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Dar es Salaam,
meaning The Haven of Peace in Arabic, has one of the best
deep natural harbours in the world. From a small Swahili
town in the middle of the 19th century, Dar es Salaam has
grown into a large metropolitan centre with a population of
over 3,500,000 dwellers. The city population represents the
over 120 tribes of Tanzania with their different cultural
backgrounds coming together, alongside the oriental
civilizations from the far and middle east, and the
Europeans including early Portuguese visitors in the 16th
Century, the Germans and later the British. 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 and Saadani Game Reserves
and the National Parks of Mikumi, Ruaha and Udzungwa
Mountains. It also serves as a convenient connection for
travel to the islands of Mafia, Zanzibarand 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 Carvings Market, and the Magogoni Fish
Market, among other interesting spots.
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