TANZANIA : INTRODUCTION TO MAIN CENTRES Dar es Salaam: Known by locals as Dar, this cosmopolitan city is Tanzanias main port

and commercial, industrial and executive capital, as well as the hub of the entire East African region. It has 2 497 940 inhabitants, according to the 2002Census, although 2010 estimates put the population at around Three million. Most government offices are based here, as are diplomatic missions and non-governmental organisations.Founded in 1862 by Sultan Seyyid Majid, Dar es Salaam became the centre of administration under German, and later British, rule. Today modern high-rises jostle with mosques, temples and colonial architecture, such as the White Fathers House and St Josephs Cathedral. Sights worth seeing include the Botanical Gardens, National Museum and open-air Village Museum, as well as the Kariakoo Market, Mwenge crafts market, Kivukoni Fish Market, city centre and waterfront. Dodoma: Centrally situated on the eastern edge of the southern highlands, Dodoma is the countrys of cial capital and the seat of the legislature, although most government institutions are based in Dar es Salaam, some 300 kilometres to the east. Much smaller and less developed than Dar, with a population of around 155 000 (2003 est.), the town is at the centre of Tanzanias wine industry. In recent times, the towns economic base has declined in favour of the coastal city, butin the early days of independence there was a popular political lobby to move the entire government here. Arusha: Built in the early 1900s by the German colonial government, this once quiet agricultural backwater is currently Tanzanias second-largest city and among its most prosperous centres. Arusha is situated in the northern highlands among thefoothills of Tanzanias second-highest mountain, the imposing Mount Meru with its impressive crater, and these rich volcanic soils produce abundant crops of wheat, coffee, owers and pyrethrum. Known as the Geneva of Africa, Arusha is a focal point for international relations and diplomacy, being the site of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights. Scheduled for completion in 2011, the new East African Community (EAC) headquarters is being built next to the Arusha International Conference Centre, the present location of the EAC Secretariat. Mbeya:

Located in the southern highlands, the agricultural centre of Mbeya is known for its pleasant climate and setting. Mbeya was founded in the 1930s during Tanzanias gold rush, and the surrounding area has rich gold fields which continue to provide a lucrative source of income as well as attracting substantial international investment. Its close proximity to the Zambian border, in addition to its position on the Great North Road and the TAZARA railway line, makes the town an important link in the road and rail routes between Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi. Mwanza: Tanzanias fourth-largest city, the port of Mwanza is located on the south-eastern shore of Lake Victoria. BorderingUganda to the northwest and Kenya to the northeast, this prosperous and busy city is a crucial transit point in the trade and transport routes between Tanzania and her northern neighbours. The land around Mwanza consists primarily of tea, cotton and coffee plantations, and large volumes of cash crops pass though here on their way to market. Morogoro: Situated in the southern highlands of Tanzania atthe base of the Uluguru Mountains, the agricultural centre of Morogoro has a population of 206 868 (2002 census) and is home to the Sokoine University of Agriculture. Good rainfall levels and relatively cool temperatures make the area ideal for the production of sisal, sugar cane, rice and tropical fruits. The town has also produced some of the countrys best known musicians, such as Salim Abdullah, founder of the Cuban Marimba jazz band, and Mbaraka Mwinshehe. Zanzibar Town: The largest urban centre on Zanzibar, this port town lies along the islands main waterfront. The Arabian-style old quarter, also known as Stone Town, is full of shops, bazaars, mosques and palaces, with many buildings dating back to the era of the slave trade. Top attractions include the waterfront market of Forodhani Gardens, as well as the House of Wonders and Palace Museum. Day-long spice tours to working plantations offer visitors the chance to observe the cultivation of cloves, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and other spices that have made the island famous. Tanga: The countrys chief seaport after Dar es Salaam, the industrial, trading and export-import centre of Tanga serves as a link between northern Tanzania and the Indian Ocean trade routes. In the older sections of town, remnants of colonial and Arabian architecture point to the towns past importance in the ivory and slave trade as well as a history of German occupation. Moshi:

At the heart of Tanzanias coffee-producing region, the lovely town of Moshi lies amid vast coffee plantations at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. While its coffee plantations and international auctions are well worth seeing, Moshi is most frequently used as a base from which to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the continents highest mountain. Other features of interest here include the economically lucrative sugar plantations and various cultural tourism programmes in the nearby villages. Kigoma: The capital of western Tanzania, and Lake Tanganyikas busiest port, Kigoma is a signi cant centre for foreign trade as well as being the main arrival point for refugees coming from conict-beset countries in central Africa. It is also the nal stop on the Central Line railway, built in the early 20th century to transport agricultural produce from the hinterland to the seaport of Dar es Salaam. Tabora: Located in the hinterland of western Tanzania, Taborawas once a focal point in the slave and ivory trade, when it served as a stopover for caravans from Lake Tanganyika and Central Africa en route to the coastal town of Bagamoyo. The town was also a well-known mission station during the 19thcentury, being visited by both Stanley and Livingstone. Tabora continued to ourish under German rule, when it became one of the most busy and prosperous centres in East Africa. Musoma: Lying on the shores of Lake Victoria near the Kenyanborder, the vibrant port of Musoma with its colourful market isalso the site of the Mwalimu Julius K Nyerere Museum, which houses the late presidents memorabilia as well as featuring exhibits documenting the rise of nationalism, the independence movement and the early history of Tanzania. Iringa: Located in the southern highlands of Tanzania, near the centres of Dodoma and Morogoro, Iringa is a quiet yet pleasant town primarily involved in regional agriculture and production. Once a centre of colonial administration under German occupation, the town was also the site of several battles during the First and Second World Wars. Today, Iringas market offers a colourful scene of traditional African culture, and is a popular stop for visitors to Ruaha National Park