Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Authentic Tanzania is based in Dar es Salaam and all our operations start and end in the gateway to southern Tanzania safarisand the islands of Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba.

Dar es Salaam is viewed by many as a transit point unworthy of a mention and to enter and leave as quickly as possible.

However this is our home and we view it differently …….

Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s largest city and commercial centre and in recent years has developed rapidly with new hotels, restaurants and activities opening up to attract tourists to stay and experience Swahili coast hospitality.
It is a long flight from almost everywhere to Tanzania so why not relax after your flight and see what Dar has to offer before embarking on safari.

Things to do …..

1. Beaches
The beaches south and north of Dar es Salaam are a great spot to relax if you cannot immediately face another flight or ferry out to the islands.
North of the city are several beach hotels around Jangwani, Kunduchi and Bahari and good watersports facilities from the hotels. This is also the place to take a boat to the offshore islands of Mbudya and Bongoyo which is a lovely relaxed day out, and on weekdays you are almost guaranteed your own desert islands.
Kunduchi also boasts East Africa’s largest waterpark – Kunduchi Wet and Wild.

Dar es Salaam

South of Dar the beaches are superb with good swimming and none of the hassle that some of the Zanzibar beaches have.

At Kipepeo, just 8 km from the city centre, Dekeza Dhows offer half day sailing cruises with fantastic snorkelling at Sinda island.
Back at Kipepeo there is a great beach bar and good value accommodation.Further down the coast the beach at Amani has 2 quality accommodation options at Amani and Ras Kutani and a deserted stretch of beach which is hard to beat anywhere on the East African coast. Green turtles nest on these beaches.
Also on this beach is The Horse Club with horse trails along the beach and through the bush. Authentic Tanzania organises special horse riding and turtle watching trips to the Horse Club, contact us for details of when the turtle nests are due to hatch.

2. Deep Sea Fishing
Charter a fishing boat to fish the internationally acclaimed waters of the Zanzibar Channel, Latham and Sinda islands.

3. The Slipway
A waterside complex with restaurants, bars and curio shops with a local market at the weekends. This is also the start point for excellent half and full day boat trips to Bongoyo Island Marine Park. A good spot for a sundowner with live music on Thursdays.

4. Restaurants
In the city centre the Kempinski currently boasts hands down the finest cuisine in its restaurants however this is spurring on more creative menus amongst the other hotels.
The New Africa has a great Thai restaurant with superb views of the harbour from its 9th floor setting.
Further out of town The Anghiti serves delicious Indian food and is well worth a trip up the New Bagamoyo road. Addis in Dar offers tasty Ethiopian food with good atmosphere out in Regent Estate. Mediterraneo has good seafood and lovely seafront setting.
The Seacliff has several restaurants in it’s shopping centre and the Karambezi restaurant in the Seacliff hotel offers the some of the best dining views in Dar es Salaam.
Msasani peninsula is the expatriate centre of town and has several restaurants which tend to open and close regularly but Sweet Easy is staying the distance with a Thai and Swahili menu and has live bands on Thursdays.
Its usually best to pick up one of the free magazines such as Dar Guide or What’s Happening in Dar which are available at most hotels to find out where the latest most popular venue is. As with the bars restaurants come and go frequently.

5. Bars
Bars also tend to open and close but The Q Bar is Dar’s best option if you are looking for a big night out with a party crowd and atmosphere. A good venue for all major sporting events and lively weekends. It also has great value accommodation for anyone who doesn’t fancy moving far after a night out.
Sweet Easy in Oyster Bay is another lively option, especially on Thursdays. Trinity bar in Oyster Bay likes to keep a low profile with no sign outside (it’s next to the Uganda High Commission) but is a great bar with a local flavour and genuine hospitality.
The Garden Bar on Haille Selaisse is another option if you are looking for variety.
And what self- respecting African city can be without a traditional Irish pub. O'Willies based at Peninsula Hotel, Msasani ensures a raucous evening and often has live music.
Then theres the George and Dragon again on the peninsula and no prizes for guessing that its modelled on an English pub.
Coco Beach bar has a good location right on the beach but probably best not to stay too late and don’t walk on the beach after dark.

6. Shopping
There are shopping centres at Seacliff Hotel and The Slipway with curios, clothes, etc but these are not the cheapest options.
If interested in African art go out to the makonde carving market in Mwenge and see the wooden carvings being made and haggle for the best products, it’s an interesting little market. Just nearby is the Africa Arts shop with collections of fabrics and carvings from all over Africa – a real Aladdin’s cave.
The Tinga Tinga artists market is just off Haille Selaisse street and an interesting place to see the artists creating the pictures.
Tanzanite is one of the unique gems from Tanzania and there are several shops specialising in the stones at Slipway, Seacliff hotel and in the city centre. Never buy tanzanite from an unauthorised dealer.
In the city centre Kariakoo market is where you can buy anything and everything and is where locals go for food and provisions. It’s a pretty hectic place but fun to visit, however best not to take any valuables, cameras, etc.
Never buy any animal products such as skins, sea and turtle shells.

7. Cinema, Galleries and Theatre
There is a relatively new cinema up at Mwenge showing the latest movies in a 3 screen complex.
The Mawazo Art Gallery in the same complex as YMCA is a small but energetic gallery promoting Tanzanian artists and sculptors and well worth a visit. Up by the cinema in Mwenge the Nyerere gallery also showcases Tanzanian artists.
Nyumba ya Sanaa next to the Movenpick Hotel on Ohio street also has several cultural events with tribal dancing on Friday evenings.
Check the local magazines for sporadic performances at The Little Theatre on Haille Sellaisse Street where Dar’s expatriates tread the boards.

8. City Tours
Most hotels/local tour operators offer city tours to visit the ‘highlights’ of Dar’s attractions. Considering the horrendous traffic in the city centre nowadays the prospect of sitting in a car for 4 hours to look at The Askari monument, the central railway station, the Botanical Gardens, Mnazi mmoja park, etc is probably enough to put most people off staying in the city.
A day spent on the ocean or the beaches is a far more preferable alternative. Or delve beneath the gloss of the tourist brochures .......

Authentic Tanzania organises alternative city tours and show visitors a different side to the city by visiting several small arts and crafts workshops for textiles, woodwork, metalwork and pottery. Many of these are initiatives to help the disabled or disadvantaged to make a sustainable livelihood and you can spend time with the artisans.
One of the most rewarding experiences is to visit the Bibi Jann Chidren's Care Trust in the suburb of Mbagala - www.bibijann.org - please let us know in advance so we can arrange a visit with the school. All donations of school equipment, sports equipment, clothes and finance are much appreciated.

9. Volunteer Work
For longer stay volunteer projects we work closely with Tukae Partners based near Amani Nature Reserve in the Usambara Mountains, please ask for details. Tukae are particularly interested in hearing from volunteers with building, teaching and healthcare skills which can benefit the local communities.

Discover a piece of Dar before your south Tanzania safari .....