Home › Travel Guides › Africa Travel Guide › Tanzania › Dar es Salaam › Dar es Salaam - History
Image gallery

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

© iStockphoto / Thinkstock

+300
Dar es Salaam Local time

Weather in Dar es Salaam
Partly Cloudy Day
3
0
°C
Tanzania

Dar Es Salaam history

In 1859, a German was the first European to land in Mzizima ("healthy town"), the former name for Dar es Salaam, In 1866 Sultan Seyyid Majid of Zanzibar gave it its present name, an Arabic phrase meaning Haven of Peace.

Following Majid’s death in 1870, Dar es Salaam fell into decline but was rejunvenated when the German East Africa Company established a trading station there in1887 overthrowing the Arabic rulers and colonizing the East Africa coast.

The city grew as it became the administrative and commercial centre of German East Africa, before being made its capital.

During WWI, German East Africa was captured by the British and was given a new name - Tanganyika.

After WWII, Tanganyika grew rapidly and attained iindependence in 1961. Dar es Salaam continued to serve as Tanzania's capital until it was relocated in 1973 to Dodoma.

German historical influences are still visible in the city and Dar es Salaam is an important city for both business and government.

Travel Deals

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Africa, the way it should be seen
We´re cutting the cost of Africa overland trips by up to a whopping 40%. 25% off many trips departing by 30/6/12.
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.