Pangani

Pangani is a coastal town in Tanzania at the mouth of the Pagani River which flows from the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.  Pangani is a city rich with history that dates back to the 15^th century where traces of old buildings and monuments can still be seen.  Pangani was once a trading port for mainly ivory and slaves.  There are several historical sites in and around the town that serve as reminders of the strong Arabic influence and also the much later German and British colonial era.  Pangani is now mainly a quiet fishing town providing beautiful beaches with coconut trees swaying in the breeze.

A walking tour through the town would include visits to some over 200-year-old historical buildings with colonial and traditional Swahili architecture, a former slave labor camp and slave market site where Arabs traded slaves to India and Arabia, the Freedom Grounds, Islamic and German graves, ancient mosques, and traditional houses.  During your walks through town, you will also see the street “carpet” makers, wood carvers, basket weavers, painters, and other artisans selling a wide variety of handmade cultural items.

Other places in Pangani that may strike your interests include the Pangani River itself which is rich in bird life, the palm fringed sandy bay and Maziwe Island (sandbank) Marine Reserve offering excellent waters for snorkeling.