Dar Es Salaam - Post Report Question and Answers
What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Day trips to zanzibar. Afriroots tours Walking the dog on coco beach Walking around the peninsular at 6am. Eating Mishkaki (meat on a stick) from a local food place Hiking to waterfalls in Leshoto Paddling boarding before work in the week. - Jul 2022
Zanzibar. - Jan 2022
The Indian Ocean is five minutes from my front door. - Jun 2017
AfriRoots bicycle tour when your first arrive (a 4-hour bike tour of the city; they also offer bhajaj- auto rickshaw/tuk yuk tours); Village Museum (bring a flashlight); drive from Pangani to Dar or vice-versa, through the game park (you see how real Tanzanians live); Sauti za Busara music festival in Zanzibar in February; Tarangire and the Crater; Mbudya Island; bike ride to South Beach (for age 15+ only) and then stay at Kipepeo; the Badminton Institute; buying fabric; Indian Bingo night; the new animal shelter Taweso; serving food on Saturdays with the Korean NGO - Jul 2015
If you are into water sports-sailing, diving, snorkeling, boating then this post is for you! There are also cinemas, paint ball, and a driving range in town. There are no hiking opportunities in Dar, but there are some about 4-5 hours out of town. - Mar 2014
Mostly water activities: scuba, snorkeling, sailing, going to the beach. safari, or hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro. There are two theaters, but both take a while to get to through the city traffic and are not close to the housing areas. They are both in malls. Plenty of good restaurants. - Feb 2013
Zanzibar, Serengeti Safaris, Mafia Island, South Beach, Arusha/Moshi, hiking, diving, snorkeling, fishing, all water sports. - Feb 2013
In Dar it is all about the water, as it is very difficult to get out of the city. Save your hiking boots for climbing Kili, and don't bother bringing a mountain bike. Bring a surfboard instead, or kite surfing gear, scuba gear, snorkeling gear, and all your beach paraphenalia, as you will use them every day. Join the yacht club and learn to sail. The bay is ranked as one of the top sailing bays in the world, and there are Regattas for all different classes. You can also dive with the yacht club for just the cost of gas and the air fill (but bring your own gear). Diving instruction is available at White Sands or on Zanzibar. Zanzibar is a mere 2.5 hours away by Ferry. It is much easier to get out to Zanzibar than it is to go inland. If you don't like water, there is a pretty intense club scene, but otherwise not a lot of activities. - Aug 2011
If you like climbing, this is the place for you, with Mt Meru and Mt Kilimanjaro in the northern section of the country, plus beaches and safaris. - Jun 2010
