Highlights of Dar es Salaam
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Port
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$160
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
This tour provides a look at Dar es Salaam with some insight into the daily activities of its residents.
Departing the pier, you'll take a panoramic drive through the city center to Mnazi Moja Park. Here you can see a replica of the Uhuru Torch Monument. The original stands on Mt Kilimanjaro to commemorate the freedom from colonialism that came with independence.
You will visit the Mwenge Makonde Carvings Market, situated near the University of Dar es Salaam. The market allows you to witness the entire carving process. Using tools and skills passed down from generation to generation, the craftsmen here carve a wide variety of curios, statues and models, ranging from tiny Maasai figurines to huge wooden elephants.
Visit Tinga Tinga, where painters show off their skills. The local tinga tinga art is sometimes referred to as 'crazy art' due to the very bright color schemes used and the distorted figures depicted. At the Tinga Tinga Center, you will see painters at work, and will have ample opportunity to purchase various souvenirs and household utility items that have been painted in tinga tinga style -- letter-openers, trays, name plates, cup holders and key chains, as well as paintings on canvas.
Your next stop is at the Village Museum, offering a collection of authentically-constructed traditional houses from various Tanzanian tribes. It displays several distinct architectural styles with building materials ranging from sand, grass and poles to mud and rock. On certain days, villagers demonstrate their ancient skills of carving and weaving and offer their products for sale.
A more formal portrait of history is presented at the National Museum. See numerous archaeological items -- among them Louis and Mary Leakey's finds from Olduvai Gorge. The fossils displayed in the Hall of Man include the skull of the so-called Nutcracker Man. There is also a collection of tribal ornaments, head-dresses, witchcraft paraphernalia and traditional musical instruments collected from various regions in Tanzania.
From here, you'll head back to the port with a fairly complete picture of Dar es Salaam.
Please note:
Bring bottled water. Wear comfortable walking shoes and light layered clothing. Do not take photos of police officers or military personnel; ask before taking a photo of a local person. You must obtain a yellow fever certificate prior to travel. The National Museum is not air-conditioned.