One way is the direction (orientation) of growth (expansion). Dar es Salaam grows vertically and horizontally. The Central District Area is now witnessing heavy construction of high rises. Most of the high rise buildings going over 10 storeys. This is 'vertical' expansion. The city is also spreading very fast outwards.

This is 'horizontal' expansion. Some thirty years back, the city could mostly be traced within the radii of five to eight kilometres from the City centre. Today, horizontal expansion touches up to the radii of 25 kilometers away from the City Centre. Therefore, Dar es Salaam is growing both vertically and horizontally. At the same time, population of people and number of vehicles keep growing at an unprecedented rate. In most cases growth of the city do not go hand in hand with the capacity to provide basic social services and infrastructure. Worse still is the capacity to control the growth of town and street plans.

Important hospitals in the city remain the same in number. Recently, there has been a wave of up-coming up of privately owned dispensaries. The number of schools keeps growing although there are also many challenges to tackle in that area. There is heavy traffic on roads, Yet these have not been expanding at the same pace as expansion of volume of vehicles using them. There are efforts to try and upgrade as well as construct new roads, but still the pace is very small. Water provision systems, electricity and security issues all remain to be desired. Dar es Salaam is growing. The tolls for the growth are also growing tall by each passing day. It is important to ensure that expansion of the city is under control for the betterment of living standards for dwellers of the city.