East Africa Coastal Towns

East Africa Coastal Towns

East Africa Coastal Towns : The East African Coast also known as the Swahili is a coastal area of East Africa, bordered by the Indian Ocean and inhabited by the Swahlili people. In the pre-Swahili period, the region was occupied by smaller societies whose main socioeconomic activities were pastoralism, dishing and mixed farming.

East Africa’s coastline is one of the most biologically diverse areas on the continent, the coastal forests, savannah woodlands, mangroves and coral reefs dominate the coastline. The coasts of Kenya and Tanzania offer a rich mosaic of coral reefs, mangroves, lowland forests and savannah woodlands.

The East African Coast features miles of pristine white beaches and sparkling blue waters of Indian Ocean, the coast line has a number of thriving towns with a history dating back to the first inhabitants of the area.

Coast Towns in Kenya

Mombasa

Mombasa City is situated on an island on the Southern coast of Kenya, it is the oldest town in Kenya and the most significant port in East Africa. The earliest known reference to Mombasa dates from 150 AD when the Roman geographer Ptolemy placed the town on his map of the world.

Rich historical influences are still visible in Mombasa Town which is a mystical mixture of ancient and modern, the Old Town is dominated by Fort Jesus with its lurid saga of conquest and siege, the narrow alleys overshadowed by high ornamental balconies and the vibrant bazaars combines with the New Town to provide an intriguing potpourri of romanticism and practicality.

Mombasa island is divided into three general areas; the North Coast, the South Coast and Mombasa Town. There are several beach hotels located along the palm fringed, sandy white beaches of the North Coast and South Coast. Mombasa has the highest concentration of resort, lodges and hotels in the region.

Malindi

Malindi is the second largest coastal town in Kenya after Mombasa. The history of Malindi Town dates back to the twelfth Century, there are few remains of the ancient town. Now it is a popular beach resort. The 1980’s brought in a lot of Italian investment with many building their summer villas here, thus the recent Italian influences in the restaurants and shops.

Malindi is located 120 km from Mombasa by road . Also, there are daily flights from Nairobi.

Lamu

Lamu is one of the earliest Arab settlements along the coast, also referred to as the old stone town, Lamu has preserved its distinctive architecture, the carved doors, narrow streets, lack of vehicles and the local culture. The town was founded in the 14^th Century and by the 15^th Century was one of the most thriving ports on the East African Coast. Today, Lamu relies on tourism as a major source of income. The town’s magical blend of the old stone town and the sandy beaches has attracted tourists from all over the world to this fascinating town.

Lamu is located 350 km from Mombasa by road. However flying is recommended and there are daily flights from Nairobi.

Coastal Towns in Tanzania

 Zanzibar

Zanzibar is a paradise where spies, rice and coconuts grow, and where the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean wash up on the shores of virgin white sandy beaches. Zanzibar’s ancient Stone Town, with its cobbled streets, narrow alleys and bustling bazaars is steeped with history, full of atmosphere and immensely attractive,

Zanzibar is believed to have begun in the 8^th Century when the Arab traders arrived on the island. By the 17^th Century, Zanzibar had developed into a prosperous town and it became an important trading post, that the ruling sultan moved his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar.

Zanzibar gained independence in 1963, and in 1964 Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the present day Tanzania.

Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam was the capital of Tanzania until 1974, this city is the most important city in Tanzania in the fields of art, fashion, media, music, film and television. It is also a leading financial centre in the region.

Dar es Salaam hosts two of the most famous museums in Tanzania that is the National Museum and the Makumbusgo Cultural Centre & Village Museum.

• The National Museum is dedicated to Tanzania’s history, in particular it displays some of the bones of Paranthropus boisei, which are among the finds in Olduvai Gorge in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
• The Makumbusho Cultural Center & Village Museum on the outskirts of the city on the road to Bagamoyo showcases traditional huts from 16 different Tanzanian ethnic groups. Near the National Museum are also the botanical gardens with tropical plants and trees.

 There are beautiful beaches on the Msasani Peninsual north of Dar es Salaam and in Kigamboni in the south. Excursions to the nearby islands of the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve are a popular day trip from the city and a place for snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing.  Famous beaches near Dar es Salaam are Coco Beach (though not good for swimming but nice beach bars), Kigamboni (popular for fine sand and clean water) and on the island of Bongoyo (has perfect conditions for swimming).

Bagamoyo City

Also known as Bagamojo, the city of Bagamoyo was founded at the end of the 18^th Century and it was the original capital of German East Africa. The city was one of the most important trading ports along the East African Coast, today it has about 30,000 inhabitants and is the capital of the Bagamoyo district.

A walk through the narrow, unpaved streets of Bagamoyo takes you back to the middle of the 19^th Century, when the city was one of the most important settlements on the East African coast and was the end point of the trade caravan route between the interior and the sea. Slaves and ivory were unloaded here before being shipped on to Arabia, India and Europe.

The architecture of European origin is slowly collapsing, but is still beautiful to look at. The Arab influence is typical for an ancient city on the Swahili coast.

Bagamoyo city’s main site are the old German colonial buildings and the Kaole ruins, with one of the oldest mosques in East Africa. There are two museums, the small Caravan Seria (documentation about slave trade) and the museum of the catholic diocese, where the old glory of the city is revived with interesting display boards. The College of Arts in the South of the city is one of the most famous in Tanzania, so the city is home to many artists.

Pangani Town

Situated in northeastern Tanzania, 45 km south of Tanga at the mouth of the Pangani River, Pangani is a small town with Arab, German, Asian and British influences. This town is named after Pangani River, fed by the mountains of Kilimanjaro and Meru before its waters flows into the Indian Ocean, Pangani is where Swahili traditions and modern hospitality merge.

Pangani Town offers a beautiful coastline with clean beaches hosting endangered turtles, coral reefs and a wide variety of tropical marine life. The Pangani River flows through the north side of the town, separating the old buildings and the present market from the farms and small houses on the south side. To cross the river you need a ferry, the river’s water are dark brown in color, heavily saturated with mud and slowly meanders into the ocean. On the both sides of the town, coconut palms and sisal plantations wave to the horizon.

Pangani Town was once an important trading centre of the sultans on the African mainland, the town is now a sleepy little nest. The Old German administration building still stands behind a colonnade of tall trees. Old houses along the main street offer good examples of colonial and traditional Swahili Coast architecture.

The old town can be easily explored on foot, a day trip takes you on a visit to Maziwa Marine Park Island where you can watch dolphins and enjoy the warm turquoise blue ocean on the fine sandy beach.