Bagamoyo Kilwa Kisiwani Pangani
Bagamoyo
Description: Bagamoyo is gaining ground as a popular alternate to Zanzibar. It is here that you will find similarities to Zanzibar (beautiful beaches and historic sites) without the large numbers of tourists.
Bagamoyo is now little more than a small town, but it used to be one of the most important ports in East Africa. It was a leading port for the ivory and slave trade. The area around Bagamoyo features a number of ancient buildings, some dating back more than 800 years.
These days, Bagamoyo is known as the ‘arts capital’ of Tanzania. It boasts an annual arts festival from the end of September into early October. There are an increasing number of good beach resorts to choose from, though be aware that sometimes security on the beach can be an issue.
Location: Less than 2 hours north of Dar es Salaam
Things 2 Do: Dance & Drum Classes, Diving, Snorkeling, Windsurfing, Fishing, Bagamoyo Historical Town Tour, Boat Trip
Time: A minimum of 2 nights.
Accommodations
$
Badeco Beach Hotel
Palm Tree Village Beach Resort
$$
Livingstone Club
Millennium Sea Breeze Resort
Oceanic Bay Hotel
Travellers Lodge
Kilwa Kisiwani
Description: At its height, Kilwa Kisiwani was the single most important trading center on the East African coast, and the ruins here include several mosques, a fourteenth-century palace (in its time the largest stone structure in sub-Saharan Africa) and a well-preserved Omani fortress. This is also a terrific place to go game fishing.
Location: Southern coast, reached by daily flights from Dar es Salaam.
Things 2 Do: Game Fishing, Snorkeling, Diving, Sunbathing, Swimming, Birding
Time: Minimum 3 nights.
Accommodations
$$
Kilwa Ruins Lodge
Kilwa Seaview Resort
Pangani
Description: Although it is not well known as a coastal destination, this small and historic town has attractive sandy beaches, a friendly and laid-back atmosphere, and a wealth of decaying colonial buildings dating from the slave trade and the German occupation. It is also a good place for cultural visits. All this makes it a great place to get away from it all and just relax. For those who like a beach without the crowds, this is a good alternative to Zanzibar.
Location: Northern Tanzania coast, south of Tanga, can be reached by flight to Tanga or in conjunction with a trip to the Usambara Mountains and/or Amani Reserves.
Things 2 Do: Diving, Snorkeling, Boat Rides, Fishing, Wind Surfing, Bird Watching, Cultural Tours, Walking and Spelunking.
Time: Spend at least 3 nights.
Accommodations
$
Mikomabay Tented Lodge
Capricorn Beach Cottages
Peponi Beach Resort
$$$
The Tides
“Every detail was meticulously planned and perfectly suited to our needs. It was obvious that Karen paid careful attention to how we prefer to experience travel and matched us with a guide who perfectly suited our style. Barney was incredibly professional and let us set the tone and pace. He is an outstanding guide in so many ways; he quickly read us and we bonded immediately. Throughout the journey it was obvious that Barney is well respected by the other guides and they often follow his lead because he knows where to go and how to find the animals. He is also an incredible photographer–I got to a point where I just handed him my phone and he meticulously captured our trip. With no exaggeration, our 8 days with Barney were life changing and we think of him each and every day.
While we requested clean and comfortable accommodations with private baths, every place we stayed far exceeded our expectations. Nyikani and Mara Mara were the standout favorites. I have spoken with folks who were unsure and had reservations about the food that would be provided. We ate incredibly well–food was more than plentiful, very good to extremely delicious, and the soups were the best I have ever eaten. Service was consistently exceptional.
Honestly, we can’t say enough positive things about our experience and have been recommending Access 2 Tanzania and Barney to all we can.”