Category: COASTAL CIRCUIT

At the point where the massive Pangani River empties itself into the Indian Ocean, a village has grown.

The Pangani River passes through the north side of the town, separating the old buildings and the present-day market from the farms and small houses on the south side.

The river itself requires a ferry to cross, its dark brown waters heavy with alluvial silt as it meanders slowly into the ocean. On either side of the little town, coconut palms and sisal plantations undulate towards the horizon.

Once a centre of Swahili trade with the African mainland, the town of Pangani is now a sleepy backwater that little remembers its days of splendors.

The old German administrative boma still stands behind a colonnade of tall shade trees and the former prison, painted a fading ocher red, looks over the river’s lazy waters.

Old houses along the main road offer lived-in examples of colonial and traditional Swahili architecture, the buildings slowly crumbling against the monsoon winds. Visitors passing through the area would do well to explore what remains of the old town on foot.

Even a short walk rewards visitors with a glimpse of quiet life in the old trading towns along the Swahili Coast.

Suggested Itineraries for Pangani : Minimum 4 Days/ 3 Night Safari

Is an island with 1,658 sq km and its sister Pemba Island 985 sq km .

Zanzibar evokes dreams of romance and mystery the reality will not disappoint the traveler bored mass tourism and seeking enlightening and enjoyable holiday.

Zanzibar is beach lovers’ paradise, with tranquil, warm tropical water and many miles of beautiful sandy beaches on the Indian Ocean.

Zanzibar’s colorfully history is a saga of travelers and traders, raiders and colonizers. To its shore came Sumerians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Indians, Malays, Persians, Portuguese, Arabs, Dutch and British, each leaving behind the legacy of their stay.

Places to visit:

Beit-el-ajaib (house of wonders) : built in 1883 by sultan Bargash and is the tallest building in stone town facing the sea with pillars fretted balconies and intricately carved doors.

Stone town: is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar, little changed in the last 200 yrs. It’s the place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arabs houses whose extravagance is reflected in their brass-studded, carved wooden doors.

National Museum: collection of history and culture of Zanzibar.

Livingstone House: where Scottish explored lived for 3 months

Old Dispensary: foundation stone was laid in Queen Victoria Jubilee year.

Old Fort: site was established in the 16th century by Portuguese as trading depot and later erected as church.

Hamamni baths: Persian style bath build in end of 19th century by Sultan Bargash.

Cathedral church: built in 1879

Spice tours: see the various spices and fruits: clove, cardamon, cinnamon, nutmeg, star fruit, custard apple, tangerine, pineapple, banana.

Jozani Forest Reserve: located 35 kms south east from the city, with area of 10 sq kms, whose thick forest, with trees over 100 yrs old and with the last remaining of sanctuaries of the red colobus monkeys.

Changuu or Prison Island: was built in 1893 and was used to contain awkward slaves and a jail, but never used. Today the island famous inhabitants are giant tortoise and are popular place to swim, a stroll or a picnic.

Dolphin Tours: found at north of the island and chances of watching them is 85% in their natural habitant. The most commonly seen dolphins are bottled nose and spinner dolphins.

Water Sports: The beeches are paradise as people live simple way of life, unchanged through the years, which facilitates water namely: sports fishing, snorkeling, diving. Places like Fuji beach and Chuini beach (south of Zanzibar town), Pongwe , Bwejuu and Jambiani ( south eastern coast) offers a facilities for a range for water sports. Kiwengwe, Uroa , Matemwe and Mapenzi (north east coast ) with the wide stretches of uncrowded sands offers opportunity to explore the underwater world.

Getting to Zanzibar : Fast ferry ( 2 hrs) / flight ( 20 min) from Dar es salaam , Flight ( 1 hr) from Kilimanjaro / Arusha

Suggested Itineraries for Zanzibar : Minimum 2 Days/ 1 Night or 5 days / 4 Nights : Zanzibar can be combined with other Parks :Check for Itineraries

Mafia Island is the largest marine protected area in the Indian ocean with coastline area of 822 sq km.

Encompassing the southern part of the Mafia island and an archipelago of several small islands and islets.

The park is sandwiched between the Rufiji delta to the west and the open Indian Ocean to the east.

