Explore The Town of Bagamoyo : One of the unique and former landing sites for the Arabian slavers was the seaside port of Bagamoyo, which is located about 70 kilometers north of Dar es Salaam. The town is rich in history and worth exploring if you’re interested in cultural and historical tours. There are numerous references to the port, which served as the hub for all of the trade routes that ran from Zanzibar into Lake Tanganyika. However, Bagamoyo is now the final destination on the road that departs from Dar and is more of an intriguing footnote than a significant role.
Despite this, there is still a lot to entice visitors, including gorgeous beaches, first-rate service, and some very wonderful tiny cottages. It is definitely worthwhile to spend a few hours in Bagamoyo to explore, learn about, and appreciate this interesting town’s significance in Tanzanian history.
Bagamoyo first gained prominence as the closest port to Zanzibar, and in the 18th and 19th centuries it played a significant role as the primary route for smuggling and those seeking to journey into the interior of Africa. In its peak, the plantation was estimated to process some 50,000 slaves annually, and it was mentioned in the diaries of all the major explorers and missionaries of the day, including Livingstone, Speke, Stanley, and Burton, among others, Explore The Town of Bagamoyo
The slave trade’s fortunes began to decline once the Sultan of Zanzibar abolished it in the late 1800s. Germans considered the town to be too shallow, which caused it to experience a terrible downturn from which it has never fully recovered. Today, it hardly qualifies as anything more than a sleepy fishing port that makes do with meager tourist revenues and subsistence fishing. This is not to imply that a visit is not worthwhile, though; for those who are interested in culture and the Omani empire, a stroll through the back alleys and a stop at the neighboring Kaole Ruins will give them a rare glimpse into African history.
HISTORY OF BAGAMOYO TOWN
World-renowned historical sites may be found in the town of Bagamoyo, which is also home to one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. This town was formerly a major commerce hub on the East African coast and the capital of German East Africa. Numerous ethnic groups, including the Wakwere, Wazaramo, and Wazigua, are present in Bagamoyo. As a result of the coexistence of various civilizations, particularly those of Arab heritage, Bagamoyo is a tranquil and welcoming destination for tourists from throughout the globe.
One of the most significant trading hubs on the coast of East Africa, Bagamoyo served as the last halt for slave and ivory caravans making their way on foot from Lake Tanganyika to Zanzibar. Bagamoyo, which in Kiswahili means “buried my heart,” became the focus of the efforts of missionaries working to end the slave trade.
There are still a few German colonial structures in Bagamoyo, a peaceful community. The town of Bagamoyo was formerly one of the most significant trading ports on the entire coast of East Africa. Its harbor served as the last terminus for slave and ivory caravans that had made the long journey on foot from Lake Tanganyika. The slaves and ivory were transported by dhow from Bagamoyo to Zanzibar, where they were then dispersed all over the world. Bagamoyo is now a key location for dhow construction in the area and along the Tanzanian coast.
TOURIST ACTIVITIES AT BAGAMOYO
Bagamoyo offers the following activities:
- Bagamoyo Stone Town Tour
- Bagamoyo biking tours
- Kaole Ruins Tour
- Crocodile farm tour
- Visits to the Caravan Serai Museum
- Visits to the Catholic Old Church and Museum
- Mangrove forest tour
- Fish with local fishermen.
- Marine tours
- Visit Ngome Kongwe.
- Visit to the Old Port
- Fish market tour
- The white-sand beach
- Explore the Coral Reef
- Go to the slave prison.
- Visit the art market.
DAY TRIP/HALF-DAY TOURS IN BAGAMOYO:
Bagamoyo Stone Town Tour (2–3 hours): Older structures from the preceding generation surround Bagamoyo. These structures include stunning Arab architecture, strong earthen walls, and doors with intricate carvings made of heavy African mahogany. You can visit the German Colonial Administrative Block, the Art Market, the Old Post Office, the First Tanzanian Primary School, the Old Mosques, the Hanging Tower, the Caravan Serai Museum, and the Fish Market on your stroll through the winding streets between the old buildings of Bagamoyo Stone Town. Visit a dhow sailboat-making facility during your stroll along the Indian Ocean beach to see how locals construct boats, Explore The Town of Bagamoyo.
Kaole Ruins Tour (1-3 hours): One of the first communities that immigrants from Arabic countries chose when they arrived on the coast of East Africa was Kaole hamlet, formerly known as “Pumbuji.” 13th-century ruins can be found in the village. The Sultan of Oman chose to establish his residence and military and administrative headquarters in this town. Today, the earthen and coral ruins and the Kaole Museum tell a wealth of tales about the slave trade, trade routes, cruel labor practices, and the vibrant culture of the Kaole people, the majority of whom are Asian in origin. Beyond the ruins, there is a mangrove forest surrounding an old dock where visitors may have a closer look at nature and breathe in the fresh air.
Bagamoyo Catholic Church and Museum Tour: You will tour the Dr. Livingstone Tower, the Old Fathers’ House, the Cross at the Beach, the Old Tower of the First Catholic Church in East Africa, one of the Oldest Baobab Trees, and Catholic, German, and Indian Cemeteries. Discover the museum’s information on the slave trade, missionaries, daily life, and some collections of indigenous tribes’ artifacts.
Mwambakuni coral reef tour (1-3 hours): Discover the Mwambakuni coral reef during your marine excursion and hear locals’ perspectives on coral reefs and their uses.
Crocodile Farm Tour (2–5 hours): Learn about the care of these wild predators by visiting a crocodile farm. Learn about their social interactions, growth, live catch methods, feeding and hunting strategies, and the numerous things they utilize locally.
Mapopo Island Tour (2–5 hours): Take a boat cruise in the morning or evening to Mapopo Island, which is home to a large population of bats. Learn about the ecology of these flying mammals and their role in the life of the bat.
Ruvu River cruising (2–3 hours): Take a boat ride to see crocodiles, hippos, and different birds along Tanzania‘s Ruvu River, which originates in the Uluguru Mountains and some of the Southern Highlands, Explore The Town of Bagamoyo.
Fishing with local fishermen (1-4 hours): Come out and go fishing with a group of knowledgeable villagers. Try your best to catch whatever is going to be prepared for you for lunch or dinner.
Visit Bagamoyo College of Arts (1-2 hours): Tanzania’s internationally renowned Bagamoyo College of Arts (“Chuo cha Sanaa”) teaches traditional Tanzanian painting, sculpture, theater, dancing, and drumming. Everyone is welcome to attend the college’s monthly cultural events.
Local home visits (1-2 hours): Visit a local residence to gain insight into daily life in coastal areas. While performing various daily tasks around the house or with the locals, listen to stories and interact with them.
WHERE TO STAY IN BAGAMOYO
In and around the town of Bagamoyo, there are many hotels and resorts, hostels, guest homes, and camping grounds. On request, the Bagamoyo Cultural Tourism Office can help you make reservations or point you in the direction of a variety of suggested lodging options.
