Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's largest city and main port, a hot Swahili coastal metropolis of markets, museums, harbour life and island beaches, and the gateway to Zanzibar and Tanzania's safari circuit.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Bagamoyo Historic Town
Highlights: Old Fort and German Boma, among the oldest surviving colonial buildings on the Tanzanian mainland · Kaole Ruins, a 13th-century mosque and tomb complex among baobabs beside the sea · Catholic Mission museum covering missionary history and the slave and caravan trade · Dhow landing beach and fish market, with boats unloading the daily catch · Grilled fish and octopus lunch at a beachfront eatery
Zanzibar (Stone Town) by Fast Ferry
Highlights: House of Wonders and the Old Fort on the Stone Town seafront · Anglican Cathedral and the former slave market site with its small museum · Carved Zanzibari doors and narrow lanes of the UNESCO-listed old quarter · Darajani Market with spices, fish and tropical produce · Forodhani Gardens waterfront food market in the late afternoon
Kigamboni and Gezaulole Village
Highlights: Kigamboni ferry crossing from Kivukoni with views of the Dar es Salaam harbour · Palm-fringed beaches and day-use beach clubs around Kigamboni and Mjimwema · Fishing landing sites where dhows bring in the daily catch · Gezaulole Village walks, farms and local food · Grilled fish and coconut rice at a beachside eatery
Pugu Hills and Kisarawe
Highlights: Coastal forest walks in the Pugu and Kazimzumbwi forest reserves · Views toward Dar es Salaam and the Indian Ocean from the hills · Birdwatching and butterflies in remnant coastal forest · Kisarawe town market with fruit, cassava and local crafts · Simple local lunch of grilled chicken or fish with ugali
Sadaani National Park (Saadani)
Highlights: Game drives across savannah and woodland with giraffe, buffalo and wildebeest · Boat safari on the Wami River for hippo, crocodile and waterbirds · Beach and fishing village at Saadani on the Indian Ocean · Coastal bush and ocean setting, rare among East African parks · Flight option with Coastal Aviation that shortens the journey
Morogoro and Uluguru Mountains by SGR
Highlights: SGR electric train ride from Dar es Salaam in under two hours · Uluguru Mountains foothills with guided walks, viewpoints and waterfalls · Morogoro central market with local fruit and vegetables · Luguru villages and terraced farming on the mountain slopes · Local lunch of ugali with grilled meat or fish
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Public
- Daladalas and long-distance buses from Ubungo and Mwenge; SGR electric trains from the SGR station on Pugu Road
- Private
- Taxi or driver hire for 150,000-500,000 TZS ($60-200) per day depending on distance
- Ferry
- Azam Marine to Zanzibar from Sokoine Drive
Multi-day tours from Dar es Salaam
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from Dar es SalaamWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Leave Dar es Salaam before 6:30 to avoid traffic on the Bagamoyo road.
For Zanzibar by day trip, check the return ferry time and carry your passport.
Confirm SGR schedules at trc.go.tz before travelling.
Use Bolt/Uber only for local legs; for long distances negotiate a day rate in advance.