Dar es Salaam abounds in crazy nightlife opportunities. Anybody who has been on a Tanzania holiday will attest to the fact that although Dar es Salaam does not boast many cafes or bars there are quite a number of decent watering holes within the city centre.

A typical evening out in Dar es Salaam starts with the consumption of a large plate of goat roast, chicken, beef mishkaki (kebabs), or chipsi mayai (a French Fries omelette). While these options are relatively sober, the other end of the evening involves the consumption of utumbo (intestine) soup with fresh hot peppers sometime around 6 or 7 am.

There are many music genres in the clubs of Dar es Salaam. The clubs along the outskirts of town are particularly geared toward Tanzanians. Downtown though, nightclubs are more aware of Western tastes, as this is where most of the tourists and locals of European descent reside.

Clubs generally do not come alive till around 11pm, but most offer late food. As is the trend in East Africa most clubs close at around 3 or 4am, although the city centre clubs stay open till dawn at weekends. Dar es Salaam is relatively safe to walk around at night but one should never really walk alone.

Live music rocks The Slipway on most nights of the week but the show is usually over before midnight. If you happen to be in that direction near Oyster Bay, try Sweet 'n Easy, a nice club situated on a rooftop, with a mixed audience.