Formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. With a population estimated around 2,500,000, it is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Though Dar es Salaam lost its official status as capital city to Dodoma in 1996, it remains the centre of the permanent central government bureaucracy and continues to serve as the capital for the surrounding Dar es Salaam Region.

Dar es Salaam is located at 6°48' South, 39°17' East (−6.8000, 39.2833). [1] The city is situated on a massive natural harbour on the Eastern Indian Ocean coast of Africa.

Being situated so close to the equator and the warm Indian ocean, the city experiences generally tropical climatic conditions, typified by hot and humid weather throughout much of the year. Annual rainfall is approximately 1100mm per annum and in a normal year there are two distinct rainy seasons, 'the long rains' which fall during April and May, and 'the short rains' - during October and November.
Administratively, Dar es Salaam is broken into 3 districts: Ilala, Kinondoni, and Temeke.