. .. . ..
........


Beaches and resorts at Bagamoyo, Tanzania
The Catholic Museum at Bagamoyo, Tanzania

Group activities
Youth involvement

Swahili cultural celebration


BAGAMOYO, TANZANIA: UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Slave Route


Bagamoyo, 45 miles north of Dar es Salaam, is an important cultural heritage site for Tanzania. Famous for its slave and ivory trade, Bagamoyo was also the first capital of Tanzania under German Colonial rule until it shifted in 1892 to Dar es Salaam. An International Conference was organized by scholars and conservationists who are proponents of the idea that that the coastal town should be declared a World Heritage Site of global importance. The conference, under the chairmanship of Prof.Wilbard Kombe of the University College of Lands and Architectural Studies in Tanzania, took place September 9-12, 2002 in Bagamoyo.

Tanzania's Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Hon. Zakia Hamdani Meghji, MP's participation in this conference indicates the importance of the World Heritage Site designation for the country's tourism. According to Peter Mwenguo, Managing Director of the Tanzania Tourism Board, "given the growing interest in Cultural Heritage Tourism, especially in the American market, the timing of the focus on the development and preservation of Bagamoyo as a World Heritage Site is excellent. In fact, this will enable Tanzania to develop its historical "African Diaspora Heritage Trail" product in conjunction with the new African Diaspora Heritage Trail Program launched at a conference by the Bermuda Ministry of Tourism this past May."

Bagamoyo, if accepted as a "World Heritage" site, would be the seventh such site on UNESCO's World Heritage list in Tanzania: the four natural sites are Mt. Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park and Selous Game Reserve; the two cultural sites are Zanzibar Stone Town and Kilwa Kisiwani/Songo Mnara ruins in Lindi region.

For more information on Tanzania in the US contact the Bradford Group (tel) 212-447-0027; email Tanzania@bradfordmarketing.org or visit the Tanzania Tourist Board web site at www.tanzania-web.com

 

PHOTO CREDIT: Robert Eilets. Sculptures depicting the tragedy of the slave trade.

Bagamoyo Tour, Tanzania

The SoCal Chapter of the Africa Travel Association offered delegates this attractive Fam/Tour last year. It provides an idea of what you may expect in a future tour

Sun. Arrive Dar es Salaam and transfer (on own) to the new Golden Tulip Hotel on Msasani Peninsula. This self-contained resort is Moroccan in style and sits right on the water. Overnight Golden Tulip Hotel.

Mon. Depart Dar mid-morning traveling to Bagamoyo in an air conditioned shuttle bus. Arrive Bagamoyo and check into the Paradise Beach Resort, before meeting for lunch in one of the lovely restaurant areas. After lunch we take a trip out to Kaole to see the first mosque ever built in Tanganyika ñ dating back to the 12th century. Tour and lecture of this historic site. Following tour return to Bagamoyo for dinner and entertainment with a local flavor. Music and dance provided by Bagamoyo College of Arts. Overnight Paradise Beach Resort.

Tues. After breakfast we will meet our guide for a city tour of Bagamoyo. We visit the headquarters of German East Africa; the fort where slaves were kept before being shipped to Zanzibar; the oldest mission in Central and East Africa; the museum in the center of town which tells the slave story as well as that of Dr. Livingstone. Outside the museum is one of the oldest and largest Baobab trees in East Africa. Under the shade of this tree we'll have an outdoor lunch of traditional African food.

After lunch we take a tour to the new and recently opened Lazy Lagoon property. This new property is perfect for honeymoon client's and is sure to be a must see while in the area.

Return for dinner and overnight at Paradise Beach Resort.

Wed After an early breakfast we return to Dar in our shuttle bus ñ meeting our safari guides and drivers at Golden Tulip Hotel. At this time other safari travelers will join us for a safari briefing. Then we continue on to Mikumi National Park to begin our safari.

This program can be taken separately or as an extension to the Mikumi/Selous Safari for the very reasonable sum of $210.00 per person based on double occupancy.