, and padding on soft, green grass, then the Botanical Gardens are the place for you. Whether or not you take a safari tour in Tanzania, you can always come to this serene outpost and enjoy some leisure time, away from the crowds and noises of the main city.

• WITNESS THE GOAT RACES

You must’ve seen people race, or maybe even cars. But what if we tell you that every September along the Kenyatta Drive, it’s actually a bunch of goats that race to the finish line, with the local residents and tourists placing bets, and cheering on. The festival is full of enthusiasm and vigor, and though it is not a Tanzanian safari or Zanzibar, it has its own thrill!

CONCLUSION: 

We hope this  list of the 10 things you can do in the amazing city of Dar-es-Salam, curated carefully by the best tanzania safari company will help you out while you’re on your trip there. So, if you have been planning a safari tour in Africa, now is your time to add the city of Dar-es-Salam in your plan!