East African Business Week (Kampala)
opinion
Most of Dar es Salaam coastal areas where a
hundreds of beach resorts are located will always charge you an entrance
fee that ranges from $5 to $10 for just a swim in the Indian Ocean
waters.
At the Dar es Salaam Coco beach or just "Coco" you will enjoy a swim at no cost.
(Tourist and beach goers enjoying a swim on May day in Dar es salaam, Coco beach is most frequented by Dar residents during festivals Photo By Kenan Kalagho)
The beach is located at the posh area of Oyster Bay to the Eastern part of Dar es Salaam city where most government top officials and foreign mission residences are located.
The 'Coco' is a public place and almost every Dar resident have an access for a swim at the beach.
Dar es Salaam city has one of the largest beach coastlines but the majority of such places are either privately owned and thus 'private beaches' placards are instituted on them while other beach places, hotels and or beach resorts have been erected where visitors going for a swim can only be given permission on payment of an entrance fee in their hands.
(Tourist and beach goers enjoying a
swim on May day in Dar es salaam, Coco beach is most frequented by Dar
residents during festivals Photo By Kenan Kalagho)
I had earlier planned to spend May Day at Kigamboni Beaches some six kilometres South of Dar es Salaam where a number of beach resorts line up the coastline, but ended up at 'Coco'.
Dar es Salaam Coco beach brings in a lot of swimmers from kids who visit the place in the company of parents to try out swimming to people of all ages who just want to enjoy both the Coconut tree shades and the Coconut juice at the beach.
The name "Coco beach" is derived from the many coco nut trees that dot the area.
Today, there are only few remnants coconut trees left that hardly bear the sweet "Madafu juice" a Swahili term for "Coconut juice".
However you will always be assured a drink of the famous "Madafu" a coastal juice that sells between $0.45 $0.64 per fruit.I walked six kilometers to Coco beach on the beautiful Tuesday, May Day. The weather was cloudy and therefore conducive for a walk rather than boarding a commuter taxi.
It is a 4km distance from my residence to the Coco beach and almost three kilometers from Dar city centre. Though it would have cost me only $0.19 if I were to take a commuter to the beach where I would walk another 2km to reach the Coco.
Nevertheless anyone wanting to visit the Coco will be charged not more than $10 on a taxi from the city centre.
You will never realize how many swimmers are in Dar unless you pay a visit to the Dar Coco especially during the festive season.This is when you will wonder why Dar still doesn't have any record holder in international swimming competitions.
Arriving at the Coco around 1PM in , I was greeted by a number of Dar residents who had already flooded the "Coco" from different localities for just a swim.
There were some however, who had come as a family relaxing on their marts as they enjoyed the fresh ocean breeze, while others were busy taking a swim in the waters.
There is also a kid zone at the Coco where children usually enjoy the string rides and the bar close to the ocean stocked with all tribes of foodstuffs and drinks to spoil you. However I realized that most Coco frequenters usually carry their foodstuffs. In other places of the coastal beaches around Dar es Salaam especially where hotels and or beach resorts have been erected, beach frequenters are not allowed to bring in foodstuffs from their homes while still paying a lot in entrance fee.
Mr. Mussa Ramadhani says the system of paying an entrance fee for just a swim or being restricted to the coastal beaches for the privately owned places should be reversed because according to him the beach is 'a no man's' land.'
(Tourist and beach goers enjoying a
swim on May day in Dar es salaam, Coco beach is most frequented by Dar
residents during festivals Photo By Kenan Kalagho)
Ramadhani says Tanzanian law requires all beach areas to be open to the public with an exception of few beach areas that have government restrictions like the famous beach found at the heart of Dar city center which is restricted due to its closeness to the State House.
He says there is also a nice beach around Selander bridge 3km north of Dar city where one is not allowed to swim as the water can affect the body.
"Selandar beach is close to Msimbazi river which enters the ocean just a few meters away and this river usually carries with it all the debris of Dar es Salaam and thus causing health risks to swimmers" Ramadhani says.
There was a time however, when the Coco beach too was restricted by the government way back in 2000 due to an incident where a shark had devoured a third year Muhimbili University student.
It reopened in 2001and since then there hasn't been any dangerous incidents at the beach, Ramadhani says as he proceeds to take his last dip in the waters at the Coco beach.
By 6pm the police starting blaring messages telling revellers it was time to return home.
And soon people started to pack their belongings and hauling up their kids ready to depart the Coco beach. This is not common on many Dar beach resorts I have visited where security is always at owners' risk.
