I am chuckling at the title of this post. If you knew where in Tanzania Mugumu and Arusha were–and what lies between these two towns–you’d understand why: the title of this post is a huge understatement for the experience I’m going to share with you today. I’ve done this deliberately; I want to tell you about this road trip the way I experienced it–from beginning to end. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the ‘Tanzania’ Category
Road Trip: Mugumu (Mara) to Arusha—Tanzania
In Arusha, Mara, Mwanza, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tanzania, Travel on December 10, 2011 at 18:437 Things to Do in & Around Mwanza
In Butiama, Mara, Mwanza, Rubondo Island National Park, Serengeti, Tanzania, Travel on November 22, 2011 at 17:29
If you are anything like I used to be, you might think that Mwanza is a small, sleepy, upcountry town–in the guise of a city–with few interesting things to do in and around it. After spending a few days in Tanzania’s second largest city, I’ve changed my mind: I now know that Mwanza is a scenic, burgeoning, lakeside city (somewhat deserving of that name), with a selection of things to do in its vicinity. Don’t believe me? Here’s a list of seven things I enjoyed during my most recent trip to Mwanza that you can enjoy too the next time you visit! Read the rest of this entry »
The Dar Choral Society in Concert–Nov. 10, 2011
In Culture, Dar es Salaam, Events, Music on November 1, 2011 at 17:03
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Touring Northern Tanzania (Mwanza, Mara, Butiama, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Arusha)–Twitter Roundup
In Arusha, Hotels & Accomodation, Mara, Mwanza, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tanzania, Travel on October 31, 2011 at 03:33
As those of you who follow me on Facebook and Twitter might know, I spent the end of last week visiting Northern Tanzania–Mwanza, Mara (including Butiama), the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Arusha. Because of the busy itinerary planned, I didn’t attempt to blog about the trip while on it but, rather, shared what I could on Twitter, saving the blogging for when I got back to Dar es Salaam.
For those of you who don’t follow me on Twitter (or for those of you who do but somehow missed my tweets), this first post is a consolidation of the main tweets I wrote while traveling, with links to websites where you can see pictures or find more information. Read the rest of this entry »
African Barrick Gold Tour, Day 2: Community Development Projects in Buzwagi & Bulyanhulu
In Slideshows, Tanzania on August 26, 2011 at 18:41
After spending the first day of the tour visiting African Barrick Gold’s open-pit Buzwagi mine, and a few community development projects in the nearby area, the second day of the tour was devoted strictly to visiting community projects around Buzwagi and Bulyanhulu–and making the short trip between the two mines. Read the rest of this entry »
Lemon Spa, Masaki, Dar es Salaam
In Beauty, Dar es Salaam, Services, Zanzibar on August 16, 2011 at 22:10
Lemon Spa
Haile Selassie Rd.
(Adjacent to George & Dragon)
Masaki, Dar es Salaam
Tel: +255-(754)-814 531
+255-(752)-220 120
Email: lemonzpa@yahoo.com
(Click here for Lemon Spa menu.)
In the third post of my “Be My Guide to Your East African City” series, I asked about your favorite local spa. I also mentioned that it dawned on me that I had never been to a spa before, having always received my beauty and body treatments in beauty salons or fitness facilities. Shortly after publishing that post, I was graciously invited by Ramona Kashmiri, the owner of Lemon Spa in Masaki, Dar es Salaam, to visit her spa for the first time and sample some of the treatments offered there. Read the rest of this entry »
African Barrick Gold Tour Day 1 – Buzwagi
In Slideshows, Tanzania on July 28, 2011 at 01:16
Let’s take a break from the questions. This week finds me on a tour of African Barrick Gold–Tanzania’s largest gold producer’s–mines and operations in Northern Tanzania. The past three days have been interesting, to say the least, and as I promised my followers on Twitter, here are some pictures from the first day of the tour, when we visited ABG’s mines at Buzwagi. Read the rest of this entry »
Groovy Cup, Masaki, Dar es Salaam
In Bar/Restaurant/Café, Dar es Salaam on March 2, 2011 at 21:47
Groovy Cup
Funkys
Plot 1397 Mwayo Street (click to see map)
Masaki, Dar es Salaam
Open every day 10.30 a.m.–9.30 p.m.
