Dar es Salaam Fish Market — Local services in Dar es-Salaam

The Dar Es Salaam fish market was definitely an intense experience. I can see how it might be a great place for locals to shop and socialize, but as a female American traveler, I didn’t feel very welcome. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere felt uncomfortable some women threw sand at me and a few men were hassling us. We ended up leaving pretty quickly because it just didn’t feel safe or enjoyable. I’m sure this market has cultural significance, but based on my experience, I wouldn’t recommend it for solo female travelers...

Visiting this market as a tourist is a very immersive experience, even without purchasing anything. A few things to consider if you're planning to swing by: (1) This is very much a wet market in that there is usually ~1cm of fish guts on the ground, don't wear sandals or shoes you're fond of; and (2) the fish smell is very strong and will likely stick to clothes even if you aren't touching anything. Our outfits had a fishy smell long after...

This is a very un-touristic place. You can buy fish directly from the fishermen. There are cleaning stations where locals clean your fish or make a Filet out of it for 500TSH. ☺️ Prepare for an intense smell and a bunch of fish blood + salt water on your feet/shoes. I enjoyed the market and always get most fresh...