Attraction
National Museum and House of Culture
Tanzania's first modern museum, on Shaaban Robert Street beside the Botanical Gardens, covering human origins, ethnography, colonial history, art and natural history.
Azania Front Lutheran Church
A Bavarian-style Lutheran church built by German missionaries in 1898 on the Kivukoni waterfront, with a red-tiled roof and belfry, now the diocese's cathedral.
At a glance
- Type
- Lutheran cathedral
- Area
- Kivukoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Good to know
- Free
- Gardens
- Active place of worship
Why we recommend it
Azania Front Lutheran Church is one of the best-known landmarks on the Dar es Salaam waterfront. German missionaries built it in 1898, in the Bavarian style of the time, and it now serves as the cathedral of the local Lutheran diocese. It stands on the Kivukoni waterfront facing the harbour.
The appeal is mostly in the exterior. Bright white walls are topped by a red-tiled roof and a red-tiled belfry, and small tiled canopies shade each window, a practical touch in the coastal heat. The church is set in shaded gardens, which offer a few minutes of calm away from the traffic. Seen together with St Joseph's Cathedral a short distance away, it gives a clear impression of how the German colonial capital looked at the turn of the twentieth century.
As an active place of worship, the church is busiest on Sunday mornings. Visitors who want to look inside are best advised to go on a weekday, when it is quieter, and to check with staff on site before entering. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and avoid photographing worshippers without permission.
A visit takes about twenty minutes and is best made as part of a walk around the historic centre. From the church it is roughly a block to the Askari Monument, and St Joseph's Cathedral is a short stroll along the waterfront on Sokoine Drive. The Four Points by Sheraton New Africa hotel stands across the road, and its Bandari Grill looks straight out at the church, which makes it a handy stop for a cold drink. The Kivukoni fish market and the Kigamboni ferry terminal are a little further along the shore. The National Museum and Botanical Gardens are within a ten to fifteen minute walk.
Morning is the most comfortable time for walking the waterfront, and the light on the white facade is good for photographs until late afternoon. The area is busy with office workers on weekdays and quiet on Sundays outside service times. Keep valuables out of sight, as you would in any city centre, and use a licensed taxi or ride-hailing app if you are moving between areas after dark.
Azania Front Lutheran Church FAQs
When was the church built?
German missionaries built it in 1898.
What style is it?
It is built in a Bavarian style, with white walls, a red-tiled roof and belfry, and tiled canopies over the windows.
Is it still a working church?
Yes. It is the cathedral of the local Lutheran diocese.
Where does it stand?
On the Kivukoni waterfront, facing the harbour.
When is the best time to visit?
A weekday morning, when it is quieter than on Sundays.
How long should I allow?
About twenty minutes, or longer as part of a walk round the old centre.
What should I wear?
Modest clothing with shoulders and knees covered.
What is nearby?
The Askari Monument, St Joseph's Cathedral, the Kivukoni waterfront and the Four Points by Sheraton New Africa hotel.