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Updated :
30th June 2010
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Local Attractions
- Excellent sea food.
- Excellent snorkelling - Snorkelling equipment is available for hire.
- Historic Tongoni Ruins
- Nature Trails in the Amani Nature Reserve of the Eastern Usumbara Mountains
- Amboni Caves near Tanga
- Pangani River boat trips
- Boat trips to Mziwe Island
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Try fishing for your supper. Always remember, the local fishermen of Kigombe Village are more than willing to sell you their catch of the day if you don't have much luck. (They are also discreet, and unlikely to spoil a good fishing "tale")
Local Interest
Tanga Situated on Tanga Bay, Tanga is a road hub, the coastal terminus for the railroad, and one of the larger of the Tanzanian ports.
This town was formerly ruled by the Sultan of Zanzibar before being annexed by Germany in 1888, and is rich in history. Persian ruins from the 14th century may be found on an island in the harbour. The Amboni Caves and sulphur springs are within easy reach.
Tinga Paintings
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The Swahili Language and People
The coastal peoples of Tanzania are commonly known as the Swahili, although in fact they are made up of many ethnic groups, including Arabs.
The largest single ethnic group in Tanzania is the Sukuma. Other major groups include the Nyamwezi, Haya, Ngonde, Chagga, Gogo, Ha, Hehe, Nyakyusa, Nyika, Ngoni, Yao, and Masai. The population also includes people of Indian, Goan, and Pakistani origin. With this plethora of origins it was most important that a common language be used, and thus Swahili, with English, became the official language for Tanzania, and indeed is widely used in the whole region.
Swahili is derived from the Arabic word for "coasts", "Sawahel". It was originally the lingua franca of the East African Coast and contains many Arabic words. It is not a difficult language to master, and, although it is also mainly spoken in Kenya and Ugands, it is also widely used in all the surrounding countries. Some 40 million people speak Swahili !!
About one-third of Tanzanians follow traditional religions. Another third, mainly on the coastal strip, follow Islam, and the rest are Christian, with Catholicism in the majority.
A phrase book will most certainly enhance your holiday.
The
Swahili people are open and very friendly. A
"Jambo" and "Uhali Gani", ("Hello" and "How are you") is guaranteed to bring you a warm response and a happy smile.
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