Dar es Salaam is the economic heart of Tanzania. The main port of Tanzania is located on a quiet bay of the Indian Ocean. Dar es Salaam means “House of Peace” in Arabic. Dar es Salaam is the main city of Tanzania in the fields of art, fashion, media, music, film, and television and is a leading financial center.
Dar es Salaam was the capital until 1973 and is still the economic heart of Tanzania. The capital of Tanzania is now Dodoma, more centrally located. However, the move is still not complete.
Over the past century, Dar es Salaam has grown from a sleepy fishing village into a thriving tropical metropolis of over 4 million people. Dar es Salaam is the largest and most populous Swahili-speaking city in the world. Oyster Bay is home to the brightly colored and tourist-oriented Tingatinga painting style.
Dares Salaam, notorious for its traffic jams, has succeeded in maintaining a calm, down-to-earth feeling.
During the German occupation in the early 20th century, Dares Salaam was the center of the colonial administration. In addition, the city was the main contact between the agricultural land and the world of trade and commerce in the Indian Ocean and the Swahili coast. Remains of colonial presence, both German and British, are still clearly visible in the architecture of the city.
There are beaches in the north, on the Msasani Peninsula, and in the south, in Kigamboni.
From this city, coffee, cotton, sisal, and hides are exported. Furthermore, food, textiles, cement, and medicines are produced for the local market.
From Dares Salaam marine reserve, day trips to the nearby islands – Mudy and Bongoyo – are popular as these are the perfect spots for snorkeling, swimming, and sunbathing. The island of Bongoyo can be reached by boat from the Msasani Slipway.
Dares Salaam has a tropical climate and is a wonderful destination all year round.
April and May:
There’s a higher chance of rain. This essentially means a tropical shower in the morning and sometimes at night. The temperatures are pleasant (26 degrees on average).
June to October:
This is the “cool” period in Dares Salaam. The temperature has slightly dropped to 24 degrees on average during the day.
November to December:
Precipitation varies and temperatures slightly rise.
December to February:
This is the hottest period of the year (on average 27 degrees during the day).
Visit the fish market, the art market, museums, historical buildings, or the nearby beaches and islands, and experience the cultural mix and languid atmosphere of this city by the Indian Ocean. Some other activities include; City walks, Snorkeling, city tour by bike, visit Pugu Forest.
