how to get to Funkys

This one (in english) is a little note on how to get to the Funkys skatepark in Dar es Salaam. I tried to google my way there myself, both before coming to Dar es Salaam myself, and then once i was here, hearing rumours about it existing i googled it again. Couldn't find it though, on the web that is. In reality i found it today, and it really exists, along with a Tanzaninan skabetoard community of about three people. I met one of these, the guy running the day-to-day business in the place, and he kicked ass! Such a nice fellow!

The name of the park is Funkys skatepark. It has a giant bowl, not that high but the area of it is really big. When you pay the entrance to it, about 5 € / 7 US$ / 5 000 tsh you don't just get access to the skatepark, but to the whole place, and that means you get access to the swimmingpool too, so it might be a good idea bringin some swimming suit or some surf shorts. Dar es salaam is really warm at it's coldest, so freshing up in the pool sounds awsome to me, but i didn't know about the swimming pool in advance unfurtunately, and up next i have to move out of Dar so i'll miss that part i'm afraid.

The place is situated on the Msasani Peninsula, just out of the City Centre in an area very popular for expat residentials. Once there I was told it is close to the South African Embassy and right behind the international school (maybe the one called IST or something like that, which would stand for International School of Tangyanika, where all the expat kids seem to go, but i'm not really sure of any of this stuff).

Baraka, the guy running the place, pointed it out for me on a map, i'll try and post it below along with a photo or two.

Funkys has been around almost a year, and before that there was nothing to skate in dar es salaam. For some time there was a flat area where you could go streetskating, but it changed owner and with that the fun was ending apparantly. You can buy drinks and food there, but are not really allowed to bring your own stuff inside. The prices for food and drinks are off course overprised if you compare to what you would find on the streets, but nothing exceeding what you would pay in europe for instance. Especially price worthy are the freshly made fruit juices, those can keep you going for a while on the warmest of days.

With the entrance you pay for the whole day, you get a band around your hand, so in case you want to come and go that's totally ok. I have no idea though wheater or not there are some other places to shop or eat around.

For the skateboarding i would recomend big and soft wheels. The bowl has a lot of flat in it, so keeping up with speed could be a tough one, and it is quite slippery as well. They will also borrow you a board for free, that's what i did (didn't bring any from the EU) and that board was totally ok, good condition and all that, but you know, not skating your own board is always a bit scetchy.

They had a big sign with a lot of rules on it, but i forgot to look at that one. What i do know though is that if your under 18 you have to wear a helmet, which you can borrow there if you don't have one.

They also sell some decks, wheels and other stuff. The stuff comes through the shop X-one (or something of that kind) in Nairobi, Kenya, which is supposedly the only skateshop in the whole of Eastern Africa.

I think you will enjoy it!

Cheers!

I tried to highlight on the map where it is

This is what you should keep your eyes open for (well, not me, but the guy running the place and what it looks like from the outside)

Here's a glimpse of what you can expect. Reckon it's more fun if i don't put up like hundred photos of every little detail of it.

For the sake of google searching, this is a how to get there with a map of skateboard, skateboarding, concrete skate park, skatepark, and some stuff about how it works in Dar es Salaam,Tanzania

Ride on!