Tel: +255 784 786 688 · Email: groovycup@gmail.com
I don’t have any children…which is why when I first noticed Funkys in Masaki (despite its looking very interesting), I knew I’d probably never visit it much. Then one day, I received an email from a reader telling me about her café, Groovy Cup, located within Funkys. Read the rest of this entry »
Visa 2 Dance Contemporary Dance Festival
In Culture, Dar es Salaam, Events, Tanzania on December 27, 2010 at 04:26
The event that I have most enjoyed attending in the two years I have lived in Dar es Salaam is, without a doubt, the Visa 2 Dance Contemporary Dance Festival. If you live in Dar es Salaam and have never heard of Visa 2 Dance (like a friend recently told me despite his having lived in Dar es Salaam for the past eight years), then you are who I write this post for. I won’t be roundabout; I’ll get right to it.
What is the Visa 2 Dance Contemporary Dance Festival? Visa 2 Dance is an annual, international contemporary dance festival that takes place every October in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (though the 2010 edition did also include activities in Zanzibar). In the words of its organizers (taken from the Visa 2 Dance website): Read the rest of this entry »
Swahili Fashion Week – Day 1
In Beauty, Culture, Events, Fashion, Kenya, Slideshows, Tanzania on November 5, 2010 at 05:12
Let’s Talk About Fashion in Tanzania!
In Beauty, Dar es Salaam, Events, Fashion on September 22, 2010 at 18:16
My Foray into the World of Kanga Sayings
In Culture, Dar es Salaam, Fashion on August 28, 2010 at 23:50
For as long as I can remember, I have always been a great lover of kanga, the East African cotton fabric with bold designs, bright colors, and a Swahili saying, aphorism, or slogan printed along its bottom border. If you’ve ever seen children wearing kanga wrapped around their bodies and tied behind their necks, then you have a perfect picture of me as a child. If you were to drop by my house unannounced today and I didn’t have a chance to run and change into something “decent”, then chances are that you would find me in a kanga, though this time worn in the kifua style (wrapped around my body, passing under my arms), rather than tied behind my neck. Why? Read the rest of this entry »
Have your Say…
In Dar es Salaam, General, Kenya on August 4, 2010 at 22:35
I love to hear from you, dear reader. I love it even more when, in your comments, you tell me about a product, service, or establishment in East Africa that I know little about but that hopefully, I can try for myself one day. Last month, I was pleased to receive my share of such comments. In case you missed them, allow me to share a few of these with you.
Early in July, I received a comment from Timmy, who had recently purchased a Toyota Vitz. Here’s what he had to say about his new car: Read the rest of this entry »
Shopping on Congo Street, Kariakoo
In Beauty, Dar es Salaam, Shopping on July 21, 2010 at 04:40
Photo Credit: simbadeo.wordpress.com
I first became aware of Congo Street in Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam on a shopping trip with my Mom, who was looking for granite slabs for her new kitchen countertop. Luckily, on that first foray into hectic Kariakoo (Wikipedia link), I was pleasantly shielded from the chaos because I was in an air-conditioned car. I really wasn’t paying attention for the most part – my main goal that day was to hang out with my Mom – but when we passed a street with hot clothes hanging from every storefront, my attention was aroused. Read the rest of this entry »
Kunduchi Beach Hotel, Kunduchi, Dar es Salaam
In Bar/Restaurant/Café, Dar es Salaam, Hotels & Accomodation, Slideshows on July 11, 2010 at 03:38
Kunduchi Beach Hotel & Resort
1 Mtongani
Kunduchi, Dar es Salaam
Website: www.kunduchi.com
When people talk about going to the beach in Dar es Salaam, very often they mean heading out to Mbezi. I like hanging out in Mbezi, I really do, but sometimes I am in the mood for something a little more serene, far from the crowded, noisy beaches that are the norm in Mbezi, especially over the weekend. When I am in this mood, I head out a little further north to Kunduchi beach, more specifically, I head out to Kunduchi Beach Hotel. Read the rest of this entry »
Anghiti – The Masters in Indian Cuisine, (New) Bagamoyo Road, Dar es Salaam
In Bar/Restaurant/Café, Dar es Salaam on June 22, 2010 at 21:06Anghiti
(New) Bagamoyo Road
Tel: +255-(22)-2701806/7
Email: anghiti@yahoo.com
Open 7 days a week / Lunch: 12.00 – 14.30 / Dinner: 18.00 – 22.30
On (New) Bagamoyo Road between Morocco and Victoria, lies Anghiti, a restaurant that serves great Indian food. Read the rest of this entry »
Need to send a fax in Dar es Salaam?
