TANGA - TANZANIA:
Tanga is the most important Tanzanian port after Dar and lies just south of the Kenyan border. Major exports from the port of Tanga include sisal, coffee, tea, and cotton. Tanga is also an important railroad terminus, connecting much of the northern Tanzanian interior with the sea. Via the Tanzania Railways Corporation's Link Line and Central Line, Tanga is linked to the African Great Lakes region and the Tanzanian economic capital of Dar es Salaam.

The town was first ruled by Arabs, then the Germans under Carl Peters who established the settlement in 1888. The Germans developed the town as entry port for the settlers. The harbour and surrounding is the centre of life in Tanga, with its hotels, bars and several markets in several neighbourhoods.

Old buildings constructed at the period of German rule include the Clock Tower, Court House, St Anthony Cathedral, the Tanga Library, and the Railway Station. While places to see around Tanga are the Tongoni Ruins, Amboni Caves, the Galanos Hot Springs, Raskazoni beach and the daily markets in the centre of town.

Tongoni is a small fishing village 17km south of Tanga. It is famous for the 15th century ruins of wells, a mosque and the largest concentration of historical tombs on the East African Coast. It is claimed that Tongoni was established by the Shirazi (people of Persian origin), who established many Islamic settlements in Eastern Africa such as Kilwa and Mafia. The ruins at Tongoni are under the Antiquities department, have been properly excavated and are open to the public.

The Amboni caves are the most extensive natural limestone caves in East Africa formed during the Jurassic Period around 150 million years ago and lie mostly underground. There are 10 caves with fascinating chambers although only one is used for guided tours. The caves are home to thousands of bats and their exit at sunset each evening is a popular event. The caves have religious significance to the local people and are believed to house various spirits as indicated by a ceremonial cavern which is filled with offerings such as obsidian blades and pottery.

The Galanos Hot Springs, named after Christopher Galanos, a sisal plantation owner, are located approximately 8 km from Tanga town. The springs are hot and sulphurous and a bath in the springs is believed to relieve arthritis and skin ailments.

PANGANI - TANZANIA:
Pangani is the Zanzibar of the Tanzanian mainland. It lies 45 km south of Tanga. Although its history goes back a long way it was developed by the Arabs as a settlement and slave trading centre. Being much less known it is much more peaceful than Zanzibar and the beaches around Pangani are virtually unspoilt.

The name Pangani owes to the river that runs through the northern part of the historical 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.

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 for the strong Arabic influence and later German, British colonial era in Tanganyika. In 1810, the Arabs constructed the central boma building, people were buried alive under the pillars during construction as it was believed this would ensure strong foundations. Later the German administration used the buildings as a colonial district office and added a european style roof giving the building a unique appearance. The intricate Arab carved doors and foundation remain and the building is now used as the district commissioners office. 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.

Other attractions include; the original slave depots and slave market where arabs traded slaves to India and Arabia, the Freedom Grounds, Islamic and German graves, ancient mosques and traditional houses. In the streets carpet makers, woodcarvers, basket weavers, painters and other artisans sell a wide variety of hand made items. A German fort facing the Pemba channel is the birth place of sisal growing in africa, here Richard Hindroph, a German botanist, planted the first sisal seedlings in 1892. Along the coastline is a unique coral shore where the fossils of a 200-300 million year old dinosaurus rest in the area known as Mkomo and Mwanaunguja coral.