Dar es Salaam City Guide - overview

Meaning 'Haven of Peace' in Arabic, Dar es Salaam began as a small fishing village and has become a melting pot of cultures, encompassing African, Arabic and Indian flavours. But this city is anything but peaceful. A bustling metropolis of east Africa and largest city of the exotic land of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam is a major port, which straddles some of the world's most important sea routes. With German, Asian, Swahili and British architecture to appreciate, visitors will find no shortage of attractions to busy themselves with while in Dar es Salaam. Head to the National Museum or the Botanical Gardens, while the colourful and vibrant Kariakoo Market and clock tower is also very popular with tourists and holidaymakers. Those in search of sandy beaches to sun worship will do well to head to Oyster Bay, just outside of Dar es Salaam, while on the south coast are picturesque beaches that will enchant and captivate.

Getting around: Minibus taxis and buses operate on a flat-fare basis, but travellers should be aware that these do not operate on regular schedules and are often dangerously overcrowded. Taxis can be hailed from outside most hotels in Dar es Salaam at a fixed fare but in most other places it is customary to negotiate the fare in advance. Travellers wishing to hire a car should make sure they have a valid international driver's license, which must be endorsed by the police on arrival in the country. Travellers opting to drive themselves should look into hiring a 4x4 or SUV and be aware that cattle and other pedestrians tend to ignore the rules of the road.