Dar es Salaam is the country of Tanzania's largest and richest city. Tanzania was previously known as Mzizima. There are nearly 4.5 million occupants in Dar es Salaam. Strangely enough, the city was stripped of its capital city status back in 1974, when it was handed to Dodoma.
The city however is still looked upon by those in the area as the capital of the region, and is still the major hub for bureaucracy. The city itself is settled on a natural harbor on the Indian Ocean. It is a beautiful picturesque seaport, and well worth spending a few days in.
Being an extremely multicultural city, it is home to native African Tanzanians, expatriates from Germany and Britain, and people from South Asian and Arabic countries.
When it comes to dining out you are in for a real treat, as it is an amalgam of a wide range of foods, from Thai, Indian, Chinese, American and traditional Zanzibari.
If you wish to immerse yourself in the local culture be sure not to miss out on the Kariakoo Market or the Dar Es Salaam Fish Market. Other notable attractions include the Askari Monument, National Museum of Dar Es Salaam, Pugu Hills Nature Reserve, take a day trip to Bongoyo Island, South Beach Kigamboni, Mwenge Wood Carvers Village, Tingatinga Art Center, Kunduchi Wet n Wild Water Park or try your lady luck at the Las Vegas Poker Room.
