
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 South Asian 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 on holiday in Dar es Salaam. The city also has a few interesting museums, including the National Museum and the Makumbusho Village Museum.
On a nice day you can head to 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 Bayor take the ferry to Bongoyo Island, while Kigamboni on the south coast has picturesque beaches that will enchant and captivate.
Getting around in Dar es Salaam can be confusing for visitors. Walking is a pleasant way to see the city, but pedestrians should be mindful of aggressive drivers as the city has no sidewalks. Minibus taxis (called daladala) 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 and are popular with pickpockets. 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 outside of the city should look into hiring a 4x4 or SUV and be aware that cattle and other pedestrians tend to ignore the rules of the road.
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