Dar es salaam Reality Tour

You cannot visit Dar without doing this tour. It is truly amazing and a great deal for what you pay. The name "reality tour" is 💯 fitting: the information I have received, the experience I could participate in and the memories created could not have been the same without this tour, without the guide Ferdinand. I loved the information he shared and how his storytelling was building up the further we cycled. I also appreciated the very different methods he combined, sometimes he draw into the sand, other times I was learning by doing (chapati) or other times I was able to taste (coffee). The Swahili words and how he made me confident to use them were so useful, especially since it was the start of my trip. Outstanding tour!

This tour was one of the most insightful and impactful experiences I’ve had in Dar es Salaam. We visited local communities off the typical tourist route and had the opportunity to see, learn from, and engage with people living and working in the city. We learned about the informal sector, people's ingenuity to make a living, traditional herbal medicine, visited a natural medicine shop, explored the second-largest market, went to a local cinema, and enjoyed drinks together. The tour guide was super welcoming, knowledgeable, funny and passionate — it’s the kind of cultural experience you look for as a visitor. That said, do NOT book this tour through TripAdvisor or Viator. I did, and the local operator (Afriroots) was never notified or paid by the platform!! I only discovered this after calling the boss the day of the tour — at which point it was too late to cancel through TripAdvisor without losing my money. The boss then organized a tour and with a small delay I could still do it that day. The money from Viator never made it to him though. The operator charged me for the implementation/running costs of the tour, making it a zero sum game for them. I chose to tip the guide for I really enjoyed the tour. The tour itself was excellent, but I am still mad at TripAdvisor and Viator. Additionally, note that the actual start time is 9:00 AM, not 8:00 AM as listed on TripAdvisor. ⸻ If you want to do this tour (and I highly recommend it), you should book directly via phone or WhatsApp. Here is the key contact who was super competent: • 📞 +255 763 652 641 (WhatsApp – this is the boss)

This tour ended up being one of the most insightful and impactful experiences I’ve had while travelling. We visited local communities well off the typical tourist route and had the opportunity to see, learn from, and engage with people living and working in Dar es Salaam. We met the guide’s community midwife and learned about traditional herbal medicine, visited a natural medicine shop, shared food with a community cook, explored the second-largest market, went to a local cinema, and enjoyed drinks together. The tour guide was welcoming, knowledgeable, and passionate — it’s the kind of cultural experience you rarely get as a visitor. That said, do NOT book this tour through TripAdvisor or Viator. I did, and the local operator (Afriroots) was never notified or paid by the platform. I only discovered this after calling the boss the day before the tour — at which point it was too late to cancel through TripAdvisor without losing my money. I showed up at the stated meeting point at the correct time, but there was no one there. I messaged and called the operator repeatedly, with no response for nearly an hour. I eventually got a call around 9:52 AM saying the driver had been waiting since 7 AM — but in a hidden, unmarked car park with no signage and no communication. The entire experience was confusing and frustrating. The operator eventually agreed to take me on the tour free of charge, and I chose to tip the guide and local community members directly — making it clear that the money was meant for them. The tour itself was excellent, but the handling of the booking process was completely unacceptable. Additionally, note that the actual start time is 9:00 AM, not 8:00 AM as listed on TripAdvisor. ⸻ If you want to do this tour (and I do recommend it), you should book directly via phone or WhatsApp. Here are the key contacts: • 📞 +255 763 652 641 (WhatsApp – this is the boss) • 📞 +255 713 652 642 (also the boss – unsure about WhatsApp) • 📞 +255 789 097 372 (tour guide – unsure about WhatsApp) ⸻ This experience has made me question the reliability of TripAdvisor’s booking system for small local operators. I’m now in the process of requesting a refund for a service that was never confirmed or delivered through the platform. Book the tour — but book it directly

I recently went on a bike tour in Dar es Salaam with Afri Roots, and it was absolutely wonderful. I wouldn't want to have missed it! It was a great decision to book directly with Afri Roots. The tour started at 09:00, and when I contacted the company, they responded right away. The tour took us to places I never would have discovered otherwise, offering a unique glimpse into the lives of the locals and the vibrant atmosphere of the city. We had the opportunity to try many local foods and drinks, which was an incredible experience. This tour was truly one of a kind, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore Dar es Salaam in an authentic and engaging way.

Booked 24h in advance, no way to contact them to reconfirm. In the end, nobody showed up and I am still waiting for my refund!

We discovered a completely unknown Dar es Salam together with Afri Roots and our guide Jerry! We got to know interesting neighborhoods of the town we woud otherwise not have visited, Jerry told us a lot of interesting facts and stories about everyday life in an African metropolis as Dar es Salam. We enjoyed being introduced into regional coffee ceremonies and other interesting small and smaller businesses. A unique experience with a dedicated, charming and well informed guide. Thank you, Jerry! Highly recommended to all visitors of Dar es Salam interested in life beyond the city centre and the beaches.

We went by bajaji since it was too hot for bicycles. We saw places in Dar we wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Highly recommend

Alone with my guide, Jerry, we biked through multiple Swahili neighborhoods, including the marketplace and his home. All my questions were welcomed, whether historical or silly. A unique experience that both let me discover a lifestyle in Dar es Salaam I wouldn't have otherwise known, and Afriroots supports all the small businesses I visited. The helmet could have been a little cleaner, but the bike was in good enough condition and the time we biked alongside cars was limited.

I feel privileged to have been given a window into parts of Dar Es Salaam that I would never have seen, let alone be invited into. We saw and met all kinds of people and entered a variety of small (and I mean SMALL) neighborhood businesses. It was utterly fascinating. And Afriroots went out of their way to make it easy for us to arrive at the meeting place, arranging a taxi to pick us up and then take us to other places we wanted to visit afterwards.

We really enjoyed our guided tour of Dar es Salaam! Was really informative and a tour where you get close to the local people who makes you feel welcome. Also nice to get to try the different local food and drinks. The guide Jerry is really good guide. Asante sana.