The twin influences of river and sea have combined over thousands years to create an undersea landscape of unique variety: underwater cliffs, tidal channels, coral reefs and sea-grass meadows. This allows extraordinary verity of marine life and is the basis of mafia’s exceptional biodiversity.

It’s one of the most exciting diving and fishing area in the world. It’s home for more than 460 species of fish and 5 species of turtle. Sports fisherman flock here for superb catches, many of them are great fighters, which include barracuda, marlin, sailfish and tuna.

The main season is from September to March. Although fishing is possible all year around within the reef and the channel.

Divers will also see a variable kaleidoscope of reef dwellers among 50 types of coral.

These include butterfly fish, clown fish, lion fish, and rainbow fish, while in deeper water will come across shark, rays and groupers.

Also bottle nose and spinner dolphins are often seen leaping the waves.

Over 160 species of birds plus endemic amphibians and reptiles and rare fruit bat also occur.

Six species of plant are probably found only on Mafia and further 8 are restricted to few other coastal forest sites in East Africa.

Other island fauna includes a colony of flying foxes, several species of bush babies, a type of pygmy shrew and a monitor lizard, monkey and squirrels.

Mafia Island also has social important and cultural dimensions. Several sites of historic ruins lie within the marine park, back dating to the 12th Century, where a major Arab town on the monsoon trade routes from Arabia to Sofala.

Mafia Island is-in the true sense-an island paradise for the active beachcomber who is serious about enjoying the sea and islands, adventure divers, game fishermen, bird-watchers or just for simple feet-up relaxation. Be as active as you wish…or simply relax and do nothing and let the island take care of you.

Activities organized are: Diving, snorkeling, fishing, sailing and kayaks, boat excursions, cultural experience, road and bicycle excursions and Nature and bird-watching walks.

Getting to Mafia:

Flight: 0.30 hour flight from Dar es salaam

Sites in Mafia

Whale Sharks : One of the most exciting encounters sea lovers can dream off. A short trip by car will take you to Kilindoni harbour, buzzing with daily activities in a kaleidoscope of colours. In support of local fishermen, involved in a project for protection of whale sharks, guests will use their local boats and skills to spot the gentle giants quietly feeding on plankton a few hundred meters from the shore. In spite nobody can assure that they will be seen, in the period between October and March the chances are extremely high and the hotel gets in touch early in the morning with local guides that spot them and signal their position. Swimming with whale sharks, the largest fish on the planet, requires no special skills but even looking at these beautiful creatures from the boat is an unforgettable experience.

Maweni Snorkeling : Coral rocks emerging from the bay surrounded by an extremely interesting reef which can be reached even byless expert swimmers.

Marimbani Sandbank: strip of dazzling white sand which appears during low tide, surrounded by crystal-clear water.

Chole island: The oldest, still inhabited settlement in the archipelago, with the ruins of old Arab buildings used by the Germans during the World War I.The island is covered by extremely varied lush vegetation.

Juani Island – Kua Ruins: one of the largest and most characteristic islands in the archipelago, are the ruins of the ancient city of Kua, whose decline, as yet unexplained by archaeological and historical, is the object of many legends. The island’s fauna is quite unusual and includes wild pigs, monkeys and small antelopes (blue duiker).

Juani Island- Blue Lagoon: The southern point of Juani Island is divided in two by a long channel linking the big inland bay with the open sea. At the end of the channel is an enormous natural swimming pool whose water level varies according to the tide. After a short walk you can enjoy its clear waters.

Jibondo Island: is about an hour boat trip from Utende village and is characterized by the unique conformation of the western tip and the surrounding emerald green waters. The village is mainly inhabited by fishermen whose fish and octopus drying and net mending activities are of great interest to tourists together with the traditional shipyard, one of the most famous in Tanzania.

Kitutia Reef : is one of the archipelago’s most beautiful coral reefs with two strips of fine white sand which stay above the water during the low tide. The trip includes snorkeling and diving activities and allows time for walking along the reef, sunbathing or swimming in the natural pools formed around the sandbanks. Depending on the tides, lunch is served on Kitutia Reef or on another beach en route to the reef.

