Dar es Salaam (meaning ‘
haven of peace’) is
Tanzania’s major city, commercial center and the country’s capital in everything but name, since it lost the title to Dodoma in 1974. A large
cosmopolitan metropolis that draws heavily on its
African,
Arabic and
Asian influences, it still has the air of a much smaller
coastal town. A
rectilinear grid of streets imposed by the German East African Company in the late 1880s spreads inland from the
waterfront, where traditional
dhows (long, flat sailboats used for
transporting freight and passengers)
and modern
hydrofoils compete for space. Within the city itself
Arabic and
Indian districts thrive and
Muslim,
Sikh and
Hindu tolerantly coexist.
Although there isn’t a huge amount to entertain or delay the average transient tourist intent on getting to
Mount Kilimanjaro, the
Serengeti or
Zanzibar, it is a relatively comfortable place to spend time, certainly in comparison to other major East African cities, and the
attractive colonial architecture,
labyrinthine streets, reasonable
restaurants and
lively markets make for sufficiently diverting entertainment. The ubiquitous
music of the city, a sort of
guitar and
brass-driven dance form, permeates everything and encapsulates the laid-back attitude of this busy port.
To escape the city and enjoy a change of pace, try the
readily accessible beaches to the north and south of Dar, climb into the
tropical forest around Pugu Hills or make the short hop to one of the
outlying islands, where you can relax and unwind away from the hurly burly of the center.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related Tanzania Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Tanzania Airport Guides:
|
Tanzania City Guides:
|
| Tanzania Attraction Guides: |
|
|
Available Tours to Tanzania:
-
iExplore East Africa Experience -
$4895,
9 days
-
iExplore Kilimanjaro Climb - Machame Route -
$3850,
8 days
-
iExplore Kilimanjaro Climb- Lemosho Route -
$4655,
11 days
-
iExplore Kilimanjaro Climb- Rongai Route -
$4295,
7 days
-
iExplore Kilimanjaro Climb: Marangu Route -
$3195,
7 days
-
iExplore Tanzania Experience -
$3575,
6 days
-
Kilimanjaro & Safari -
$2650,
11 days
-
Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar -
$2550,
11 days
-
Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Route & Zanzibar -
$2840,
13 days
-
Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Route And Safari -
$3590,
13 days
-
Kilimanjaro Climb - Lemosho Route -
$1854,
10 days
-
Kilimanjaro Climb - Northern Circuit -
$2080,
11 days
-
Kilimanjaro Climb - Rongai Route -
$1480,
8 days
-
Kilimanjaro Climb - Rongai Route (Independent) -
$1890,
8 days
-
Kilimanjaro, Serengeti & Zanzibar -
$4540,
15 days
-
Tanzania Trails -
$1190,
8 days
|