In Dar es Salaam, Services on May 21, 2010 at 18:46
When did you last send a fax? For me, it’s been 2 years and 5 months. The occasion? I was on a long visit to Dar es Salaam and desperately needed to fax something to Nairobi. I didn’t expect it to be difficult, but for many days, every internet café I tried to send a fax from either had a problem with its fax line or fax machine. Eventually, a resident of Dar es Salaam who often sends faxes decided to take me out of my misery Read the rest of this entry »
Karambezi Café, Sea Cliff Hotel, Dar es Salaam
In Bar/Restaurant/Café, Dar es Salaam on April 9, 2010 at 05:10Karambezi Café
Sea Cliff Hotel
Toure Drive, Msasani Peninsula, Dar es Salaam
Tel:+255 (78) 704 4555 / +255 (71) 248 0574
Email: info@karambezi.com
Website: www.karambezi.com
Close your eyes. Envision yourself in Dar es Salaam seated on a restaurant terrace at the edge of a cliff. Far below, for as far as you can see, is water – the Indian Ocean – with a couple of ships sailing in the distance. A refreshing breeze blows gently around you. The day is warm and sunny. Have any idea where you might be? If I did a good job describing what I had in mind, then you’d correctly guess that you are at Karambezi Café at Sea Cliff Hotel in Masaki. Read the rest of this entry »
Questions and Answers – Zain Tanzania
In Services, Tanzania on March 27, 2010 at 16:06Update (November 17, 2011): Zain Tanzania has now become Airtel Tanzania.
Photo Credit: H.Koppdelaney
I am an unhappy Zain Tanzania customer. Why? Because, among other things, I rarely ever know how much I am paying for calls that I make or SMSes that I send through my Zain Tanzania mobile service. Getting someone from Zain Tanzania to answer my questions satisfactorily can also prove a huge problem even when I happen to call customer care in the middle of the night at 3am (which is one of the only times I can actually get through to customer care) or when I visit a Zain center where I know I will probably have to talk to more than one agent before I get an adequate answer to whatever question I may have. At other times, even after all this, I simply have to give up and make peace with the fact that I won’t be getting an answer to my question after all. Oh well! It’s how it is but, as I said, I’m not happy about it. Are you a Zain Tanzania subscriber who feels the same way? Before I get to the point of my post, allow me to share with you the story that inspired it. Read the rest of this entry »
Has Fiber Made A Difference?
In General, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda on February 16, 2010 at 20:47
Photo Credit: Jurvetson
Some would be embarrassed to admit it, but I am going to give it to you straight up: I don’t watch, listen to, or read the news. It’s not that I like to be out of the loop; rather, this is a defense mechanism that I developed after first being exposed to the gruesome, horrific, doomsday nature of news in Kenya. After spending many troubled nights feeling like the world was a horrible place, nights on which coincidentally I had watched the evening news, I put two-and-two together and decided to forgo having my finger on the pulse of current events, in favor of being a calmer, happier, more positive Nairobi resident. This defense mechanism eventually spilled over to all forms of daily news including newspapers and news on radio, as well as to other countries (well, except for Uganda, where I find reading The New Vision a real pleasure…but I digress).
How do I keep abreast of what’s going on in the world, you might ask? My response to you would be: if something is really important and worth knowing about, then people will be talking (and blogging) about it, so eventually I’d find out somehow. Take, for instance, the advent of submarine fiber optic cable to East Africa. Read the rest of this entry »
The Telephone Number for Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam Airport) Is…
In Dar es Salaam, Travel on January 16, 2010 at 22:26
+255-22-2844212.
