Kirakuzu Market

Kirakuzu Market is an ideal place to watch locals interact with one another in daily activity: buying and selling goods.  Here you will witness people from all over the city (and outside of it) selling their vegetables, fruit, dried fish & seafood, spices, housewares, and even hunting spears.  The market is housed in a makeshift warehouse made partially of sheet metal and partially of tarp.  Visiting this market is one of the most sensory-stimulating experiences in Dar. You will smell the aromatic produce and coffees, see the colorful spices and unfamiliar foods, hear people peddling their wares and negotiating better prices, touch wooden spoons and kangas (traditional Swahili clothes worn by women during housework), and taste whatever you dare to buy.  However, the market is not typically frequented by tourists and can be somewhat dangerous to visit alone.  I suggest aranging for a driver at a reputable hotel and asking for someone who will accompany you through the market.  If you're with a local, you should be okay.  I did this at the New Africa Hotel located in the city's center.  (It's a long shot, but if you're there ask them to set you up with Steven.)