Dar es Salaam: best months to visit

Dar es Salaam ("Abode of Peace" in Arabic), former capital and largest city of Tanzania: 7 million inhabitants in the urban area on the Indian Ocean (official capital moved to Dodoma in the centre of the country in 1996, but Dar es Salaam remains the economic capital and main hub). July is my favourite month (9.0/10): 22-28°C, 18% rain, this is the ideal dry season. From June to October, it's the tourist high season: 22-29°C, 18-51% rain, dry and (relatively) cool climate. From March to May, it's the long rainy season ("masika"): 52-89% rainfall, sometimes rough sea. From November-December, it's the short rainy season ("vuli"): 64-68% rainfall, but brief showers. Highlights: National Museum and House of Culture (the "Olduvai Gorge collection" with the human ancestor fossils discovered by Mary Leakey in 1959, including "Nutcracker Man" Australopithecus 1.8 million years old), Kariakoo Market (Tanzania's largest market, lively and chaotic), Mwenge Carvers Market (Makonde sculptures, ebony work), Coco Beach (Oyster Bay, urban beach), Kivukoni district (port and morning fish market). Excursions: Kigamboni Beach (south by ferry, deserted beaches), Bagamoyo 1h away (former capital of German East Africa then Tanganyika 1888-1916, 19th-century slave port), Mafia Island (30 min by plane, whale shark diving October-March). Dar es Salaam is above all the transit base for the safari parks in the north (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Manyara 1h by plane to Arusha) and for Zanzibar (1h by ferry or 30 min by plane). Try ugali, nyama choma (grilled meat), Swahili pilau (spicy pilaf), mishkaki (skewers), biryani (Indian heritage), Kilimanjaro Lager.