Zanzibar
Zanzibar
is a small archipelago made up of two sister island known as Unguja
and Pemba, located in the Indian ocean
off the coast of East Africa, about 25 miles
from the Tanzania
coast and 6 degrees south of the equator.
Zanzibar
Island (known locally as Unguja,
the main island but as Zanzibar internationally) is 60 miles long
and 20 miles wide, it is characterized by beautiful sandy beaches
with fringing coral reefs and the magic of historic Stone
town-said to be the only functioning ancient town in
East Africa, is a World Heritage Site.
Zanzibar's rich history has been influenced by the Arabs, Persians,
Indians, Portuguese, British and local tribes from the African
mainland and this shows in the architecture.
Stone Town is a place of winding lanes, ornately
carved wooden doors, circular towers, raised terraces and beautiful
mosques. Important architectural features are the Livingstone
house, the Guliani Bridge, the House
of Wonders and the Aga Khan's Old Dispensary
Building.
Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar,
is steeped in history and an outstanding example of cultural fusion
and harmonisation. It was recently and deservedly recognised by
UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Zanzibar speak
Swahili(known locally as
Kiswahili)a
language which is spoken extensively in East Africa, many believe
that the purest form is spoken in Zanzibar as it is the birth
place of the language.
The tours and activities that
are conducted in Zanzibar are as follows:
For Itineraries at Zanzibar,
please visit Packages
page.
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Mafia Island
Mafia
Island ("Chole Shamba") is part of the
Tanzanian Spice Islands, together with Unguja
and Pemba.
The Mafia archipelago consists
of one large island (394 km²) and numerous smaller ones.
Some of these are inhabited, such as Chole Island
Mafia Island is a wonderful
little island at the centre of the largest marine park
in East Africa. The park is located between the Rufiji
River delta to the west and the open Indian Ocean to
the east. The dual influences of the river and the sea have combined
to create a rich and exceptional biodiversity with unique landscapes
under the sea and on dry land.
It is a real sleepy backwater,
a remnant of the old swahili coast and a the
place to visit now if you want to see how Zanzibar was thirty
years ago.
For tours and activities at Mafia, please visit
Packages
page.
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Pemba Island
The island of Pemba
known as 'Al Jazeera Al Khadra' (the green
island, in Arabic) is an island forming part of the Zanzibar
archipelago, lying off the east coast of Africa in the Indian
Ocean, positioned directly east of the of the port of Tanga..
It is situated about 50 kilometres to the north of the island
of Zanzibar & 50 kilometres east of mainland Tanzania.It is
completely different from Zanzibar ... more undulating,
verdant and remote.
Most of the island, which is hillier and more fertile than Zanzibar,
is dominated by small scale farming. There is large scale farming
of cash crops such as cloves
The most important towns in Pemba are Chake-Chake (the
capital), Mkoani, and Wete.
In addition to its rich history and traditions, Pemba is of interest
for its wealth of natural resources ranging from
beaches to mangrove ecosystems
to natural forests. While much of the coast is lined with mangroves,
there are a few amazing stretches of shoreline and enough attractive
offshore islands with pure, clean beaches and interesting bird-life
to keep you busy for quite a while.
Pemba has some of the world's best diving and fishing
and because it is not as travelled as it's more famous neighbour
- Unguja (Zanzibar Island) - it is that much more pristine.
Pemba has some of the most spectacular diving in the world. Diving
is conducted on the western side and is characterised by crystal
clear, blue water drop-offs along with pristine shallow reefs.
Hard and soft coral gardens abound with schools of coral
fish, pelagic marine life, mantas and turtles.
The Pemba Channel is widely known, and is considered one of the
world's best places for fishing.The Pemba Channel itself is Africa's
premier marlin destination. Striped, black and blue marlin,
broadbill, mako, sailfish, tiger and other sharks, dorado, wahoo,
yellowfin tuna and many other game fish are all to be
found in her azure waters.
For tours and activities at Pemba, please visit
Packages
page.
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Saadani National Park
Saadani is where the beach meets the bush. The
only wildlife sanctuary in East Africa
to boast an Indian Ocean beachfront, it possesses
all the attributes that make Tanzania’s
tropical coastline and islands so popular with
European sun-worshippers. Yet it is also the
one place where those idle hours of sunbathing
might be interrupted by an elephant strolling past, or a lion
coming to drink at the nearby waterhole!
Today, a surprisingly wide range of grazers and
primates is seen on game drives and
walks, among them giraffe, buffalo,
warthog, common waterbuck, reedbuck,
hartebeest, wildebeest, red
duiker, greater kudu, eland,
sable antelope, yellow baboon
and vervet monkey.
Herds of up to 30 elephants are encountered with
increasing frequency, and several lion prides
are resident, together with leopard, spotted
hyena and black-backed jackal.
