Dar es Salaam city

Dar es Salaam city

Dares-Salaam (meaning home of peace) city is the largest city in East Africa and the seventh largest city in Africa. It is located in Tanzania and former capital city of the country. It is located on a natural harbor on the eastern coast of East Africa. It has a population of 6,700,000 people and serves as an important economic center for Tanzania. The city is also home to one of the busiest ports in East Africa, port Dar es salaam.

Dar es salaam is divided into 5 administrative districts. They include the following

1. Illala- it is the administrative center of Dar es salaam. It is home to most government ministries and houses. The central business district is also found in this district. It is also the transportation hub of the city and holds Julius Nyerere international airport, central railway station and Tazara railway station. The residential areas of this district are mainly high income and include: Upanga, Ilala, Kariakoo, Tabata, Segerea and Ukonga
2. Kinondoni- this is the most populated of the five districts with half of the people staying here. It is also home to high income earners. The suburbs here include: Masaki, Oyster bay and Ada estate, Msasani, Mbezi beach, Tandale, Mwananyamala-Kisiwani and Kigogo, Mikocheni and Regent Estate.
3. Temeke-this is the industrial part of the city which holds the manufacturing centers. Dar es salaam ort, the largest hub of Tanzania is located here. Temeke is inhabited mainly by the low income earners. The suburbs here include Kurasini, Chang’ombe, Temeke, Mtoni and Tandika, Mbagala and Kijichi
4. Kigamboni- this district holds an economically diverse population and is a beach suburb on the peninsular. One has to take a ferry to get to this district although the Kigamboni bridge is another alternative.
5. Ubungo terminal- this is the main link of transportation for urban centers in Dar es salaam. The narrow gauge commuter trail runs from Ubungo terminal to the rest of the city with 10 level crossings along the way.

History

Dar es salaam was previously referred to as Mzizima: Swahili for healthy town. It was a coastal fishing village during the Indian ocean trade in the 19^th century. One of the slave trade masters, Sultan Majid bin Said of Zanzibar built a city close to Mzizima and called it Dar es salaam in 1865. The town fell into chaos in 1870 after the sultan’s death but was later revived by the German East Africa Company in 1887. The town acted as an industrial and administrative center for the Germans after the construction of the Central Railway Line in 1900.

During world war 1, German East Africa was conquered by the British who renamed it Tanganyika. Under the British colonial rule, the town was used as a commercial and administrative center which attracted a large number of workers from British India that led to its rapid growth.

Political movements that saw the formation of the Tanganyika African National Union led to the independence of Tanganyika as a free state in 1961. Dar es salaam continued serving as the capital city until 1973 when the capital city was moved to Dodoma.

Economy and Infrastructure of Dar es salaam city

Dar es salaam city is the major city of Tanzania that harbors government and business centers.  Most of the businesses are small enterprises owned by traders from the middle east and India. These businesses are found in downtown Illala district. The city is home to the Bank of Tanzania found in Kivukoni. The Dar es salaam stock Exchange and the Magogoni fish market. Other enterprises and offices are located in Kisutu town which also is home to the Dar es salaam central railway station and the PSPF towers. The PSPF id the tallest building in the city and Tanzania with more than 35 stories

However, Dar es salaam has had major infrastructural constraints including frequent power outages and an outdated transport system.

Transport

Dar es salaam is one of the hubs of the Tanzanian transportation system serving as the main railway and several railways that provide transport for commuters.

The main mode of transport for the locals is road transport through public buses called dala dala.  The local buses are mostly found at the major bus terminals of Makumbusho and Ubungo. Other transport means include the use of motor cycles: boda bodas and Bajaj which are considered faster.

The city also has the country’s busiest port west of the Indian ocean which handles 90% of the country’s cargo.

Dar es salaam city has the MV Kigamboni ferry that runs between south east of Kivukoni and north west of Kigamboni.

The Dar es salaam commuter trail provides railway transport to urban and sub-urban parts of the city. Tanzania railways operates the central line from Dar es salaam to Kigoma. The city also hosts the head office of the Tanzania Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA) with the main terminal located in the west district.

Dar es salaam city hosts the Julius Nyerere International Airport, which is one of the principal airports serving the country west of Dar es salaam city.

Tourism

Tanzania has five national museums and of these, Dar es salaam city has two of the museums. These include the National museum of Tanzania and the Makumbusho Cultural Center. The national museum is dedicated to the history of Tanzania while the Makumbusho cultural center is dedicated to showcasing the rich traditions of all 16 different ethnic groups of Tanzania.

The city is also blessed with a number of beaches on the Msasani peninsular in the north and Kigamboni to the south. One can take a trip to the Dar es salaam Marine reserve islands for activities like snorkeling, swimming and sun bathing. One island that can be accessed by boat form the Msasani slipway is the Bongoyo island. Bongoyo island is a small island off the coast that became a marine reserve a few years ago.

There are nearby botanical gardens with tropical plants and trees at the beaches, islands and close to the museum.

Dar es salaam has a number of monuments that are of significance to the country. Some of them include the Askari monument which is a reminder of soldiers who fought in world war 1 which is located in the middle of the city.

Visit the Azania Lutheran Church which is an iconic structure found at Dar es salaam’s harbor.  One can go up to the top of the tower and have a breath taking view of Dar es salaam city.

Visit Pugu hills, which is a natural reserve located about 25 kilometers from Dar es salaam city. Get to hike along the trails, visit the caves or opt to watch birds.

The city harbors Coco beach also known as Oyster bay. It is a stretch of sand located on the Msasani peninsular inhabited mainly by the locals and Asians. The beach is also a venue for concerts and parties. Swimming is safe at this beach.

Dar es salaam is home to a number of brightly colored artifacts found especially in Oyster Bay. The Nyumba ya Sanaa (house of art) is a workshop that showcases Tanzanian art and crafts.