Dar es Salaam

On arrival in Dar es Salaam, the presence of the Big Mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro, is immediately felt.

Cruise ships use different harbor berths, and the port does not yet have a dedicated cruise-vessel terminal.

Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's largest city and former capital, on the Indian Ocean east coast. From here, trains run inland to northern Arusha, Lakes Tanganyika and Victoria, and Zambia, for which the port is an outlet for copper exports. Visit Kariakoo market, the Botanical Gardens, National Central Library and the National Museum of Tanzania, with notable east African archeology and history collections.

Dar es Salaam, Arabic for "haven of peace", was established in the 1860s as the sultan of Zanzibar's summer residence. German colonists developed it, and it became German East Africa's capital in 1896. British control began in 1916; it became the capital of independent Tanganyika in 1961, then of Tanzania when Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged in 1964. Dodoma was named Tanzania's new capital in 1974. See the Zoological Gardens, National Museum and Village Museum.

Walking through central Dar is an enjoyable way to see the city and probably the best means of getting around. People generally leave visitors alone apart from occasional greetings. There are few pavements, so take care beside busy roads.

Kigamboni, or South Beach, lies across the channel from the Zanzibar ferry. Developers have bought public beaches, so hotels maintain most beaches and charge admission. South Beach Resort is popular, alongside Amani and Ras Kutani resorts.

Mwenge has the excellent Mwenge Carvers' Market, where visitors can watch artists create crafts sold across the country, although some Tanzanian crafts are imported from Kenya. Prices range from very cheap to expensive, and the market closes at dusk.

Tanzania's currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TSH, /=). One US dollar equals about 1100 Tsh.

Shops, restaurants and hotels in Tanzania generally expect Tsh payment. Travel visas and national-park entry fees must be paid in US dollars by non-residents, and safaris and Kilimanjaro treks are generally priced in US dollars, though other currencies are accepted. On Zanzibar, prices are usually US dollars, including the Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar ferry, and non-residents must pay hotels in foreign currency, although hotels will change Tsh for you.

Credit Cards work only at large hotels, resorts and certain travel agents. Tanzania remains a cash society.

Tanzanians speak Kiswahili and some English; as elsewhere, English is more common in larger cities and tourist destinations.

Internet cafés are increasingly widespread in Tanzania and easy to find in major urban areas such as Dar es Salaam and Arusha.

Emergency Services number: 112

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1400-1800; Sat 0830-1230. Some shops are open on Sunday.