The Kivukoni Market, which the locals will not call anything other than Ferry Fish Marketquickly became my favourite place in Dar es Salaam.

The place gets its local name from its location just off the ferry that connects the northern part of the city to the Kigamboni district.

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Although the Ferry Fish Market is one of the popular destinations for tourists, there are so few of them in Dar es Salaam that you are likely to be the only foreign visitors here.

A bustling market full of fish delicacies

Kivukoni Market is probably the second busiest place in Dar es Salaam after Kariakoo Market - at least in the morning.

From about 6am onwards, local fishermen flock to this spot in small wooden boats, having fished all night in the waters around the town.

Between 6:00 and 7:00, the busiest part of the market is near the water, where the fish is processed.

In the morning, between 7:00 and 10:00, the section where the fishermen's wives cook, fry and grill the fish and then prepare it for sale at the many stalls comes alive.

For the longest time (until about 16:00), the part of the market farthest from the sea is lively, where finished fish, as well as souvenirs and other products are sold.

After noon, the bustle gradually dies down in the section where fresh fish is processed. At this time, fishermen like to relax on the adjacent promenade and discuss all sorts of things.

When to visit the market?

The best time is roughly between 8:30 and 11:00, when the whole market area is alive.

After 11:00, it's especially busy around the stalls selling hot food (until about 16:00), but the area where the fish is processed is much quieter.

Is Ferry Fish Market a safe place?

Yes.

The market is primarily a place where fishermen try to sell their products and no one is interested in making it unsafe.

Of course, as a tourist, you can be the center of attention here and we definitely don't recommend putting expensive clothing or jewelry on display.

Personally, however, I took pictures and videos with my phone the entire time I was at the market and never once felt any hint of unsafety.

How to get there?

The market can be reached easily from the modern centre after a 20 minute or so walk along the main road, where you can get nice views of the skyscrapers and the harbour.

There are dozens of bajaj (that's what tuk tuks are called in Tanzania) waiting right by the market, so a ride back to the centre is absolutely no problem.

If you don't feel like haggling over the price, there's nothing easier than calling a Bolt or Uber, which works great in Dar es Salaam.

I share my experiences of getting around the city in the Transport chapter.

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