The Hidden Gems of Tanzania

By Readal Posted on Nature

Tanzania is generally best known for Mount Kilimanjaro and large wildlife populations in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, but it has many other attractions seldom visited by tourists. Visiting these less well-known destinations not only provides a break from the routine of safari cars and Kilimanjaro hikers, it also offers the chance to experience the rich cultural traditions of Tanzania. Amani, Pemba and Bagamoyo are located on Tanzania’s east coast, and can be easily visited from Arusha or Dar es Salaam.

Amani Nature Reserve

Located about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Tanga Town, Amani Nature Reserve is one of the best kept secrets in Tanzania. One of the largest botanical gardens in Africa, Amani is an awe-inspiring tropical forest that is part of the Usambara Mountains and was recently declared one of the world's 25 biodiversity hotspots. Amani contains a high concentration of endemic species, many of which can be viewed during guided walks on the well-established hiking routes.

The reserve is a must-see for visitors interested in botany or entomology, or for those seeking a peaceful place to rest and hike for a few days. About 3,400 plant species have been recorded in this area, including about 650 different species of trees. Around 350 species of birds live in the East Usambara Forest, many of them rare and endangered. You will hear, but perhaps not glimpse, various birds, cicada, tree frogs and crickets.  
African Violet. Photo by Veli Pohjonen, East Usambara Conservation Area Management Programme

Of the 23 species of African violets, 19 are found in Tanzania (the other four are in Kenya). In Amani, it is possible to see four of the 19 Tanzanian species. Several hikes ranging from 10 minutes to four hours can be taken around Zigi or the Amani Nature Center to view the violets. All of the hikes pass through the beautiful rain forests.

Some of the guides of Amani recently established their own organization, TEGA (Triple E Group of Amani), to assist the villagers living around the forest. The three Es stand for education, economy and environment. The guides' group believes that the three Es are naturally connected. Environmental conservation can only come through education, and conservation is dependent on developing local economies and new ways of living. 

Because the people in Amani live near the forest, it is impossible to separate the natural environment from the people who live there. The guides contribute portions of guiding salaries to the association and have used the funds to purchase three acres of land on which to establish a tourism campsite. They will use the site not only for camping but also to establish an environmental education program for both tourists and the local populations and during the off season will engage in money making activities such as farming and animal husbandry. The group has already raised enough money to not only purchase the land, they have already purchased a cow to produce milk.

Pemba

Pemba, an archipelago north of Zanzibar, is a tropical jewel yet to be discovered by tourism. Pemba's main attractions include pristine white sand beaches, lush tropical forests, historical tours and spice plantation visits. Pemba is also home to the juju traditions of medicine and magic; the curious can arrange a visit to the island caves where the juju doctors practiced.

Although Pemba has several world-class attractions, the number of tourists rarely exceeds 30 on any given day, even during high season. Key attractions on Pemba include Misali Island and Vumawimbi Beach. A short boat ride away, Misali is an island off of Pemba's coast. An example of a successful ecotourism project, the Misali Island Marine Conservation Area uses tourism proceeds to protect the marine ecosystem and support the local communities that depend on the ocean's resources for their livelihoods. 

Misali’s attractions include pristine beaches, coral formations, mangrove forests, snorkeling, mysterious caves and several nature trails. The nature trails cover the entire island and provide visitors with information on the ecology and history of the island. In order to protect the fragile ecosystem, overnight stays are not permitted.

Vumawimbi Beach is possibly the most picturesque beach in Tanzania. Stretching for two kilometers (1.24 miles), the wide white sand beach is fringed by a green forest on one side and the clear turquoise water of the Indian Ocean on the other. Vumawimbi has not yet been developed for tourism, making a visit a private experience unlike any other in East Africa.

Bagamoyo

Bagamoyo was recently designated as Tanzania’s seventh world heritage site and is the oldest town in Tanzania. A visit to Bagamoyo offers a glimpse into Tanzania’s past. Its history has been influenced by Arab and Indian traders, the German colonial government and Christian missionaries. Although Bagamoyo is no longer the busy port city that it once was, Tanzania’s Department of Antiquities is working to revitalize the town and maintain the dozens of ruins in and around it. The most exciting aspect of Bagamoyo is the chance you have to interact with Tanzanians. The people are unbelievably friendly, and are eager to share their stories with visitors.

The town, which lies beside beautiful Indian Ocean beaches, has several points of interest which can be visited over the course of two days. The best way to see Bagamoyo is on foot, and the ideal first stop after arriving is the Department of Antiquities office, located in an old German fort. A guide will join you at the fort, and will be your companion for the entire time you are visiting the sites. 

Head to the German and Mwanamakuka cemeteries, located 200 meters from the Indian Ocean. The tombs at Mwanamakuka were built in traditional Arab style, and the oldest dates back to 1793. The Chuo cha Sanaa, or College of Arts, is located next to the cemetery. During a visit to Bagamoyo, you can take drumming or sculpture lessons at the college and interact with students from all over Tanzania. 

A must see is the Roman Catholic Mission, a picturesque mission which is home to the oldest Roman Catholic Church in East and Central Africa. The first Catholic church at the mission was built in 1868 and in 1874, Dr. Livingstone’s body stayed at the Catholic mission before being sent to England for burial. The Bagamoyo Museum is located at the mission, and the town’s history is explained in detail at the museum.

Bagamoyo, which means “lay down your heart” in Swahili, was the major slave trading post in East Africa. Although the slave trade officially ended in 1873, slaves continued to be sold and traded in Bagamoyo through the end of the 19th century. Visit the last place where slaves stayed before boarding ships to leave mainland Tanzania. Other points of historical interest in Bagamoyo include Kaole Ruins, the German Boma and the German hanging place.

Each day, spend the mornings visiting the sites and enjoy relaxing afternoons on the white sand beaches or on offshore sandbars. Bagamoyo is a very peaceful place, and offers a refuge from the bustling cities of Dar es Salaam and Arusha.

With more than 25% of the land under some kind of protection, Tanzania offers a wealth of natural travel destinations. Many of these destinations, often overlooked by tourists, offer a chance to enjoy nature away from the crowds of Tanzania’s northern national park system.

Amani, Pemba and Bagamoyo are three destinations that have not yet been discovered by the mainstream tourism industry. In Amani, enjoy the peace of the rainforest while learning about botany and ecology; in Pemba, enjoy the pristine white sand beaches and turquoise water virtually alone; in Bagamoyo, learn about Tanzania’s past while and relax on the coast of mainland Tanzania.

Stacy Readal spent three years living and working in Tanzania. She is the founder and president of Duma Safari, a Tanzanian travel company.