Boat trips on the mangrove-lined Wami
River come with a high chance of sighting hippos,
crocodiles and a selection of marine and riverine
birds, including the mangrove kingfisher
and lesser flamingo, while the beaches form one
of the last major green turtle breeding sites
on mainland Tanzania.
Main attractions: Game drives, Walking
Safaris, Boat Safaris.
For tours and activities at Saadani, please visit
Packages page.
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Pangani
The name Pangani owes to
the river that runs through northern part of this Historical
Town. Pangani is an ancient town, and
is believed to have been established before the 6th Century
BC and played an important role during the slave
trade era.
It is mainly a fishing town dotted with coconut
trees, providing beautiful beaches for quiet vacation. Pangani
is situated about 50km south of Tanga on the mouth of River
Pangani that flows from the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Pangani River hosts birds and crocodiles. Maziwi Island is a nature reserve which provides ground for snorkeling opportunity and dolphin tour. A walking tour though the town allows one to see some of old buildings that are over 200 years old, as well as visits to a former slave labor camps and slave market site.
Pangani town elders serve as knowledgeable guides who can impart
their vast knowledge of Pangani history and culture going back
to the 15th century as they take you through
the town. In 1810, the Arabs constructed the central boma
building, people were buried alive under the pillars
during construction as it was believed this would ensure strong
foundations. Later the German administration used the buidings
as a colonial district office and added a european style roof
giving the building a unique appearance. The intricate Arab carved
doors and foundation (still strong!) remain and the building is
now used as the district commissioners office.
The city has numerous historical monuments: the
original slave depots and slave market
where arabs traded slaves to India and Arabia, the Freedom Grounds,
Islamic and German graves, ancient mosques and traditional
houses.
Other tours that are recommended include an "agricultural
and nature walk", this shows you some of the beautiful
scenery and culture of Pangani. You visit local farmers and see
various agriculture projects in the area such as coconut processing
at Kikowea. A German fort facing the Pemba channel is the birth
place of sisal growing in africa, here Richard
Hindroph, a German botanist, planted
the first sisal seedlings in 1892.
You will see the sisal estates and factories and sisal plantations.
Then you walk along the coastline to a unique coral shore where
the fossils of a 200-300 million year old dinosaurus
rest in the area known as Mkomo and Mwanaunguja
coral. During this tour you can swim or rest on some
of the most spectacular beaches in Tanzania.
For tours and activities at Pangani, please visit
Packages
page.
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Lushoto
Located in the North-Eastern
part of Tanzania, Lushoto is dubbed 'the hill-station
of Tanzania'. With the outlook dominated by the
colorful mosaic of the Usambara Mountains, this
lush area is welcome retreat from the busy cities
and game parks of the country.
The Mountains are ideal for hiking and spectacular
driving and the forests are a bird watcher's
paradise. Relax at the lodge with spectacular views of
the natural forest and rolling hills, or take
one of the many walking tours in and around the
Mountains.
Common walks are to the Irente viewpoint, Magambe forests, Usambara farm and Flora tour and Muveza falls.
For tours and activities at Lushoto, please visit
Packages
page.
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Bagamoyo
Bagamoyo
was recently designated as Tanzania’s seventh world
heritage site and is the oldest town in Tanzania. Bagamoyo's
history has been influenced by Arab and Indian traders, the German
colonial government and Christian missionaries.
This small town has played
various historical roles in Tanzania.
Apart from being a slave and ivory port, it was
also a German headquarter in 1891. Explorers
such as Burton, Speke, Grant, Livingston and Stanley
all passed in this town. The name Bagamoyo comes
from Swahili words "bwaga moyo" (throw
down your heart), a despair expressed by people who were captured
as slaves of knowing that they face a long uncertain future. Lies
75 kilometers north of Dar es Salaam
This famous old slave trading station on the
mainland coast opposite Zanzibar used was the
starting point for many of the best-trodden caravan
routes into the interior. Now much faded, Bagamoyo remains an
interesting place to visit and there are some beautiful unspoilt
beaches. Visitors enjoy a combination of cultural, historical
and natural attractions.
The town, which lies beside beautiful Indian Ocean beaches, has
several points of interest which can be visited over the course
of two days.
The German and Mwanamakuka cemeteries, located
200 meters from the Indian Ocean. The tombs at Mwanamakuka were
built in traditional Arab style, and the oldest dates back to
1793.
The Chuo cha Sanaa, or College of Arts, is located
next to the cemetery.
Other points of historical interest in Bagamoyo include Kaole
Ruins, the German Boma and the German
hanging place.
The Kaole ruins are the remains of a Shirazi
trading town. They date back to the thirteenth century. The ruins
are of two mosques and several tombs. The buildings were constructed
using coral stones. The site claims to be home to the first mosques
in east Africa. In addition to the ruins, there is a small museum.
The German Hanging Place is the site where the
German colonial government hanged Africans who rebelled against
the German colonial government in the late nineteenth century.
