Find out where to stay, eat and spend time in Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam means “House of Peace” in Arabic. For a city which such a name it is a surprisingly busy and lively place where it is sometimes hard to find some rest. Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s major city and its capital in everything but name. ‘Dar’ is a down-to-earth place, with a picturesque seaport and enough historic buildings, shops and good restaurants to keep you busy for a few days. The city has a mix of African, Arabic and Indian influences yet keeps close ties to its Swahili roots.
Dar es Salaam is a hustling, bustling seaport on the coast of Tanzania accessing one of the most important sea routes on earth. To most travelers though, the city is just a convenient port of call on the way to the more exotic Zanzibar, Pemba or Mafia islands, Tanzania’s national parks, or as a business destination.
This is a great pity, because “Dar”, as it is lovingly called by aficionados of the city, is a fascinating rabbit warren of a tropical port, often surprising the wanderer with scenes of breathtaking beauty – and there is something irresistible about whiling away a few hours sitting at the water’s edge, watching dhows slipping skillfully under the bows of huge cruise liners and cargo ships.
Now a very cosmopolitan city, Dar is fine for visiting for a day or two exploring the markets, museums and historical buildings. There are good hotels here and several shopping centers with local craft markets.
Even if you don’t have time to explore the rest of Tanzania, don’t miss a visit to the open-air Village Museum (also referred to Makumbusho, the Swahili word for museum) located on New Bagamoyo Road. These well-kept grounds feature 18 furnished traditional houses from different ethnic groups throughout Tanzania. In addition, you can watch traditional dance performances on most afternoons, view a variety of agricultural techniques, observe artisans at work and refresh yourself in the cafe.
About 10 km from the city centre along the road to Bigamy, you find 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. The South Coast is also being developed and has nice beaches.
You are bound to enjoy the pleasures of bars, restaurants along with the lovely beaches. Water parks are without fail, at very affordable prices.
Gauravks is a professional articles writer whose major area of focus about travel. His articles on different travel topics like Cheap Flights to Dar es Salaam and Cheap airline ticket to Dar-Es-Salaam are published on various online platforms. Don’t forget to visit his site at http://www.ticketstoworld.co.uk
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