How do I get from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar?

Fast catamaran ferries run several times daily from the Kivukoni ferry terminal to Stone Town, taking about two hours; buy tickets in advance from the official operators and keep your passport handy as it is treated as a domestic sea crossing.

Is Dar es Salaam safe for visitors?

Dar is generally welcoming, but as in any large city stay alert to petty theft, avoid displaying valuables, use reputable taxis or ride-hailing apps at night, and take extra care in crowded markets such as Kariakoo.

Where does the SGR train leave from?

The modern Standard Gauge Railway departs from the dedicated Dar es Salaam SGR terminus (separate from the old central station), running inland toward Morogoro and Dodoma; check your ticket for the correct station.

What is the best area to stay in Dar?

The Msasani peninsula and Oyster Bay (Kinondoni) offer beaches, restaurants and boutique hotels, while the city centre near Kivukoni is handy for the ferry, business district and historic sights.

Destination guide

Dar es Salaam

Tanzania's sun-soaked port city, where Swahili trade, Indian Ocean beaches and the gateway to Zanzibar meet.

The story

A short history of Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam began as Mzizima, a small Swahili fishing settlement on a sheltered natural harbour. In the 1860s Sultan Majid bin Said of Zanzibar developed the site as a mainland retreat and trading town, giving it the Arabic-derived name Dar es Salaam, often translated as 'Abode of Peace' or 'Haven of Peace'. Its deep, protected harbour soon made it a prized foothold on the East African coast.

When the German East Africa Company established a station here in 1887 and made the town the capital of German East Africa, Dar es Salaam's fortunes surged. The Central Railway Line, begun in the early 1900s, linked the port to the interior as far as Lake Tanganyika, cementing its role as a gateway between the ocean and the hinterland. Under later British administration it remained the territory's dominant port and administrative centre.

After independence in 1961 Dar es Salaam served as Tanzania's capital until Dodoma was designated the political capital in 1974, though the transfer of government functions took decades. Dar has nonetheless remained the nation's commercial engine and largest city, and in recent years the opening of the modern Standard Gauge Railway terminus and expanded ferry links have reinforced its position as the country's principal transport hub.