There is a small, not very well maintained memorial.
A must see is the Roman Catholic Mission, a picturesque
mission which is home to the oldest Roman Catholic Church in East
and Central Africa. The first Catholic church
at the mission was built in 1868 and in 1874, Dr. Livingstone’s
body stayed at the Catholic mission before being sent to England
for burial. The Bagamoyo Museum is located at
the mission, and the town’s history is explained in detail at
the museum.
For tours and activities at Bagamoyo,
please visit Packages
page.
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Kilwa
Kilwa is about 300 km
south of Dar-es-salaam on the Tanzanian coast, close to the Selous
Game Reserve. The Kilwa of today is divided into 3
different towns – Kilwa Kivinje and Kilwa Masoka
on the mainland and the offshore island of Kilwa Kisiwani–
Kilwa was originally established as a centre for the gold
and ivory trade.
Now a World Heritage Site, it is a home to one of the most
spectacular ruins on the East African coast. Kilwa Kisiwani
and the nearby Songo Mnara Islands contain numerous ruins
many dating back to the 13th century.
Kilwa Masoko is the most developed town and the administrative
centre of the district.
Today Kilwa has managed to preserve much of the scenery that attracted
Ibn Batuta, Pedro Alvares Cabral,
and Vasco da Gama. To preserve its beauty UNESCO
declared Kilwa a World Heritage Site in 1981.
Kilwa Kivinje, was in the 19th Century
an Arabian slave and ivory trading town,
where caravans started off into the interior. With the end of
the Arab time at the end of the 19th century, the German colonial
government built a fort and extended the town. From German times
one can still find a Market Hall, the big
Fort with a canon from the 1st World war, and two pillars
one for the tribal dead of the Maji Maji War fought between the
local tribes of Southern Tanzania and the German Colonial government
and the other for two German traders also killed during the same
Maji Maji War.
The main buildings on Kilwa are the Great Mosque
and the Great House, the Small Domed
Mosque, the Jangwam Mosque, the palace
of Husuni Kubwa and the nearby Husuni Ndogo,
the Makutani palace and the Gereza fort. There
are also important ruins on nearby islands including Songo
Mnara; another island with 14th to 15th Century houses
and mosques. Some of which still show high walls and even parts
of their roofs & Sanje Majoma and Sanje
ya Kate.
Kilwa Kisiwani, is a small island across the
water from Kilwa Masoko,this is where one will find the
greatest collection of ruins. Directly on the Northern shore one
will find the old Omani Fort, which is built
on the foundations of the old Portuguese fort, in the early 19th
Century, and where still an old wooden door remains.
The Big Mosque is from the 12th Century
and was further extended up to the 15th Century. It was said to
be the largest mosque in East Africa.
Adjacent to the Great Mosque on the south side is the Great
House which mostly dates to the same period as the latest
phase of the mosque (i.e. eighteenth century).
The purpose of the Great House is not known, but it is likely
that at some stage it served as the sultan's residence
judging from a royal tombstone found during excavations.
To the south-west of the Great Mosque is the Small Domed
Mosque which together with the Jangwani Mosque
are the only two examples of a nine-domed mosque in this area.
This building probably dates from the mid-fifteenth century
The other nine-domed mosque is of approximately
the same date and is known as the Jangwani Mosque; it is located
to the south of the Small Domed Mosque.
To the east of the main group of buildings are the remains known
as Husuni Kubwa (large Husuni)
and Husuni Ndogo (small Husuni).
The term Husuni derives from the Arabic term
husn meaning fortified enclosure
or fortress. Husuni Kubwa is located on a coastal
headland overlooking the Indian Ocean. Husuni Kubwa
is a severe-looking building which fits the name Husuni
(fort). There is little evidence for dating this structure
although it is thought to be contemporary with Husuni Kubwa.
The other two important buildings on Kilwa island are also defensive
structures although they seem to date mostly to the eighteenth
century. The largest of these is the Makutani palace
which was the residence of the sultan in the
eighteenth century.
The Gereza or fort is located
between the Makutani palace and the Great Mosque. It consists
of a roughly square enclosure with two towers at opposite corners.
Although there is some evidence that the original structure was
Portuguese, the present form of the building seems to be typical
of Omani forts.
In addition to sites on Kilwa island there are important sites
on nearby islands. The earliest of these sites is Sanje
ya Kate, an island to the south of Kilwa where there
are ruins covering an area of 400 acres, including
houses and a mosque. Excavations
have shown that the settlement was abandoned before 1200 and most
of the ruins date to the tenth century or even earlier.
To the east of Sanje ya Kate is the larger island of Songo
Mnara which contains extensive ruins on its northern
tip. The remains date to the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries and consist of thirty-three houses
and a palace complex, as well as five
mosques contained within a defensive enclosure wall.
For tours and activities at Kilwa,
please visit Packages
menu.
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