Or +255-22-2844371 / 2844372 / 2844224 according to the airport’s website.
Why am I telling you this? Because over the holidays, I searched for this number tirelessly to no avail. I searched the white pages of the telephone directory. I searched the yellow pages. I even searched the Internet and came up with nothing (well at least nothing that actually worked). And then… Read the rest of this entry »
Cine Club – Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam
In Bar/Restaurant/Café, Dar es Salaam on December 28, 2009 at 00:04Cine Club
Off Old Bagamoyo Road
Mikocheni (Warioba), Dar es Salaam
Tel: +255-(0)754-374436/+255-(0)715-374436
In November 2007, when I first visited Dar es Salaam with an eye towards moving here, I remember often hearing mention of a place called Cine Club. At times, this would be while people were giving directions (where they would use Cine Club as a marker); at other times, it would be in relation to concerts that had taken place in the past and had been held there. My curiosity was piqued after hearing Cine Club mentioned so many times. What was this place where so many concerts were held? Also, why did everyone pronounce Cine Club as though it were spelled Sign Club instead of si-NAY Club, which is how it looked like it should be pronounced to me? Read the rest of this entry »
Konyagi vs. Uganda Waragi
In Beverages, Spirits, Tanzania, Uganda on December 20, 2009 at 01:02
Image Credit: SpiritsReview.com/EABL.com
Not too long ago, I met up for the first time with a reader of this blog who recently relocated to Dar es Salaam from Kampala. Although we had never met before, we found that we had a lot in common including that our parents had completed their graduate studies at the same University in the US (at the same time and knew each other) and that we shared a common friend. Our first encounter was an interesting one where we shared our life stories and spoke about things we could both relate to such as the differences and similarities between life in Uganda and Tanzania. This we discussed at length. Our discussion went as far as to include the spirits produced in each country. My new acquaintance and I were both familiar with Uganda Waragi, the Ugandan spirit, but she had never tasted Konyagi, Uganda Waragi’s Tanzanian counterpart. She asked me how I thought the two compared. That question was the inspiration for this post. Read the rest of this entry »
Happy Belated Birthday, Mlimani City!
In Dar es Salaam, Shopping, Shopping Malls/Complexes, Tanzania on November 21, 2009 at 23:16Mlimani City Mall
Sam Nujoma Rd.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
According to the plaque at its main entrance, Dar es Salaam’s Mlimani City Mall turned 3 years old last Saturday (Nov.14). Happy Belated Birthday, Mlimani City – this one is for you!
For those of you who have never heard of Mlimani City, allow me to tell you simply that it is the mall in Dar es Salaam. Although Dar es Salaam has many other shopping centers, none other can truly be elevated to the status of a mall. Housed all on one floor, Mlimani City Mall is smaller than many other malls found in neighboring countries, such as The Village Market in Kenya or Garden City in Uganda, but still, this mall packs a punch!
Allow me to give you an idea of what can be found at Mlimani City. Read the rest of this entry »
The Secret – Really the Secret to Life?
In Books, Cinemas & Movies, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda on October 15, 2009 at 02:35
It’s been 3 years, give or take, since the release of The Secret – the popular film and book. Produced by Rhonda Byrne, an Australian television writer and producer, The Secret was hugely successful with DVD sales reaching higher than 2 million within the first year of its release and book sales reaching higher than 4 million within 6 months of publication. In 2007, this success earned Rhonda Byrne a spot on Time Magazine’s Time 100, a list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Here in East Africa, the phenomenon that was The Secret was not lost on us. Bookstores across the region (at least in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) brandished huge displays advertising the book, and within 7 months of the film’s release, I (living in Nairobi at the time) was able to get a copy of The Secret’s first edition.
Chances are that many of you, my readers, have already either watched or read The Secret. Today, I would like to share a bit about The Secret with those of you who haven’t, while engaging those of you who have in a discussion as to whether “the secret” contained in The Secret is really the secret to successful, joyful living. Read the rest of this entry »
Take Your Exercise to the Beach!
