Dar es Salaam (Meaning “haven of peace” in Arabic) has grown from a quiet fishing village to become Tanzania’s largest city and one of East Africa’s busiest ports. Dar es Salaam was the capital of Tanzania up to 1974 when it lost the status to Dodoma. It remains more influential with most of the key administrative offices in the country. The city has a population of about 6 million residents and because of that, is a commercial and industrial heart. The main fascination of the city is its history and location along the Indian Ocean. The architectural style in the city has heavy German, British and Asian influence.
The city population represents the over 120 tribes of Tanzania with their different cultural backgrounds coming together, All cultures at one time or another passed through Dar es Salaam. It is necessary to visit Dar es Salaam to understand the secret of letting different cultures live together in absolute harmony. Being the commercial capital of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam is also the main gateway to the nature reserves of southern Tanzania, which include the Selous Game Reserve and the National Parks of Mikumi, Ruaha and Udzungwa Mountains, Saadani and Kitulo.
It also serves as a convenient connection for travel to the islands of Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba both by sea and air. A city tour of Dar es Salaam will take you to the National Museum, Nyerere Cultural Centre, the Village Museum, Mwenge Wood Carvings Market, and the Magogoni Fish Market, among other interesting spots