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Guide to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Dar Es Salaam
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Dar Es Salaam The beautiful city of Dar es Salaam is a wonderful port city, with picturesque views and friendly people, and lots fun activities and attractions. Dar es Salaam is the original capital of Tanzania, an influential piece of its regions economy and an important trade hum. It once existed as a fishing village, but in recent decades a major shift in the import/export business brought a quick and broad economic boom, not only to the city of Dar es Salaam, but to the country as a whole. Now it is a busy place where both locals and foreigners come and go, and you too can enjoy what Dar es Salaam has to offer as well.
When to go:
We recommend that you make your visit during the summer months (December to March) as this is the time when it is consistently warm, and the air is drier, and you experience the least amount of rainfall. The climate is usually consistent year around, unless of course you go further inland as well as to a higher elevation, where youll experience cold weather to its fullest (i.e., hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro). In Dar es Salaam youll most-likely run into warm tropical breezes.
Getting there and around:
International and domestic flights almost always arrive at Dar es Salaam International Airport. This is a major hub of the country, and serves quite a bit of traffic. It is not too far from the city centre, so youll only have to take a short bus or taxi ride into the heart of Dar es Salaam.
Though buses are good for transportation, we recommend getting around the city by taxi. This is more expensive than the bus of course, but youll get to your destinations quicker, and youll be more comfortable. Of course you can opt for the even-more-expensive option of renting your own car, though this really is not necessary nor advocated by us at Travel Comparison, as it is a busy, crowded city, where navigating the streets is best left up those most experienced.
Attractions:
The port is a wonderful place to start your exploration of Dar es Salaam. The water is beautiful, and you can hardly feel the hours pass by while you watch the boats sailing and motoring in and out. You can also stop here during the early or mid-afternoon for a picnic a picturesque view always makes a meal much more enjoyable. Of course you are not advised to stroll around the waterside late at night, as mischief tends to lurk here.
You can visit the Dar es Salaam National Museum, which has a grand display of archaeological pieces dating back millennia. The early fossils of mankind where indeed found in Tanzania, and they are here in the National Museum on display, too. The slave trade is documented and a portion of the museum is devoted to this part of the countrys history, as well as the colonizing entities which have had a surprising influence on the country as a whole. Tribal crafts and artistry is also exhibited.
Even though Dar es Salaam is not an ancient city, there are quite a number of historic sites, landmarks, and buildings. You can visit the Ocean Road Hospital, which was built in the late 1800s. A few governmental buildings have quite a lot of history in them, such as the City Council, the State House, Kivukoni Magistrates court, and the Department of Land and Survey. St. Josephs Cathedral is beautiful in architecture, and still holds mass frequently.
If you enjoy shopping you can make one stop to Kariakoo Market, and find everything you need. In fact, you may find yourself visiting this area multiple times. The market atmosphere is somewhat infectious, with bustling crowds, and the fact that it is massive.
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