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.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Makonde ebony carvings
Hand-carved ebony figures; confirm the wood is legal (not protected hardwood).
Price: 20,000-300,000 TZS ($8-120)
Where: Mwenge Woodcarvers Market
Kanga and kitenge cloth
Printed cotton wraps with Swahili proverbs.
Price: 10,000-25,000 TZS ($4-10)
Where: Kariakoo Market
Tingatinga paintings
Bright enamel paintings in a Dar es Salaam-born style.
Price: 30,000-300,000 TZS ($12-120)
Where: Tingatinga Arts Cooperative Society
Tanzanian coffee and spices
Kilimanjaro and Mbeya coffee, cloves, cinnamon.
Price: 8,000-30,000 TZS ($3-12)
Where: Kariakoo Market, Slipway
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Kariakoo Market
Wholesale textiles, spices, electronics
Where: Kariakoo
Hours: Mon-Sat 7:00-18:00
Mwenge Woodcarvers Market
Makonde ebony carvings, Maasai crafts
Where: Mwenge
Hours: Daily 8:30-18:00
Slipway Shopping Centre
Boutiques, craft shops, bookshop
Where: Msasani Peninsula
Hours: Daily 9:00-21:00
Tingatinga Arts Cooperative Society
Tingatinga paintings
Where: Msasani
Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00-17:00
Mlimani City Mall
Supermarket, electronics, fashion
Where: Sinza/Ubungo
Hours: Daily 9:00-21:00
Village Museum Craft Shop
Local crafts and kanga cloth
Where: Kijitonyama
Hours: Daily 9:00-18:00
Msasani Village Crafts (Sea Cliff Village)
Gifts, jewellery, tanzanite
Where: Msasani Peninsula
Hours: Daily 9:00-20:00
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Mlimani City Mall
Largest mall with supermarket, cinema and fashion stores.
Slipway Shopping Centre
Waterfront boutiques and craft shops.
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Start at 40-50% of the first price at markets and settle near 60-70%.
Fixed prices apply in malls and supermarkets.
Be polite and smile; walk away if the price does not move.
Carry small notes for exact payments.
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Do not export protected wood or ivory; check regulations before buying carvings., Dress modestly in Kariakoo., Cards are accepted in malls; carry cash for markets.