Coastal Tours

Dar es Salaam beaches

Dar es-Salaam is the largest city and former capital of Tanzania, representing today administrative and trading center of the country. It’s architecture is a mixture of African, Arab, Indian and German influences, but much of this is now dwarfed by towering skyscrapers. The city lies on the Indian coast of Tanzania, and naturally is surrounded by beautiful beaches which draw both locals and visitors. Although many take the ferry to the island of Zanzibar for their beach holiday, there are plenty of options nearby.

You can find numerous beach resorts around Dar es Salaam. The fact is that beaches are often part of a hotel, but many of them are not exclusively for hotel guests, so anyone who orders a drink or lunch may use the facilities. Ddditional advantage is that the hotels keep the beaches clean and safe.

Kigamboni, also known as South Beach, is located in a peaceful area to the southeast of the city centre, and it is accessible by car and by ferry. The hotels offer outstanding facilities, but you may simply wish to rent a thatched parasol on the public beach.

For a more local flavor, you can go to Coco Beach on the east side of the Msasani. This beach is boasting a lively atmosphere, it features food stalls and hosts regular live music, which makes it a perfect place for younger population.

You can venture to the North Beach and it’s nearby White Sands Hotel at Jangwani Beach. From here you can catch the ferry to the small island of Mbudya. Spend the day on a fabulous beach and enjoy fresh fish straight from the Indian Ocean. Another island that makes for a perfect and relaxing getaway is Bongoyo. This island is surrounded by a marine reserve that provides fantastic snorkelling opportunities.

Pangani beach

Pangani is a small town in East Africa’s coast that was 50 kms South of Tanga, with long history as being a centre of Swahili trade with the African mainland back in a glory days. Culture of the town has Arabic, German, Asian and British Colonial rules influence. This is a place where Swahili, Arab colonial traditions and modern hospitality merge into one.

Here you can visit the secluded and visually stunning beach of Pangani. This beach is named after the river flowing from Mount Kilimanjaro to its final destination merging with the Indian Ocean. Here you can find the stamp of the modern era with numerous hotels and restaurants. What diversifies Pangani Beach from many others is the historical buildings and remains of the ancient times, which can be a perfect locations to visit just to take a break from the standard beach activities. In a contrast to the busier Zanzibar and Dar Es Salaam, Pangani Beach is a more quiet destination, where you can relax on the white sand beach or take a swim in the crystal clear waters. In fact, some of the most popular activities are snorkeling and scuba diving off of the Maziawe Island Park. If you like fishing, this is the perfect beach for you, where the friendly locals are more than willing to prepare for you the fish you would be able to cache.

All in all, you will not regret if decide to spend some time at this most beautiful beach.

Bagamoyo

Bagamoyo is a town in coastal Tanzania with a great colonial history and an very active art scene. In the most recent history, Bagamoyo was terminal point on the coast for Arab trading caravans. It was also standing as a hub for slaves brought from the interior, awaiting transportation to Zanzibar.

During German colonial times, this was the economic and administrative capital of German East Africa. Since the capital was moved to Dar es Salaam, Bagomoyo started to decline. Architecture of European origin is rarely maintained and now  slowly crumbling, but still magnificent to see. The Arabic influence on local architecture is also significant.

While the town is usually safe during the day, avoid walking outside late at night. It is also advisable to avoid the slum expands towards the east. Be very aware of people monitoring you while standing somewhere or sitting in a restaurant.

Bagamoyo is definitely on the rise as travelling destination from a touristic point of view, but in recent times it has sadly very much fallen into shadow of much more prominent Zanzibar and was not flooded by thousands of tourists every year. This might be a blessing in disguise, because Bagamoyo managed to retains much of its village feel, that you can savour at the fish market, right on the shores of the Indian Ocean, or at one of the tiny local restaurants, that are little more than someone’s living room facing onto the street.