Tanzania Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Tanzania, TZ, East Africa)

For many visitors to Tanzania, Dar es Salaam is their first point of contact. Despite temptations to head straight off to tour the rest of the country, it is worth setting aside some time to properly sightsee and explore the city's innumerable attractions and sights.

Historic tourist attractions in Dar es Salaam date back to colonial days and include the Botanical Gardens and Old Boma. Others are reminders of East Africa's rich Christian heritage, with the White Fathers' Mission House being one such example. For families, the Dar es Salaam Zoo offers an easy afternoon out and a taster of some of the indigenous African animals living in the country's national parks.

St. Joseph's Cathedral

Address: Sokoine Drive, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Situated near to the White Father's Mission is Dar es Salaam's best known church. St. Joseph's is a German colonial era building, with a Gothic-spired exterior that makes it stand out amongst the city's traditional East African architecture. Once you've finished admiring the church's exterior, it's worth heading indoors to look at the stained glass windows behind the altar. Keep an eye out, too, for the impressive carvings nearby.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Botanical Gardens

Address: Shaaban Robert Street / Samora Avenue, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Work on creating Dar es Salaam's Botanical Gardens started in the final years of the 19th century. The gardens were the work of the German Director of Agriculture at the time, one Professor Stuhlmann. After World War One, the maintenance of the Botanical Gardens was put under British authority. Whilst the gardens aren't quite as extensive as in their heyday, they are nevertheless a magnificent and colourful display of native East African plants, including bougainvillea, jacaranda, red hibiscus and scarlet flame trees. The gardens also host exhibits from Dar es Salaam's Horticultural Society collection.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Old Boma

Address: Sokoine Drive, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Situated opposite the current City Hall in Dar es Salaam, the Old Boma is reputed to be the oldest surviving building in the city. Built in 1867, it was here that Sultan Seyyid Majid was thought to have entertained guests to his newly emerging city. On the sultan's death, the Old Boma, originally referred to as 'Official House', fell into a state of disrepair and after being restored, now functions as the home of a number of offices.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Meserani Snake Park

Address: Arusha, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Tel: +255 027 253 8282
Just 25 km / 16 miles away from Arusha, the Meserani Snake Park makes a great day trip before visitors head off for the Serengeti National Park. The park is home to some of the most dangerous snakes in the world, from Black Mamba to the Egyptian Cobra. Over 40 snakes are on display and, if deadly snakes aren't enough, the park also has a population of crocodiles and lizards. Camel safaris also depart from the park, while an added onsite attraction is the Maasai Cultural Museum.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

White Fathers' Mission House

Address: Sokoine Drive, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Thought to be one of the most historic of all the buildings in Dar es Salaam, the story goes that the White Fathers' Mission House was originally used as Sultan Majid's harem. From the early 1920s onwards, this attraction functioned as the seat of the White Fathers' mission, a Catholic society that was founded in 1868 for the evangelisation of Africa. Today, the house features a small exhibition of sea paintings.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Dar es Salaam Zoo

Address: Kigamboni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Tel: +255 0784 524 285
Dar es Salaam's zoo can be found some 37 km / 23 miles from the city, at nearby Kigamboni. The zoo is home to pretty much every sort of wild animal you'd expect to see in this part of Africa, from giraffes and zebras to crocodiles and snakes. A part of the zoo is also reserved for domestic animals, including ducks, sheep and goats. Camels, horses and donkeys are also on hand to take younger visitors on mini safaris around the zoo.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge