Dar es Salaam often get a bad rep for being dirty, noisy and boring but there are so many activities available for tourist to enjoy. Here at Travel Tanzania we are dedicated to giving you the inside scoop on where to go!
Nafasi Art Space
Nafasi Art space is a vibrant art centre which regularly hosts events and exhibitions to the public to showcase the work of visual and performing artist from all over the African region. We definitely recommend attending the Wikiendi Live event where local musicians perform all day and the audience can dance late in to the evening. Wikiendi live usually takes place once a month and is completely free! Check their website and social media pages for upcoming events. If you do happen to miss the Wikiendi live event you should still swing by Nafasi as it is a wonderful platform for artistic exchange in dar es Salaam. After all, isn’t seeing local art one of the best ways to feel the pulse of a city?
Askari Monument and St. Joseph Cathedral
Askari monument is a surprisingly small bronze statue with incredibly large background. Located in what is said to be in the heart of downtown Dar es Salaam, the bronze soldier is a memorial to the soldiers who fought in the British Carrier Corps in World War I.
Not far away stands St. Joseph Cathedral -a stunning gothic church built by the Germans in 1897. You can also walk inside to have a look but there will surely be a man coming up to you offering to show you around and expect a tip for doing so. Just don’t forget to go up the clock tower catch a stunning view of the harbour while you are there.
Makumbusho Village Museum
The village museum is an open-air museum which showcases traditional style huts and compounds from some of Tanzanias different tribes to give an idea of how people used to live like. The exhibition looks a bit old but the guide is informative and at 6500 tsh/pp its quite affordable. One can also request to see traditional tribal dance performances for an additional fee. the different tribal huts in
Coco Beach
The most famous and most visited beach of Dar es Salaam, this beach is worth a visit -not so much for swimming and sunbathing but to enjoy a fun beach day like a local. You come to Coco beach to sit at one of the rickety plastic tables and eat freshly fried “Mihogo” -cassava- drowsed in chilli and tomato sauce accompanied with a cold bear. You come to people watch; boys playing football on the beach, kids building sand castles and splashing in the water, lovers walking along the shore and musicians walking from table to table singing corny ballads acapella in the hope for a tip.
Kariakoo Market
A huge market dated all the way back to… Here you can find all types of spices, fruits and vegetables as well as traditional fabrics such as Kitenge and Kangas. The market is very busy so don’t bring any unnecessary valuables and keep a close eye on what you do have. Here at Travel Tanzania we love to shop for “delas” -thin, flowy printed dresses traditionally worn by women in Tanzania. The thinner versions make perfect night gowns or home wear while the thicker ones can be worn outside.
Slipway Hotel
Slipway is not just a hotel, its a shopping centre with cute shops and ocean front restaurants and bars with international cuisine. Go to slipway to walk along the pier watching boats sailing by and eating ice cream from Fairy Delights. If you have children you can let them play on the playground. Get lost searching for your new favourite book in the beautiful book store, wander through the many vendors selling cultural nick nacks and clothes and lastly, watch the beautiful sunset as you are having a drink and eating sushi at Thai Kani Restaurant during happy hour.
Bongoyo Island
Bongoyo is a beautiful secluded island within 30-min reach of the city. The white beach is spectacularly clean and the ocean reminiscent of the turquoise waters of Zanzibar. It’s ideal for swimming as the waves are calm and the water clear. Make sure to come early to enjoy the island as much as possible. Learn more from my previous post about Bongoyo Island.
“Make sure to come early to enjoy the island as much as possible.”
National Museum of Tanzania
If you are the museum type you should visit the national museum in downtown Dar es salaam. It houses exhibitions about the history and natural environment of Tanzania and there are also old fossils and bones on display. The displays cover the colonial period and the slavery period. The cost is 6500 ths/pp.
Bagamoyo
A sleepy fishing village less than an hour away from Dar, Bagamoyo with it's narrow unpaved streets and colonial buildings is well worth a visit. Here the century old ruins and streets will bring your mind back to a time when the village was a busy trading port for the Arabs and later for the German and eventually the British. For 20,000 tsh/pp tourists can walk around and inside beautiful historical buildings with arabic architecture, ruins from ancient villages and old german cemeteries. For an additional 40,000 tsh/group you can get a personal guide to explain all the interesting historical facts on your tour. After your tour you must stop by Poa Poa Restaurant, our favourite place to eat in Bagamoyo. If you plan to stay the night we recommend The Firefly eco lodge; a breathtaking oasis full of art and greenery made out of a restored historic building. Hell, even if you are not spending the night, just go for a drink or a cooling dip in their swimming pool. It’s too beautiful to miss.
Hope you enjoyed this list of ours, we are confident you are going to love Dar es Salaam.
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