You Tube Swahili Classes

So am thinking of recording Swahili lesson on You Tube for people who want to learn Swahili whilst not in Tanzania.
Have been having this idea for a long time...been collecting my courage to do it and i think i am finally ready to launch it :) especially now i am here with fast internet connection and computer with great sound system....

Soon i will have links for you to check them out.


~Cheers, Kai

Wi-Fi in Dar

There are not many places in Dar where you can find free wi-fi connections.
Until 2008, Kilimanjaro Hotel (Kempinski) Kivukoni Street,Downtown, used to have free wi-fi, you only had to buy drinks,coffee or sandwich and you can sit at their hotel lounge and surf the internet. Begining of this year, they started charging (awfully lot too) for wi-fi. The last time i checked it was 10USD for the day. I am not sure if they have increased/decreased the prices since then.

The university of Dar Es Salaam also has free wi-fi. The University of Dar es salaam is the oldest and biggest public university in Tanzania. It is situated on the western side of the city of Dar es salaam, occupying 1,625 acres on the observation hill, 13 kilometers from the city centre.
The Univeristy is between Mwenge and Ubungo, a km from Mwenge bus station heading to Ubungo/ Mlimani City shopping Mall. You can take a daladala from Mwenge bus stop that goes to Ubungo via Chuo and get off at UTAWALA(administration).

The University is large and there is supposedly wi-fi throughout the area but i would recommend sitting nearby the administration building or faculties.

Other than these two places, the other option for wi-fi is going to internet cafes across the city (there are so many of them everywhere) although not all of them are very fast.

Mlimani city internet cafe (funnily called Alpha dry cleaning) thats inside the shopping mall is quite fast..i would say the fastest i have been to albeit being more expensive than the other ones.

Shopping in Dar

In Dar we have local markets and the modern market (shopping malls)

The famous local market is Kariakoo.
Kariakoo is a very crowded and very busy market but with many items and products available for very low prices.
You can buy a range of products from Kanga, vitenge, hair products, food and lots of vegetables, kitchenry, furniture etc. Almost everything is available in Kariakoo if you are ready to walk a lot and to face the crowd.
To go to Kariakoo,, there is always a direct bus that goes there from either Mwenge bus stand, Ubungo Bus stand or Posta bus stand....
the bus should say...either Mwenge-Kariakoo, or Ubungo-Kariakoo or Posta-Kariakoo....and you would recognize the stop when you arrive by the amount of people or you can ask the conductor or fellow passenger to tell you when you arrive at the market.

Caution: There is a lot of pick pockets in Kariakoo so extreme caution is needed when going there. Leave all your valuable things at home and take only the amount of money you would need to spend. If possible,leave your cell phone at home as well.

We have one major shopping mall in Dar called-- MLIMANI CITY.

You would be able to buy almost everything you need at Mlimani City.
Prices at Mlimani are way higher priced than Kariakoo (this is coming from the stand point of a TAnzanian) but the environment is nicer and cleaner.
There is 2 big supermarkets, cloths stores, jewelry stores, pharmacy,laundry place, bars, coffee chops, fast food joints, cinema, bureau de change, photo studios etc......

Mlimani City is near the University of Dar Es Salaam. To get to Mlimani City by daladala you would need to get a bus to Mwenge bus stop, then from there you can either walk (10-15min) or you can take another daladala for 300 tshs to ubungo via chuo(udsm) and get off at the entrance of the mall (called mlimani city).

Public Transport in Dar -Daladalas

Dalas are the major means of public transport in Dar. Other than Dalas, the only other way is to use taxis.

Daladalas

There are 4 major daladala stops in Dar:
Ubungo Stand- this stand serves all the buses coming from Mbezi and Kimara and going to the city centre (kariakoo and posta),airport,national stadium etc.
It is on Morogoro Rd near Ubungo bus Terminal where the big buses to other regions in Tanzania depart from.
To get to City Centre (Posta) from Ubungo, you have to take the bus with a red Strip line written (UBUNGO-POSTA,or KIMARA-POSTA,or MBEZI-POSTA),likewise, coming from City Centre to Ubungo.
Mwenge Stand
Mwenge stand serves daladalas coming from Ubungo and University, Mbezi, Tegeta and Bagamoyo and going to Ubungo, Mbezi Beach,Bagamoyo, Posta, Kariakoo,Mbagala etc
To get to city Centre (Posta) from Mwenge you have to get into the bus with a purple strip written (MWENGE-POSTA)and vice versa when coming from the other way.
To go to Kariakoo from Mwenge you have to get into the bus thats written (MWENGE-KARIAKOO) but with the same purple strip. Pay attention to read what the strip says about where the bus says its going.
Kariakoo Stand-City Centre and Posta Stand-City Centre
These stands have buses that go everywhere in Dar Es Salaam. Read the lines on the buses before getting into them to make sure they are going in the direction you are headed.
If unsure, you can ask the conductor or fellow passenger.

