Dar es Salaam is a patchwork of past and contemporary cultures with
Eastern, German and British influence - Eastern in the shops and
Bazaars of India street, German in the almost Bavarian Railway station
and the post telegraph offices, British in the legacy of flowers and
gardens. It is fundamentally, however, a Swahili city. The first
quality of the city that the visitor notices is the
extreme
friendliness of the people - beaming smiles enthusiastic conversation
at the drop of a hat.
The word Dar es salaam is Swahili for 'Haven of Peace'. The city's
natural harbor and its central location on the coast made it a
natural choice for a trading centre. Sultan Majid bin Said of Zanzibar
had planned to develop the harbor in 1866. German colonists revived
the Sultan's plan in 1887.
Benedictine and Lutheran missionaries built churches and a hotel, the
Kaiserhoff, for merchants. The town flourished with the building of
the Central Railway which linked the coast with Lake Tanganyika in
1914. The
British based their commercial and administrative centre
here after the First World War.
The waterfront bustles with hawkers selling snacks. At the end of the
Kivukoni Front you will find Kivuko Ferry shuttling people, produce
and vehicles to Kigambini, a large fertile peninsula with beautiful
beaches. Ocean Road is home to Kivukoni Fish Market the best place to
buy fresh red snapper, lobster, prawns, squid, barracuda and
shellfish.
The city's Botanical Gardens are right next to the city centre - an
oasis of cool garden and peace and quiet. Across the street, is
the
National Museum with excellent cultural and archeological displays
including the partial skull of the "Nutcracker man", Mary Leakye's
discovery at Olduvai Gorge.
Morogoro Road takes you to the Asian District, where you can shop for gold work and
textiles, Indian tea and snacks. Visit one of the many Hindu Temples
in Kisutu Street.
The Gymkhana Club is the city's main sports and recreational centre
and is open to temporary members. It has a challenging 18-hole golf
course, tennis, rugby, cricket, football, hockey, squash and
table-tennis pitches.
Nyumba ya Sanaa (House of Art) is located near the entrance of the
Club and is a must on any visitor's itinerary.
For a taste of the real Tanzania visit Kariokoo Market, where they
sell everything from fruit to traditional medicines and livestock.
