Tanzania Tourism - Cities in Tanzania

Little more than a century old, Dar Es Salaam is a relatively modern city that has an old world charm. It shows none of the overwhelming bustle that capital cities often possess, and the name that the founding Sultan of Zanzibar gave it in 1857 still applies: "Haven of Peace."
One of the most attractive features of Dar Es Salaam is its harbour. The crescent bay is fringed with palm trees, and gorgeously wrought sailing craft often waft into port. From December to March, Asian bateels and badane set sail from India, Arabia, and the Persian Gulf, their holds bursting with carpets, silver, and brass to trade at the Indian bazaar. Jahazi and Mashua, Dar Es Salaam's traditional small sailboats , come and go all day from Mafia Islands and Lamu.

Another fascinating attraction of the city is its National Museum. Some of Dr. Leakey's first finds can be found in the museum, including Nut-cracker Man and Zinjanthropus Bosei, proto-humans who roamed the Rift Valley over a million years ago. There are also detailed displays that track humanity's evolution over the years.

This is regarded one of Tanzania's most attractive towns. It is located at the foot of Mt. Meru in lush green countryside, surrounded by maize and wheat platations, and has a temperate climate throughout the year.
For most visitors, Arusha is the gateway to the "northern circuit". Generally, it is the place to go to arrange a safari. Once there, you may obtain further information in the tourist office on Boma Road, and the Tanzania National Parks office on 6th floor, Kilimanjaro Wing, International Conference Centre.
In Arusha, makonde curvings at prices lower than in Dar-es-Salaam.
Arusha is a modern town in every aspect and its visitor facilities cater to all budgets.

This is Tanzania's second-largest port on Lake Victoria. The Wasukuma, the largest ethnic group in Tanzania, live here. They farm cotton, tea and coffee.
Among things of interest to the visitor is the Sukuma Museum (also called the Bujora Museum), which displays the culture and traditions of the Wasukuma.

This is the political headquarters of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Party, and the official capital of Tanzania. However, all foreign embassies and high commissions are in Dar-es-Salaam.

There are actually three Kilwas - the oldest, Kilwa Kisiwani (Kilwa on the island), lies on a small isalnd two kilometres offshore. Here are the ruins of the medieval city of Kilwa, once thought to be the site of King Solomon's mines. Kilwa Kivinje (Kilwa of the Censuarina Trees) was a major 19th century slave trading centre, while Kilwa Masoko (Kilwa of the market) is a regional headquarters.

The Kilwa area is of great historical interests and great scenic beauty. The Kilwas were at their height during the 12th century and continued until the 1800s, ending with the abolition of the slave trade. Power shifted and soon all that remined of the Kilwa's former glory were the fabulous ruins along the coastline.
The coastline town of Kilwa is still beautiful. Kilwa Kivinje was the terminus of the southern caravaan route from Lake Nyasa . Over 20,000 slaves were exported from here annually during the 1860s . It was also the site of the Germans' southern administrative headquarters.

A colourful market is held daily on the square at Kilwa Masoko. Men in white robes and women in black buibuis gather under the mango trees to barter fresh produce and a variety of goods.
Kilwa Kisiwani is famous for spectacular ruins, the finest and most intact collection of Islamic architecture south of the Sahara. These ruins, together with the stone town ruins on Songa Mnara Island, a few kilometres to the south as well as the ancient oblong houses of uninhabited Sanje ya Kati, make this area the historical nucleus of the south. Time bars visitors from venturing south of the Kilwas . Small fishing villages are scattered along the coast, unchanged by the progress of the rest of the country.

The town of Bagamoyo was the centre of the 19th century slave trade. The name Bagamoyo is derived from the Swahili bwaga moyo ,which means "to lose hope" or "where the heart lays down its burden".
Many of the European explorers passed through here, including Burton, Speke, Grant, Stanley and Livingstone. The church, built by the Holy Ghost Fathers, is the oldest in East Africa and it was here that the preserved body of Livingstone lay before being shipped to England.

The beach that stretches to either side of Bagamoyo is everyone's idea of a tropical paradise. In its day though, thousands of slaves were shipped from here on a regular basis. The Kaole Ruins dated from the 13th century and include what is thought to be the oldest mosque on the East African mainland. Bagamoyo Art College, 100m south of the Badeco Hotel, have free shows of traditional music, dancing and mime on weekends.

Located on the Bagamoyo-Pangani Road. the Sadani Game Reserve is one of the least visited in Tanzania and is the only East African Coastal reserve to harbour large mammals and also the only place where elephant can still be seen bathing in the Indian Ocean. Lion, leopard, zebra, roan antelope, giraffe, orynx and buffalo live in the reserve.

The town of Pangani on Pangani River mouth has an attractive situation. The banks of the Pangani River are heavily forested and a magnificient beach sretches north of the estuary.

The town of Tanga has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. There are various excursions that can be made from the town. The Amboni Caves are the most extensive limestone caves in East Africa. Locals believe a fertility god lives in them, and offerings are usually left for the diety.
The Tongoni Ruins are the remains of a Shirazi town from the 14th and 15th centuries. Its graveyard houses the largest concentration of historical tombs on the East African Coast.