Safaris and Tours

If you want to organise safaris in and outside Tanzania, i recommend Dhahabu Travel.
Dhahabu is a Tanzanian owned company and offers affordable and reliable tour services.
More information can be found at
www.dhahabutravel.com
Or you can contact me on my email for further questions.

Places to Eat

Below are my fav restaurants.

Indian Restaurants
Anghiti
They serve Indian food and other kinds of food.
Prices of food range from Tshs 8,000/ to 15,000/
It is located on Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road,200m coming from Kawawa/Ali Hassan junction (Morocco) onto the right. A taxi driver would know it, and if by bus..you get off the bus at Victoria (coming from Mwenge) and walk 200m to the right.


Copper Chimney
About 300m from Anghiti, this is also a restaurant serving Indian cuisine. Their prices are slightly cheaper,between Tshs 7,000 to 10,000 and food doesnt take a lot of time to arrive.
The restaurant is in an open ground which is fenced in. Very friendly service.
Open every day of the week

Ethiopian Restaurants
Addis in Dar
Located on Ali Hassan Mwinyi road, the immediate corner to the right coming from Kawawa/Ali Hassan junction (Morroco traffic lights), Addis is the only Ethiopian restaurant in Dar.(correction, there is another new ethiopian restaurant just opened up at Msasani) when i have full details i will put them in.
Food is Ethiopian but you can get other cuisines as well, and the restaurant is on the 1st floor of the building. Nice view of the stars at night. Good atmosphere and scents
Coffee is great!
Open everyday except Sunday.

Italian Restaurant

Zuane
Located in Haile Selasie road, on the left after shrijee supermaket, on the way to Q bar.
They serve good italian food/pizza.
Food is a bit expensive but yummy!

Movenpick Hotel
Good Italian restaurant inside the Movenpick Hotel (Ohio street) opposite Barclays Bank. Unfortunately i dont have a lot of info on this. Ate there once in 2007. I liked the food.
I recommend it.

Lebanese Restaurant
Albasha
There are two Albashas in Dar. One in downtown close to Kisutu Market and another one,which i am more familiar with is located at Mayfair Plaza (mikocheni) on the first floor.
The place is usually quiet but food is good and their prices are quite ok. Not so many people.
Mayfair Plaza is on Old Bagamoyo road,just after shoppers plaza mall.

Sea Cliff VillageInside the village, there is many restaurants which serve a variety of foods.
If you just seat in one of the table, a person from each of the sea of restaurants around the area would come up to you with the menus.
Sea Ciff Village is on the peninsula. Every taxi driver in Dar should know the place. By daldala, hop into a daldala thats says Posta-Masaki.

New house!

There is a new and bigger house with 5 rooms to rent.



The rooms are all self contained.



Master bed room costs 350,000/ per month and smaller rooms costs 300,000/ @ per month excluding utilities.


The house is located in the same compound as the other house.

Furnished Rooms, Prices and their Photos

Rooms are 10 sq meters, and each has a wardrobe, a reading table & chair, a ceiling fan and a bed fitted with mosquito net.
This house has got three rooms.
Toilet, bathroom, kitchen and the living room are shared.
The toilet is of Western style (Not pit latrine).
The bathroom has a shower, but there is no hot water.
Kitchen is equipped with all the cooking utensils.
Living room has a kitchen table with four chairs, fridge, and a cup board for storing and keeping things.



Rent Prices and Deposits

Each room costs TShs 250,000/ per month.
Utility charges are not included in the room price.
Water and electricity is paid per consumption and is normally shared between housemates. Water costs approximately TShs 10,000/ per month and power approx TShs 30,000/ per month.

There is no prorating of rent. It is paid in whole amount regardless of the date of move in- or of move out.

Rent should be paid between the 1st to 5th day of the month.

A deposit fee of one month's rent is paid when signing the agreement. I will return the fee when the agreement has ended and if the room is in good condition.



SECURITY

There are two security guards in the house. Emy is on during day time and James is on during night time.
There is also a dog named Toto. She is nice and friendly!
Contribution for security is TShs 20,000/ per month.


Swahili courses, cooking and Tanzanian dances class

Will you be interested in speaking Swahili while you are in Dar?

I can arrange Swahili classes for first timers as well as for people with Swahili knowledge already with private tutors. Classes can be taken at home or in an area of your preference.
Just let me know through my email if you wish to take the courses.


Airport Pick-Up from Dar Es Salaam International Airport

I organize airport pick-up at a fee of TShs 35,000/ during day time and TShs 45,000/ at night.
If you would like to arrange airport pick-up, write me an email including the date, time of arrival and the airline.
We can exchange keys at the airport when we meet.
Normal taxi from the airport to down town would cost you around TShs 30-45,000/