In Dar es Salaam, Fitness, Tanzania on September 22, 2009 at 19:24
Photo by Mike Baird
Oops! I think it’s time I step up my exercise routine a bit – my leisurely daily swim no longer seems to be working for me. 
Still, in this hot Dar es Salaam weather (which I love), I intend to continue to look to water for exercise. How about I take my exercise routine from the swimming pool to the beach?
What? You’ve never considered that before? Why? With the beautiful blue waters, white sands, and calming horizon of the Indian Ocean nearby, why not exercise in a manner that is not only good for your body but also refreshing to your mind and spirit?
Could it be that you just have no idea how to carry out an effective exercise regimen at the beach? Well, fret no more. Read the rest of this entry »
20 Hottest Blogs in East Africa
In Kenya, On The Internet, Tanzania, Uganda on September 20, 2009 at 20:31
Recently, I had the pleasure of spending an entire week with one of my favorite cousins who was visiting from Kampala. We hung out and caught up like we used to way back in the day when we were both still single young females (I am still single; she’s married with two kids). We talked about everything under the sun, and of course, because she’s an avid reader of ChickAboutTown, we also talked about blogging and about our respective experiences in the blogosphere.
During one such conversation, my cousin let on that she now reads blogs regularly and that she discovered a couple of the blogs she reads through my “The Chick Behind the Blog…” post. I was surprised and pleased. The blogs that she mentioned are ones that I enjoy reading, and I knew her life must be richer for reading these blogs too.
It got me thinking. Although I never read blogs before I started blogging (don’t ask me how I decided to start blogging – call it divine inspiration ), I have since become an avid frequenter of the blogosphere, in general, and the East African blogosphere, in particular. Why the East African blogosphere? Well, mainly for two reasons. First, the subject of my blog is East Africa so I tend to attract East African readers. It’s only natural, therefore, when these readers also happen to be bloggers, to be curious about their blogs and to find my way to them. In the 2+ years that I’ve been blogging, I’ve come to know and love my fair share of blogs in the East African blogosphere this way. The second reason is a little more intentional. Reading East African blogs helps me keep informed about everyday living in the different countries that make up this region. There’s nothing like reading blogs to find out what’s truly on the hearts and minds of a people.
And now to today’s list. With the endless number of blogs across the East African blogosphere, how do I choose which blogs to read regularly? Honestly, it’s quite simple: I don’t. Instead, I let someone else do the choosing for me. What?! Yes, you heard me. To figure out what blogs to read in the East African blogosphere, I turn to Afrigator, an African social media aggregator. Read the rest of this entry »
Who Exactly is Mr. Price?
In Dar es Salaam, Fashion, Kampala, Kenya, Nairobi, Shopping, Shopping Malls/Complexes, Tanzania, Uganda on September 11, 2009 at 19:57
I can still remember the day when I first became aware of Mr Price’s existence. The year was 2007; I was driving along Ngong Road in Nairobi near Prestige Plaza. I looked up to see a huge banner announcing the opening of a home furnishing store called Mr. Price Home at the Westgate Centre in Westlands. I found the idea of a home furnishing store interesting and made a mental note to check out the store the next time I was in its vicinity. Read the rest of this entry »
Road Trip: Dar es Salaam to Iringa
In Dar es Salaam, Iringa, Slideshows, Tanzania, Travel on August 11, 2009 at 21:01  |
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Maharage or Maharagwe – As You Please!
In Food, Tanzania on August 3, 2009 at 19:17
As I mentioned in “When Did You Last Have Some Good Ol’ Baked Beans?”, my love for baked beans started way back when I was in nursery school. My feelings for beans in general, though, were not nearly as positive. In primary school, when my family had moved back to Africa from the US, I remember clearly the days when my brother and I would come home to find beans on the lunch table. Those lunchtimes invariably ended the same way: with my brother and I on our knees with our arms up in the air (my parents’ favorite punishment at the time) for as long as we stuck to our guns and refused to eat beans for lunch. Sometimes my brother and I would win but, more often than not, we would have to relent and just finish our food. Whatever the case, my parents eventually understood – my brother and I disliked beans – so eventually, beans became a rarity on our dining table.
