Top Things to Do in Dar es Salaam
The vibrant and bustling city of Dar Es Salaam should be on every travel lover’s wish list. One of the best tourist locations in East Africa, this wonderful city offers a unique insight into the urban life of Tanzania and East Africa, and allows tourists to make memories that will last a lifetime. A trip to Tanzania is incomplete without exploring Dar Es Salaam. Here are the top things that one must do in the city to ensure they can enjoy an unforgettable, enriching, and extraordinary vacation.
- Try the Street Food
Tanzania has one of the most unique and amazing cuisines in the world. With Arabic, Turkish, Indian, Swahili, and African influences, the food contains a blend of spices such as lemongrass, turmeric, cumin, pepper, nutmeg, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, garlic, and coriander. Tourists can try dishes such as Ugali, which is a staple of the region, as well as delicious meat dishes such as Nyama Choma and Mshikaki. Foods such as biryani, curry, fresh seafood, kebabs, and spiced potatoes are easily available and are often accompanied by drinks such as ginger tea and sugarcane juice. Visitors can also buy fresh fruits and vegetables from street hawkers and sellers. This offers a great insight into the local lifestyle and the authentic taste of the region.
- Party at Coco Beach
Also known as Oyster Bay, Coco Beach is located on the pristine Msasani Peninsula. This spot is ideal for travellers who wish to party or enjoy Tanzania’s nightlife. One can join a party to mingle with friendly locals and people from all over the world, while they dance to uplifting music and unwind from all their problems and worries. Visitors can also enjoy the heavenly view of the white sand and crystalline water!
- Trek at Pugu Hills
For nature lovers, Pugu Hills Forest Reserve is one of the best places to visit in Dar Es Salaam. This spot is one of the oldest forests in the world and is home to animals such as cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, leopards, hyenas, baboons,, jackals, galagos, warthogs, colobus monkeys, and mongooses, which tourists can see while trekking. They can walk upto the local cattle market, visit the nearby caves that are sacred to the the Zaramo people who live in the region, or go to the great bat caves which are home to the Tanzanian woolly bat, Hildegarde’s tom bat, and horseshoe bats.
- Learn about History
Travellers should always seek to learn about the history and heritage of the region they are visiting. In Dar Es Salaam, they should visit historical locations such as the Askari Monument, which honors the soldiers who fought alongside the British in the first world war, and is accompanied by plaques with Arabic and Swahili inscriptions. Tourists must also plan a trip to the amazing museum. The National Museum of Tanzania was established in 1934, and is home to ancient relics and artefacts, such as old Tanzanian wood carvings, ancient Chinese pottery, archeological artefacts, fossil discoveries, prehistoric rock art, old coins, paintings of important figures such as President Julius Nyerere, and indigenous ebony masks. Guests can also find artefacts from British and German colonial rule, old cars that once belonged to King George V and Julius Nyerere, and ethnographic collections on indigenous Tanzanian cultures.
- Visit a Local Market
Local markets offer a unique insight into the life, culture, and customs of a region. Tourists can visit local markets to have enriching interactions with friendly and down to earth locals. At Mwenge Woodcarvers Market, visitors can find incredible items such as intricate tribal art, wood carvings, sculptures, Tinga Tinga paintings, and bead jewellery! They can buy souvenirs from the open air stalls, bargain with the locals, or observe the creativity of painters, sculptors, carvers, sandal makers, and bracelet makers, as they create beautiful and amazing products for sale!
These are some of the top things that tourists can do on their trip to Dar Es Salaam.
