As we reach the year 2022, the covid 19 pandemic is nearing its end, and travel restrictions are being lifted. This is great news for travel lovers, who will be able to explore the world once again in 2022. An incredible place for travellers to visit is Dar Es Salaam, the perfect tourist destination for anyone who wants to explore a vibrant and beautiful culture, and escape the worries and stresses of their daily routines. Dar Es Salaam is one of the most popular cities of Tanzania, and offers a unique insight to East Africa’s urban life. Here is a travel guide for tourists who wish to visit the vivid and bustling city of Dar Es Salaam!
- How to reach Dar Es Salaam?
Travellers from all over the world can fly to Dar Es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport, which is located awwround 12 kilometers from the city centre. Those who are already in the country can reach the city by road, which is a cheaper but more time taking option.
- Best places to stay
Dar Es Salaam offers top class lodges, retreats, and hotels, with comfortable rooms, attentive staff, and excellent facilities. Some top rated hotels are City Lodge Hotel, Azure Boutique Resort, and Hotel Blue Sapphire. Those who are seeking more luxurious options can go to Hotel Slipway, Golden Tulip, Sea Cliff Hotel, Hyatt Regency, or the Oyster Bay Hotel. For more budget friendly options, Kipepeo Beach Village, and The Slow Leopard are ideal.
- Best places to visit
Dar Es Salaam is home to amazing locations that tourists must visit.
- The National Museum of Tanzania
The National Museum offers a unique insight into the history and heritage of the country. Here, tourists can find ancient relics and coins, fossil discoveries, prehistoric rock art, old Tanzanian wood carvings, ancient Chinese pottery, a sacred fig tree, paintings of important figures such as President Julius Nyerere, and indigenous ebony masks! Tourists can visit the gift shop to get souvenirs and keepsakes.
- Askari Monument
The Askari Monument is a famous landmark that reflects on Tanzania’s colonial past. The memorial has been placed to honor the soldiers who fought with the British army during the first world war. The bronze statue points a rifle towards the harbour and is accompanied with plaques that have inscriptions in Arabic and Swahili.
- Coco Beach
Tourists who want to explore a beach location can go to Coco Beach, which is 11km away from Dar Es Salaam. Visitors can relax on the soft sand, take a swim in the cool blue water, go surfing, or enjoy the view of the stunning coastline and vivid greenery. One can also enjoy fresh seafood made by locals, which is made with spices such as turmeric, cumin, pepper, lemongrass, nutmeg, garlic, ginger, and cloves.
- Pugu Hills Forest Reserve
Tourists can also visit the extraordinary Pugu Hills Forest Reserve where they can find animals such as cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, elephants, jackals, hyenas, warthogs, mongooses, colobus monkeys, baboons, and impalas. Tourists can trek up to the local cattle market, a cave that is sacred to the Zaramo people, and the bat caves which are home to the Tanzanian woolly bat, Hildegarde’s tom bat, and horseshoe bat!
- Best places to eat
Dar Es Salaam offers incredible food options to tourists. A budget friendly option is to get street food, which provides an unforgettable experience as the local cuisine is a unique blend of Swahili, Turkish, Arabic, Indian, and Portuguese flavors. Visitors can enjoy foods such as biryani, samosa, Nyama Choma (grilled meat), Mshikaki (meat skewers), Kuku Paka (spicy curry), Uji (porridge), Chipsi Mayai (chips and eggs), and Muhogo (deep fried cassava). Some great restaurants and eateries are The Fire Restaurant which serves Mexican, Indian, and African foods, Karambezi Cafe, and Addis in Dar which offers delicious Ethiopian food.
Dar Es Salaam is an extraordinary tourist location which offers an unforgettable vacation, and should be on every travel lover’s wish list for 2022!