I was happy about that and never considered rethinking my relationship with beans until, in 2002, I spent a week at my niece’s home in Dar es Salaam. My niece, quite a few years older than me, already had a home of her own, complete with a housekeeper who also served as a cook. On this week-long trip to Dar, my niece’s housekeeper often cooked beans for lunch. Being a little older and keen to be a good house guest, I ate these bean lunches with a smile. Contrary to what you may be thinking, my smile was not feigned. The beans were good! My niece’s housekeeper did a great job of cooking beans the Swahili way – with coconut. Read the rest of this entry »
Ramblings about Bridal Showers
In Culture, Kenya, Nairobi, Tanzania on July 9, 2009 at 20:34
Hi…so did you miss me these past three weeks? Please excuse the silence – it’s just that I got caught up in a flurry of activity related to a cousin’s wedding. You know how weddings can be. But how so exciting! This wedding was particularly exciting for me because it was the first truly Tanzanian wedding I was attending in 18 years. On top of being a great opportunity to catch up with the Tanzanian side of my family, I was looking forward to this wedding because I knew it would offer me a chance to attend some typically Tanzanian wedding functions for the first time. Of particular interest to me was attending a kitchen party.
If you’ve not heard of Tanzanian kitchen parties before, basically, these events are a sort of bridal shower where the bride-to-be’s close female friends and relatives get together to “provide her with all the necessary qualities and material things she needs to be a proper wife to the man she is marrying”. On top of the gifts she receives, mostly household items (and of course kangas), the women present offer the bride advice on how to have a happy marriage based on their own marital experiences. Sounds harmless enough, no? Yes, except that I’d heard that kitchen parties, despite being an all-female affair, could turn extremely wild and racy. This, I wanted to see for myself! Read the rest of this entry »
So Soft and yet so Hard…
In Kenya, Product Reviews, Shopping, Tanzania on June 12, 2009 at 19:18
I’ve been told by some people close to me, recently, that I am rigid. The first time I heard this, I was shocked and sure that the person I was talking to had it all wrong. On second thought, though, I see where these people could be coming from. About certain things in my life, I see no compelling reason to compromise (at least not for the most part) and so, in these areas, I stick to running my life exactly as I see fit. One such area of my life is sleep. Read the rest of this entry »
Will That Double be Gilbey’s or Gordon’s?
In Arusha, Beverages, Hotels & Accomodation, Moshi, Nairobi, Spirits on April 20, 2009 at 21:21
Yes, I know. I’ve written my share of posts about alcoholic beverages. First, there was the post on rum, then the one about wine, and more recently ones on gin and cocktails. I write these posts not because alcohol is always on my mind (disputable by some ), but rather because I am fascinated by all the different alcoholic beverages that exist and the even greater variety of drinks that result when you mix these beverages together or with other non-alcoholic beverages. For instance, think about how different a rum and coke is from a vodka and coke, even though both look the same and vary only by the clear spirit used in making each drink. Then compare the latter to a Bloody Mary (a cocktail made of vodka and tomato juice), the difference this time being the mixer used.
Well, that’s all great and good, but today I would like to talk about a difference that is a little more subtle. Imagine making the same drink, say a gin-and-tonic (G&T), and varying the type of gin used. Do you think this difference would be noticeable to anyone other than the greatest connoisseurs of gin? Read the rest of this entry »
Let’s Talk About Cocktails
In Bar/Restaurant/Café, Beverages, Dar es Salaam, Kenya, Nairobi, On The Internet, Tanzania on April 2, 2009 at 20:40
In the comment sections of this and this post, some readers and I shared our views on the quality of cocktails served at some of Nairobi‘s most popular bars and nightclubs. In this discussion, Mercury Lounge and Casablanca were named as establishments that were thought to serve good cocktails, while Hidden Agenda and Soho’s came up as places to avoid when in search of a good cocktail. Read the rest of this entry »
The Joint, Mbezi, Dar es Salaam
In Dar es Salaam, Nightclubs, Tanzania on March 20, 2009 at 20:23Update (July 9, 2011): The Joint has now become Club Rockerz.
