Pangani
Pangani, Tanzania
About
Located on Tanzania's north eastern coast 55 kilometres south of Tanga, Pangani town seems unremarkable. Formerly a prominent slave port but the town has been long left behind by the forces of 20th century development. It is a historic town that was the center of an armed movement to resist German colonial conquest of the entire mainland Tanzanian coast in 1888. Pangani also became a center for smuggling slaves across the narrow channel to Pemba after Sultan of Zanzibar signed treaties with Great Britain outlawing the ocean-going trade in slaves in 1873. Apart from its historic sites, recently Pangani has become famous with tourists because of its tropical, unspoiled nature. Coconut-fringed beaches have various eco-friendly lodges. Pangani offers many activities such as cultural tours, Pangani River cruises, water sports like diving, snorkeling, kayaking and a trip to Maziwe Island, one of the oldest marine reserve islands in Tanzania. The Maziwe sand bar is home to protected coral reef, green turtles and spinner and bottlenose dolphins. Conditions are excellent for snorkeling and diving. 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 splendour. The old German administrative boma still stands behind a colonade of tall shade trees and the former prison, painted a fading ochre 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. Pitching up amid its sleepy dirt track streets or red dusty market one could be forgiven for dismissing it as a place of minimal interest. However Pangani umbrellas an area of more than 30Km - north and south of town. Venture away from the port and untouched beaches, fringed by coconut plantations and mud huts, await you. Approximately 12 kilometres south of Pangani lies Ushongo village and a bit further off the very unbeaten track, is Ushongo beach. Here you will find remote, tropical tranquility, echelons away from the built up bustle of Tanzania's better known beach resorts
