Shopping

Shopping in Dar es Salaam is a bargain hunters dream. Haggling is the norm here and tourists can find themselves walking away with some fantastic gifts and souvenirs to take home for a great price. A must is the Kariakoo Market, which is a bustling and chaotic tangle of stalls and people. Popular tourist buys in these markets are kangas (or khangas), which are colorful, sarong-like pieces of cloth with Swahili sayings printed on them. Another popular buy are tinga-tingas (local Tanzanian paintings).

The main port at Dar es Salaam harbour features a fish market in the northern area called Kivukoni Front, where the day's catch and other fresh fish is sold. Head to the vendors on Samora Avenue where you'll find a good selection of electrical appliances.

One of the most popular buys in this exotic land is the highly sought after, valuable and extremely beautiful blue Tanzanite. Jewellery with this precious gemstone fetches a hefty price. Watch out for fakes and only buy from reputable dealers. The rule of thumb is the darker the stone, the more expensive it is.