The Joint
Mbezi, Dar es Salaam
Tel: +255-(715)-854980/+255-(777)-400800
Website:www.TheJointTZ.com
It’s official: Dar es Salaam now has a new nightclub! Last Saturday, March 14, saw the Grand Opening of The Joint, a nightclub recently opened in Mbezi (near Tankibovu), on the former premises of the now defunct Club Happens. Judging from what The Joint had to offer on Saturday night, we, party-lovers, are in for a real treat with this new nightclub, especially when it comes to music. Read the rest of this entry »
Fisherman’s Friend
In Dar es Salaam, Kenya, Nairobi, Product Reviews, Tanzania on February 7, 2009 at 18:54
When I “pack” my handbag before I go out everyday, I recite a list of items that I want to be sure not to forget. Without going into too many details, my current recitation goes: phone, money, swipe…(insert a few more couple of items here that include a small tin of petroleum jelly )… mints, camera. I am sure you can understand why I carry items such as my phone and money, but an item like mints may baffle you a bit (as it has people who’ve seen me put my bag together in the past). Read the rest of this entry »
Did I Imagine Grant’s Gin?
In Beverages, Dar es Salaam, Nightclubs, Tanzania on December 15, 2008 at 19:51
Of all the drinks in the world, I must admit: I am partial to gin. There’s nothing quite like a well mixed G&T (gin and tonic – especially if the gin in question is Gordon’s Special Dry London Gin), and this my family knows well (trust me, I tell you this for a reason ).
The story of this post took place about a year ago, in Dar-es-Salaam, where I’d gone to visit my parents. My father, knowing my love for gin, often makes sure to have a bottle available for me when I first arrive to visit. It’s a little father-daughter thing that we have going.
On this particular visit, I was going home after quite a trying time in my life, and on top of visiting my parents would also be finding two of my three siblings at home (yippee!). I was really looking forward to going home, and as the day on which I traveled progressed (I was going to arrive home in the evening), I began to look forward too to the Gordon’s G&T that my father would surely have waiting for me. Read the rest of this entry »
Meditteraneo Restaurant, Dar-es-Salaam
In Bar/Restaurant/Café, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on September 17, 2008 at 20:47Mediterraneo Hotel & Restaurant
Kawe Beach, Dar-es-Salaam
Tel: +255 22 2618359
Website: www.mediterraneotanzania.com
It seems to me as though there might be a restaurant called Mediterraneo in each of the East African capital cities. In Nairobi, there are the two wonderful Mediterraneos in Westlands and at The Junction. In Dar-es-Salaam, there is the beautiful Mediterraneo in Kawe, which will be the subject of today’s post. In Kampala, I was recently told of a Mediterraneo Restaurant that someone was calling one of the best restaurants in the city. The one thing, it seems, that all these Meditteranoes share in common, other than their name, is that each is an outstanding restaurant with good food and great ambiance. Could it be true then that a name does indeed bewitch its owner, as is often said in my mother tongue? Read the rest of this entry »
Sweet Eazy Restaurant and Lounge, Dar-es-Salaam
In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on September 10, 2008 at 22:23Sweet Eazy Restaurant and Lounge
Oysterbay Shopping Mall
Tel: +255-(755)-754074
Website: www.sweeteazy.com
I was born in the oceanside city of Dar-es-Salaam and lived there until I was two. Until my parents moved back to Dar-es-Salaam, early last year, my knowledge and experience of Dar-es-Salaam was very limited. I had been back a couple of times over the years, but most of my visits to Dar-es-Salaam were spent doing the relatives’ tour (I am sure some of you know what I mean by that). Still, in the past one and some years of visiting Dar-es-Salaam regularly, I have been making up for lost time. Although, I can’t begin to say that I know Dar-es-Salaam well, I can now confidently say that I know Dar-es-Salaam somewhat. Today, I would like to tell you about a restaurant that I frequent often when I am in Dar-es-Salaam. This restaurant, Sweet Eazy, serves great food in a beautiful, breezy environment.
