Bagamoyo

Bagamoyo is a historic town on the Indian Ocean coast 75 km north of Dar es Salaam. It was the capital of German East Africa in the late 19th century and the terminus of the slave and ivory caravan routes from the interior. The town is rich in colonial history: the German Boma, the old port, the Catholic mission with its museum of the slave trade, and the Kaole Ruins (13th-century mosque and tombs) are the main attractions. Today it is a quieter alternative to Dar es Salaam's beaches, with a growing arts scene and the TaSUBa arts institute.

Bagamoyo is 75 km north of Dar es Salaam (1.5 hours by bus). Regular buses from Dar's Mwenge terminal.

Walkable. The historic centre, the old port, and the mission are all close together.

• German Boma — the old German colonial administrative building.

• Catholic Museum (Fathers of the Holy Ghost) — a museum documenting the East African slave trade.

• Kaole Ruins — 13th-century Swahili mosque and pillar tombs.

• Bagamoyo Beach — quiet stretches of Indian Ocean beach.

• TaSUBa Arts Institute — traditional dance and drumming performances.

• Walking tour of the old town — German colonial architecture, old port, and slave market site.

• Sunset on the beach — local dhows at anchor.

• Visit the Kaole Ruins — 3 km south of town.

Bagamoyo Beach Resort Restaurant — seafood, Swahili dishes.

• Mid-range: Bagamoyo Beach Resort, Bagamoyo Travellers Inn.
• Budget: Bagamoyo Guesthouse.

Dar es Salaam (75 km south). Saadani National Park (80 km north). Zanzibar (ferry from Dar). Kaole Ruins (3 km south).