After a weary swim and after hearing the loud voices coming from speakers telling people to vacate the place, I too organized my shorts and small bag I had carried while leaving the Coco as empty and clean as ever.
(A section of Dar residents enjoying the swim at the Coco beach in Dar Photo By Kenan Kalagho)
I had wished I had visited the Coco in the company of either a fiancé' or wife and kids buts alas! I still don't have one; till then, Dar Coco will always be my favourite destination at no cost.
At the Dar es Salaam Coco beach or just "Coco" you will enjoy a swim at no cost.
The beach is located at the posh area of Oyster Bay to the Eastern part of Dar es Salaam city where most government top officials and foreign mission residences are located.
The 'Coco' is a public place and almost every Dar resident have an access for a swim at the beach.
Dar es Salaam city has one of the largest beach coastlines but the majority of such places are either privately owned and thus 'private beaches' placards are instituted on them while other beach places, hotels and or beach resorts have been erected where visitors going for a swim can only be given permission on payment of an entrance fee in their hands.
I had earlier planned to spend May Day at Kigamboni Beaches some six kilometres South of Dar es Salaam where a number of beach resorts line up the coastline, but ended up at 'Coco'.
Dar es Salaam Coco beach brings in a lot of swimmers from kids who visit the place in the company of parents to try out swimming to people of all ages who just want to enjoy both the Coconut tree shades and the Coconut juice at the beach.
The name "Coco beach" is derived from the many coco nut trees that dot the area.
Today, there are only few remnants coconut trees left that hardly bear the sweet "Madafu juice" a Swahili term for "Coconut juice".
However you will always be assured a drink of the famous "Madafu" a coastal juice that sells between $0.45 $0.64 per fruit.I walked six kilometers to Coco beach on the beautiful Tuesday, May Day. The weather was cloudy and therefore conducive for a walk rather than boarding a commuter taxi.
It is a 4km distance from my residence to the Coco beach and almost three kilometers from Dar city centre. Though it would have cost me only $0.19 if I were to take a commuter to the beach where I would walk another 2km to reach the Coco.
Nevertheless anyone wanting to visit the Coco will be charged not more than $10 on a taxi from the city centre.
You will never realize how many swimmers are in Dar unless you pay a visit to the Dar Coco especially during the festive season.This is when you will wonder why Dar still doesn't have any record holder in international swimming competitions.
Arriving at the Coco around 1PM in , I was greeted by a number of Dar residents who had already flooded the "Coco" from different localities for just a swim.
There were some however, who had come as a family relaxing on their marts as they enjoyed the fresh ocean breeze, while others were busy taking a swim in the waters.
There is also a kid zone at the Coco where children usually enjoy the string rides and the bar close to the ocean stocked with all tribes of foodstuffs and drinks to spoil you. However I realized that most Coco frequenters usually carry their foodstuffs. In other places of the coastal beaches around Dar es Salaam especially where hotels and or beach resorts have been erected, beach frequenters are not allowed to bring in foodstuffs from their homes while still paying a lot in entrance fee.
Mr. Mussa Ramadhani says the system of paying an entrance fee for just a swim or being restricted to the coastal beaches for the privately owned places should be reversed because according to him the beach is 'a no man's' land.'
Ramadhani says Tanzanian law requires all beach areas to be open to the public with an exception of few beach areas that have government restrictions like the famous beach found at the heart of Dar city center which is restricted due to its closeness to the State House.
He says there is also a nice beach around Selander bridge 3km north of Dar city where one is not allowed to swim as the water can affect the body.
"Selandar beach is close to Msimbazi river which enters the ocean just a few meters away and this river usually carries with it all the debris of Dar es Salaam and thus causing health risks to swimmers" Ramadhani says.
There was a time however, when the Coco beach too was restricted by the government way back in 2000 due to an incident where a shark had devoured a third year Muhimbili University student.
It reopened in 2001and since then there hasn't been any dangerous incidents at the beach, Ramadhani says as he proceeds to take his last dip in the waters at the Coco beach.
By 6pm the police starting blaring messages telling revellers it was time to return home.
And soon people started to pack their belongings and hauling up their kids ready to depart the Coco beach. This is not common on many Dar beach resorts I have visited where security is always at owners' risk.
After a weary swim and after hearing the loud voices coming from speakers telling people to vacate the place, I too organized my shorts and small bag I had carried while leaving the Coco as empty and clean as ever.
I had wished I had visited the Coco in the company of either a fiancé' or wife and kids buts alas! I still don't have one; till then, Dar Coco will always be my favourite destination at no cost.
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