Tanga - Activities, Attractions & Shopping

Just outside Tanga lies an ancient limestone fault, where the Amboni caves are worth a visit. Beside the caves runs a small river where crocodiles can sometimes be seen, a family of Colobus monkeys live there, and for bird enthusiasts, the great Verreaux eagle owls may be seen roosting in the trees, along with many other varieties of bird life.

Tanga is the nearest coastal town to Arusha; regular bus services run to Dar Es Salaam, Moshi and Arusha, passing the mighty Kilimanjaro mountain on the way. Arusha is the gateway to the Northern Wild Life Parks, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire, each a unique experience.

Pangani

Situated about 50km south of Tanga on the mouth of River Pangani that flows from the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Pangani is a very old town, it is believed to be established before the 6th Century BC and played an important role during the slave trade era. It was a trading port dealing mainly with slaves and ivory. Several historical sites in and around the town serve as reminders of the strong Arabic influence and the later German, British colonial era in Tanganyika. The name Pangani owes to the river that runs through the northern part of this Historical Town.

Amboni Caves

These are natural limestone underground caves formed during the Jurassic age around 150 million years ago. There are 10 caves, with fascinating chambers, the longest is about 900m long. One of the caves is used for guided tours, some are up to 13 meters high. They form the most extensive cave system in East Africa. The caves have religious significance to the local people who pray and make offerings in one of the shrines.

Amani Botanical Gardens

Amani Forest Nature Reserve is one of the latest Nature Reserves established by the government to protect flora and fauna of East Usambara. It harbours some of the animals only seen in Usambara such as the Nduk eagle owl. It was first established in 1902 as an agriculture research station by the Germans and was turned into a nature reserve in 1997. Amani Botanical gardens, the second largest botanical garden in the world lies in this reserve. Today the area continues to play a significant part in medical research hosting the Amani Medical Research Centre. The Nature Reserve has now been turned into an eco-tourism attraction with a greater emphasis on walking and hiking. The area has wonderful birds, butterflies, animals and plants, some of them found only in this area.

Lushoto

A small town set in a valley at about 1200m at the centre of the western Usambara mountains. An excellent base for hikes in the surrounding hills.

Safaris

Resist the temptation to book your viewing in the bigger centers of Dar es Salaam and Tanga, as sharp operators will rip you off despite their 
assurances. Past experience has shown the best way is to travel to Arusha by bus and book/arrange with operators on site, as this cuts out all the middlemen. Accommodation in Arusha should be arranged well in advance.