Bwejuu Island : Considered by many to be the most beautiful island in the archipelago thanks to its position and its sandy banks, Bwejuu Island is less than 2 kms long and no more than 200 meters wide at its widest point. Its position, halfway between the main island of Mafia and the delta of the Rufiji river, makes it a handy base for diving and snorkeling on the nearby Mange Reef as well as for trips along the Rufiji River.

Chuwia Beach :An hour by 4×4 car along a track passing through one of the most characteristic landscapes of the island and an easy trek though a stretch of virgin forest take you to one of Chole Bay’s most inaccessible beaches. You will be able to admire wildlife and vegetation untouched by human settlement and cultivation. Those taking part in the trip may decide to eat lunch on the beach or in one of the cool clearings along the route.

Ras Mkumbi : The Lighthouse: Situated on the northernmost point of the island of Mafia, the lighthouse can be reached by car. It is an exciting journey that takes you right across the island and its changing landscapes. Wide stretches of savannah studded by baobab trees, small seaside villages, bush populated by monkeys and birds climax in a unique view of the open sea.

Suggested Itineraries for Mafia : Minimum 4 Days/ 3 Night Safari: Mafia can be combined with other parks: Option to go to Mafia is flying from Dar es salaam and can be arranged from Zanzibar, Selous but via Dar es salaam

Along the southern coast of Tanzania, the ancient ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani give themselves slowly to the encroaching jungle and the relentless cycles of the tide.

Once the very epicenter of Swahili culture and civilization, all that is left of Kilwa Kisiwani are the old building blocks of the town — fire baked limestone, coral blocks, a few shattered tiles.

Nothing else remains except the lush coconuts and old trees that give witness to habitation here many years ago.
The ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani were once the centre of trade along the entire East African coast and the driving force behind the complex networks of trade caravans and dhow expeditions that encouraged the Swahili to thrive and prosper.

During its heyday in the 13th to 15th century, trade with Sofala in Mozambique, India to the east, and Arabia to the north propelled Kilwa’s fortunes to unbelievable heights.

Together with the nearby ruins of Songo Mnara, archaeologists and historians consider Kilwa one of the most important sites of Swahili civilization in the region

The coral and limestone walls of the old mosque, sultans’ palaces, and merchants’ houses are all the more sumptuous in their rather dilapidated state – fig tree roots weave in and out of old windows and the rustle of the ocean palms never far away.

Getting to Kilwa : 5 hour drive from Dar es salaam / 3 hr drive from Selous

Suggested Itineraries for Kilwa : Minimum 4 Days/ 3 Night Safari : Kilwa can be combined with Selous : Check for Itineraries

Saadani is the 1st Tanzania coastal wildlife sanctuary located on the Indian Ocean 45 kms north of Bagamoyo.

Saadani is unique for its extraordinary diversity of scenery and wildlife. Beach, Bush and river have been thrown together in such a colorful clash of ecosystems; there is nothing to compare with it anywhere on the Eastern Coast of Africa.

Saadani contains indigenous species including Liechtenstein Hartebeest and the rare Roosevelt sable. Good populations of Elephant, Buffalo, hippo and crocodile, also Lion, Leopard, Hyena, Giraffe, Greater kudu, Red duckier and Reedbuck, Warthog, Waterbucks, Wildebeest & Zebra and also bird life is extensive.

Bottle nose dolphins are common off the southern coast of the park; whale’s passes through Zanzibar channel in October and November and green turtle breed at madete beach.

Saadani village is one of the oldest communities in East African coast.

Activities in Saadani :

Game drive, boat safari, Canoeing, Historical sites & cultural tour.

Dry Season in Saadani:

June – Mid November: Best time for game viewing:

December – February: Humid & Hot: Good time for game viewing.

Rainy Season in Saadani:

Mid November – Mid December: Short Rain : Wonderful for birdlife and lush scenery but sometimes roads become impassable after heavy rains

April – May: heavy rain: Wonderful for birdlife and lush scenery. Don’t recommend to travel during these months as road are impassable.

Some of the lodges are usually closed from April to May.

Getting to Saadani:
Road: 4 hours from Dar es salaam( during dry season)
Flight: 0.30 hours from Dar es Salaam.

Suggested Itineraries for Saadani: Minimum 3 Days/2 Nights Safari: Selous can be combined with Amani Nature Reserve, Mikumi & Bagamoyo : Check for Itineraries

Accommodations in Saadani