Visiting Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Nobody’s favourite tourist city, Dar es Salaam is sprawling and congested. Largest city in East Africa by population ➙ approaching 8 million.

The capital since 1996 is Dodoma.

Best news is the Dar es Salaam bus rapid transit system under construction. It reminds me of the excellent system I used in Rio.

Unfortunately progress has slowed after the death of President John Magufuli who initiated the program. Locals blame corruption.

Best thing I did in Dar was a personal half day cycling tour of the city. We visited very local coffee shops, candy shops, digital movie library, African herbal medicine shop, ghetto movie theatre, 2nd biggest market, and much more.

Making Peanut Brittle. This entrepreneur sells coffee and candy on the street, especially at bus stops.

We finished with a soft drink in my guide’s local bar.

A walking tour of the downtown business centre wasn’t all that interesting.

Better was the Kijiji cha Makumbusho, or Village Museum, an open-air ethnographical centre showcasing traditional huts from 16 different Tanzanian ethnic groups.

It’s right in the middle of the city.