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A Drone shot of the capital city of Tanzania, Dar es salaam, view from above. The Brand. Found in East Africa. The city centre located in Posta showing ocean view and the whole city
Dar Es Salaam
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Dar Es Salaam

Overview

Take a trip to Dar Es Salaam on your Tanzania vacation.

Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania, is located on a massive natural harbour on the eastern coast of Africa. It is the country’s richest city, serves as an important economic centre and can easily be combined with a Tanzania safari.

The Germans were the first to arrive in Mzizima (a healthy town), the former name of Dar es Salaam in 1859. By 1866 the Sultan Seyyid Majid of Zanzibar gave the city its current name. The German East Africa Company established a trading station in 1887, overthrowing the Arabic rulers. They began to colonise the East Africa Coast and Dar es Salaam became the administrative and commercial centre of the company.

During the First World War, the territory was occupied by the British forcing Germany to relinquish control. Following the Second World War, Dar es Salaam continued to grow, and when Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form Tanzania in 1964, it became the capital. (The capital was later changed to Dodoma in 1973).

The name Dar es Salaam translates to “haven of peace” and is an apt description of the lifestyle found there. In a multicultural society, African, Arabic and Asian influences are found everywhere and various cultures, Arabic, Indian, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu coexist. Visits on travel to Tanzania to the beaches and nearby islands as well as the museums and local markets highlight what the city has to offer. An exciting culture with a laidback attitude, there is much to do in Dar es Salaam.

At a Glance
LanguagesSwahili, English
CurrencyTanzanian Shilling (TZS)
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