Dar es Salaam

One of  oldest cities in Tanzania Dar es Salaam was established by Arab traders. In Tanzania as well as the rest of East and Central Africa, this is the biggest and most prosperous city. On the whole African continent, it ranks as the seventh largest city. The Arab term Dar as Salaam, which meaning “the place of peace,” is where the city earned its name. The city was formerly a tiny fishing community before growing into one of Tanzania’s and all of East and Central Africa’s most economically affluent centres. Nearly 90% of Tanzania’s imports and exports are handled by Dar es Salaam, the country’s largest and most important port.Before being moved to Dodoma city, Dar-es-Salaam served as Tanzania’s first capital city. Its population is expanding at one of East Africa’s fastest rates. The renowned Sultan of Zanzibar established the ancient city in 1862, around the Mzīzima fishing field exclusively. Approximately in 1887, the German East African Company, the colonial masters, erected their station in Mzizima, a little harbour that the sultan had built. Tanganyika’s capital city was established in 1907 when the Central Line Railway was being built by the Germans. Later, in 1961, Tanganyika was renamed Tanzania, making Dar es Salaam the capital of the newly formed Tanzania.

Up until 1974, when Tanzanian President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere moved the capital to Dodoma, it functioned as the country’s capital. Despite the fact that the capital city was moved in 1974, the official transfer of the capital city administration was not completed until 1996. Up until 2018, Dar es-Salaam served as the hub of central government administration. The city is still regarded as one of Tanzania’s most notable and orderly towns. Its architecture was influenced by German, Italian, Arab, and other cultures. The city hosts numerous entertainment events, including music, art, fashion, and film. Tanzania’s top financial institutions have their headquarters in this city.

It has long been regarded as Tanzania’s most popular location for arrivals and departures.  The city of Dar es Salaam is comprised of five distinct districts. The region of Dar es Salaam is one of the 31 administrative regions that comprise the country of Tanzania. The five districts that comprise the vast Dar es Salaam region are Kinondoni, Ilala, Ubungo, Temeke, and Kigamboni. Dar es Salaam is regarded as a post-World War II city, indicating that the war had a significant impact on its growth.

Where is Dares Salaam located?

The city of Dar es Salaam is situated a few kilometres off the Indian Ocean in a quiet bay. It is located along the coastline province in Tanzania’s southeast. In certain places, it is the location of the white beaches. The city of Dar es Salaam is located on the western portion of the Indian Ocean that borders Kurasini to the east. Industrial The majority of Tanzania’s industries, which produce items for both domestic and international markets, are based in this city. The city still houses a number of government agencies, diplomatic missions, and important non-governmental organisations. Dar es Salaam continues to be a significant city for business and government. Dar es Salaam city has the highest concentration of businesses. The large, rapidly growing companies in the city are owned by both foreigners and locals, especially those from the Middle East and Asia. This city is home to the Tanzania Ports Authority’s main office. Excellent road networks, particularly in the city’s suburbs, provide decent access to the metropolis. These suburbs are connected to the city’s economic centre by the Dar Rapid Transit buses, a mass transit system. The region. Additionally, the government launched metro buses, which are directly managed by Dar es Salaam city bus rapid transit, which operates in collaboration with the government and Usafiri Dar es Salaam (UDA).

Attractions of Dar es Salaam

Being the busiest in Tanzania and all of East Africa, more people travel there than to any other town in the country. This city serves as the entry and exit point for most tourists travelling to Tanzania. Julius Nyerere International Airport, the biggest airport in Tanzania, is situated there. Because various traders arrived at the landing site early to do trade, the city was created under a variety of architectural styles. The distinctively varied architecture has made a significant contribution to the city’s excellent layout and plenty of tourist attractions. The city’s position alongside the Indian Ocean has significantly broadened the range of activities available to visitors. Here are a few of Dar es Salaam’s top tourist destinations.

Askari monument

The World War 1 troops from Tanzania are portrayed in the Broze monument. It is located in the heart of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and serves as a reminder of the tremendous contribution made by Tanzanian soldiers in World War 1. The monument is a nice place for photo safaris  in addition to being a historical monument.

State house

This is the previous state house which is  now the president’s residence, even though the city was moved to Dodoma. The colonial master developed and constructed this one-of-a-kind home in the 1890s during the Western era. The visitors can no longer enter the state house. Can be visible from a distance with certain photography restrictions. It is situated in Kivukoni on Luthuli Street in Dar es Salaam.

National Museum

This building, commonly known as the House of Culture, is located in the heart of Dar es Salaam. It is one of the main Tanzania safari tour destinations in the city for tourists who are interested in learning more about history of Tanzania. Dr. Leakey excavated some of the early man’s remains from Olduvai Gorge, which are on display in the museum.

Village Museum

The distance of the village museum  from the centre of Dar es Salaam is only a few kilometres. The village museum is a collection of homesteads dispersed over fifteen acres of land. The community is home to representatives of sixteen different Tanzanian ethnic groups. Here, and nowhere else, are the indigenous tribes of Tanzania portrayed. The village museum is the best place to visit if you want to learn a lot about Tanzanian culture.

Churches and Cathedrals

During your visit in Dar es Salaam, religious tourists won’t be abandoned. Numerous churches may be found all across the city, including Azania Fort Lutheran Church and St. Joseph Cathedral. The German colonial masters constructed these churches in the Roman Catholic style.