Starting and ending in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, this unique 3-day cultural holiday travels to Bagamoyo Swahili Historical town. The town of Bagamoyo is found 70 km north of Dar es salaam City. It is one and a half hours drive from Dar es Salaam International Airport or the Dar es Salaam City center.

On Day one of the tour begin with a road transfer from Dar es Salaam to Bagamoyo. On arrival, we visit the Kaole Ruins, ruins of the Shirazi trade town.

Kaole ruins are located about 5 km to the south of Bagamoyo town and have the oldest ruins of an Islamic mosque in the region, stemming from the 13th century, possibly the oldest mosque on the mainland of East Africa at all.

Then visit Kaole Mamba sanctuary (crocodile farm), where both young and old crocodiles are bred before being shipped aboard. Later we have lunch and the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Bagamoyo Accommodation options include Firefly Boutique Lodge, Barcelona Lodge, Gecko Cottage, Dragonfly Cottage, and Ella’s Swahili House.

On day two of the tour, we explore Bagamoyo Historical town in the company of an experienced guide visiting historical sites including the Caravan Serai, an old terminus of the caravans coming from the interior to the shore of the Indian Ocean.

The Catholic Church started in 1868 with the Livingstone power where Livingstone rested for one night before his body was shipped to Zanzibar; cemeteries with 47 tombs of early missionaries; German building such as Old Boma and the Customs House; and salt processing units.

Bagamoyo Town is considered Tanzania’s Seventh World Heritage Site and the oldest town in Tanzania. Bagamoyo’s 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 Bagamoyo.

Bagamoyo was the major slave trading post in East Africa. Bagamoyo, which means ‘lay down your heart’ in Swahili, was probably given this name because Bagamoyo was the last place the slaves would stay in Tanzania before being shipped off to foreign lands.

Although the slave trade officially ended in 1873, slaves continued to be sold and traded in Bagamoyo through the end of the nineteenth century. During the slave trade, it was not uncommon to see hundreds of slaves walking through the streets of Bagamoyo chained together by the neck.

Slaves were collected from the interior by capture, purchase, or trade and then shipped to Zanzibar or Arab countries.

We spend the morning of day three at leisure resting on the beach and later after lunch, then return by road to Dar es Salaam.

Bagamoyo Town Tanzania Highlights | What to Do and See

The Roman Catholic Museum: has an exhibit on the history of Christianity in Tanzania and efforts the Church made on the abolition of slave trade.

Bagamoyo Historical Town Buildings: The most visited landmarks in Bagamoyo town include Caravan Serai, the German Boma, the first Post Office in East Africa, the Fort, Arab Tea House, and the Kaizer Street lined by buildings with highly decorated Swahili doors and the first Roman Catholic Church building on mainland Tanganyika.

Kaole Ruins: A 13th -18th Centuries AD settlement located 5 Kilometers south of Bagamoyo with impressive monumental architecture of mosques, graves and houses and an exhibit on archaeological findings from coastal Tanzania.

Kaole Ruins shows the Eastern Africa region had been trading with Indians, Chinese, Arabs, Persians and Europeans from as far back as the 7th century AD to the 18th Century AD.

Bagamoyo College of Arts has an ultra-modern theatre with a sitting capacity of 1,500 persons. The College on a regular basis organizes and hosts traditional dance groups for live performances.

Otherwise, at the old market and within the historic town one can interact with artists at work and buy souvenirs of Makonde carvings, Tinga Tinga paintings, beadwork and textiles produced by outstanding artists.

Bagamoyo Beach is one of the most lively and popular Tourist attraction in Bagamoyo. Here men are seen making or mending sailboats and nets, in-coming fishermen in sailboats, selling and processing fish at the fish market and close to the seafood restaurant.

Saadani National Park: About 63 kilometers north of Bagamoyo town lay a magnificent Saadani National Park where the bush meets the beach.

The park offers game drive, boat safaris, turtle breeding nests, historical tours and zaraninge forest tours.

Safari Itinerary in Summary

Day 1: Dar es salaam – Drive to Bagamoyo Town
Day 2: Full Day Tour of Bagamoyo Town
Day 3: Bagamoyo – Drive to Dar es salaam

Safari Itinerary in Detail

Day 1: Dar es salaam – Drive to Bagamoyo Town

0800 Hours: After a hearty breakfast at your hotel depart from Dar es Salaam to Bagamoyo. On arrival, visit the Kaole Ruins, ruins of the Shirazi trade town (13th- 17th century).

Then visit the crocodile farm, where crocodiles are kept before being shipped aboard.

1300 Hours: Lunch at Paradise Holiday Resort. (A visit to the Bagamoyo School of Arts may be arranged with prior notice at an extra cost).

Accommodation Options:
Luxury Accommodation: Kisampa Bush Retreat, Oceanic Bay Hotel & Resort, Livingstone Beach Resort
Mid Range Accommodation: Millennium Sea Breeze, Bagamoyo Country Club, Kiromo View Resort
Budget Accommodation: Town Lodge Bagamoyo, Skylight Lodge, Mary Nice Place Hotel

Meal Plan {Lunch & Dinner}

Day 2: Full Day Tour of Bagamoyo Town

After breakfast; visit the historical sites including the Caravan Serai, an old terminus of the caravans coming from the interior to the shore of the Indian Ocean.

Meal Plan {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 3: Bagamoyo – Drive to Dar es salaam

Spend the morning at your own leisure resting on the beach.

1300 Hours: Enjoy Lunch at your hotel. Following lunch, return by road to Dar es Salaam

Meal Plan {Breakfast & Lunch}