Tanzania's capital Dar es Salaam translates to 'haven of peace' in English and is a natural sheltered harbour located right on the Indian Ocean coast, at the head of the Kizinga River. The city was named and initially laid out by Zanzibar Sultan Majid from 1865 but it is the German East African Company's substantial development since 1891, of principal buildings, a railway and the botanical gardens that survive. It is the commercial, cultural and administrative centre for the country and has a good selection of hotels with shopping malls and bars for the visitor.

Africa's highest mountain stands a proud 5,896m and is surrounded by a national park of 756 sq. km. All routes lead to the summit circuit and twin peaks Kibo and Mawenzi (5,149 m), which are connected by an 11 km saddle. The collapsed peak Shira (3,962 m) has become a crater. Many attempt the climb but only 20-50% completes the top.