If your idea of holiday heaven is a spot of sun, sand, and shopping Tanzania’s largest city, the exciting and exotic. So, here is a Shopper’s Guide to Dar es Salaam for you, could be your dream destination. A fishing port in the nineteenth century, Dar es Salaam has gradually expanded to become a twenty-first century, multicultural metropolis brimming with modern offices and apartments, luxury hotels – witness the stunning waterfront-situated Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, for instance – and, of course, gleaming shopping complexes.
A Shopper’s Guide To Dar Es Salaam:
Dar es Salaam offers exciting and unique opportunities for the dedicated shopaholic, bargain-hunter, and credit-card basher thanks to its abundance. And lively markets, traditional and modern shops, and swish retail plazas.
Dar Es Salaam’s Markets:
Offering a golden opportunity not only to pick up some bargain souvenirs but also to be immersed in the local culture, Dar es Salaam’s markets are a colorful melee. Kariakoo Market, the biggest street market in Tanzania enjoys a love/hate reputation amongst visitors. Anything and everything is available for sale in this hectic and sprawling mass of stalls in central Dar es Salaam and if you’re prepared to haggle, locally-made jewelry and handicrafts can be bought significantly cheaper here than in the city’s shops. You’ll also find beautiful African fabrics, hand-woven baskets, and furniture among the mountains of tools, domestic housewares, and countless other items that Kariakoo offers.
Mitumba:
In case you were wondering, Mitumba is a Swahili term for second-hand clothes imported from more prosperous countries for sale in Africa. The term generally refers to second-hand goods, and Dar es Salaam’s Ilala Market is a treasure trove of such items. Besides clothes, bags, shoes, jewelry, and other pre-loved items can be picked up inexpensively here if you’re prepared to spend a little time picking out the diamonds in the rough.
Where To Buy Authentic African Artworks, Carvings, And Handicrafts In Dar Es Salaam:
Mwenge, a district slightly to the north of central Dar es Salaam hosts the Mwenge Carver’s Market. This is the place to buy conventional wood sculpting. The market provides the opportunity to watch the sculpting at work. Visitors can pick up tribal masks, bowls, animal carvings, wooden utensils. And other hand-carved items inexpensively here, and vendors expect haggling. The best time to visit the Mwenge Carver’s Market, which is open every day, is just before sunset as business is winding down and stallholders are eager to secure those last few sales at bargain prices.
Tanzania:
Tinga-tinga paintings, named after the artist who developed them, constitute Tanzania’s unique style of painting and serve as excellent gifts due to their exclusive availability. The Slipway Market in the former boatyard at Msasani Bay is an excellent place to find tinga-tinga artists selling their paintings, and the Slipway and its surrounding streets offer plenty of interesting and colorful independent shops selling a variety of local crafts, clothes, and souvenirs
Rare Stone:
Also unique to Tanzania is the blue/violet precious gem Tanzanite. Gifts and souvenirs often feature affordable examples of this rare stone, which resembles sapphire, typically set in earrings or pendants. While the purest Tanzanite (‘AAA’ – grade) commands extremely high prices. To ensure that you are buying the genuine gemstone it’s best to shop in Dar es Salaam’s numerous reputable jewellers rather than risk buying tanzanite items from a market.
The Modern Shopping Plazas Of Dar Es Salaam:
Not only can Dar es Salaam lay claim to the largest market in Tanzania. But it also boasts the country’s largest shopping mall. Mlimani City opened in 2006 and follows the model of modern shopping centers the world over. Light, spacious, and air-conditioned, Mlimani City offers a range of clothing stores, mobile phone shops, restaurants, supermarkets, banks, and a large cinema complex.
Mayfair Plaza:
Mayfair Plaza, on Old Bagamoyo Road, is the place for upmarket clothes and accessories stores, jewelers, shoe shops. And pharmacies for those who’ve shopped until they’ve dropped. There’s also a coffee shop and food court. A short distance away, Shopper’s Plaza features hair and beauty salons, nail parlors, a supermarket. And a good selection of smaller shops as well as an opticians and a travel agency.
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