I first visited Sweet Eazy (located in Oysterbay) after complaining to a friend that I had been in Dar-es-Salaam for over a week and still hadn’t had good seafood. I LOVE seafood. When I am in a waterside city, I see no reason to eat anything else because seafood in such cities is usually both very fresh and inexpensive. On my first visit to Dar-es-Salaam last year, I kept going to eat out but could never find good seafood. Sometimes, it just wasn’t on the menu. At other times, it would be on the menu but not available. After a week of this, I was going nuts! My friend, a gastronome like me, decided to take me out of my misery and suggested that we meet that night for dinner at Sweet Eazy. Read the rest of this entry »
The Palm Restaurant, Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski, Dar-es-Salaam
In Bar/Restaurant/Café, Dar es Salaam, Hotels & Accomodation, Tanzania on September 6, 2008 at 21:28**Update (Sept. 13, 2011): The Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski is now Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro.
The Palm Restaurant
Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski
Tel: +255-22-2131111
Of all the hotels in the world, one of my current favorites is the Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski in Dar-es-Salaam. No matter how many times I go there, I never tire of its luxurious elegance. I first visited The Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski in March 2007, though I hear it was first re-opened as a Kempinski Hotel in August 2005. Since my first visit to the hotel, I have been on a delightful journey of discovery of the Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski that is still far from over. So far, I absolutely love their Level 8 Summit Bar and their South East Asian restaurant, aptly named The Oriental Restaurant . This post, though, is about neither of these gems. Rather, today I would like to tell you about The Palm Restaurant, their ground floor restaurant, which was the first eatery that I experienced at Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s Furahi-Day Again!
In Dar es Salaam, General on May 9, 2008 at 21:39Guess what, readers? Finally, Furahi-day has rolled around again! In case you don’t know, Furahi means “be happy” in Kiswahili. Doesn’t the thought of Friday simply fill you with happiness? Believe it or not, the weekend is here again. What are you going to do to celebrate its advent?
Today, I am planning to meet up with a childhood friend who tells me that there is a club night at Club Malaika in Dar-es-Salaam. Read the rest of this entry »
What I Found at the Makutano Arts & Crafts Fair
In Dar es Salaam, Events, Tanzania on December 18, 2007 at 02:18
Update (Jul 22, 2009): The next Makutano Junction 2009 will be held on Fri. Nov. 27 and Sat. Nov. 28 (10am – 6pm) at Diamond Jubilee Hall in Dar es Salaam. For further information – both for participants and attendees – please contact:
Rachel Kessi
Tel: +255-784-782770
Email: Mawazogallery@gmail.com
The entrance fee will be 3,000 TSh for those over 18, while minors enter free!
I finally made it to the Makutano Arts & Crafts Fair last Sunday, late in the afternoon. For a fee of 3000 TSh, I had a great afternoon discovering Tanzanian arts and crafts. I was very impressed by what I saw!
Unlike many craft exhibitions that I have seen in East Africa, where most of the crafts are Kenyan imitations or imports, Makutano truly showcased Tanzanian goods. I saw furniture built from dhow driftwood, as well as art influenced by Zanzibar’s distinct culture. There were myriad creations from kanga, as well as from other local materials such as coconut wood. Read the rest of this entry »
Makutano Arts & Crafts Fair
In Dar es Salaam, Events, Tanzania on December 7, 2007 at 01:42
Update (Jul 22, 2009): The next Makutano Junction 2009 will be held on Fri. Nov. 27 and Sat. Nov. 28 (10 am – 6pm) at Diamond Jubilee Hall in Dar es Salaam. For further information – both for participants and attendees – please contact:
Rachel Kessi
Tel: +255-784-782770
Email: Mawazogallery@gmail.com
The entrance fee will be 3,000 TSh for those over 18, while minors enter free!
This weekend, on Saturday Dec. 8 & Sunday Dec. 9, 2007, the Makutano Arts & Crafts fair will be taking place in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Will you be in Dar-es-Salaam this weekend? If so, maybe you would like to stop by and see what Tanzanian artists have to offer!
Makutano, a centre for Tanzanian art, organizes a bi-annual arts and crafts fair to bring together artists from all over Tanzania to sell and exhibit their crafts. Read the rest of this entry »
