Tanga

Tanga located in the North-East of Tanzania is the second large port of the mainland after Dar es Salaam, and the third Large city of the country after Mwanza and Dar es Salaam.
The city had firstly been a Portuguese colony before the Arab rule took over where later it was ruled by Germany after the abolition of slave trade.
Infact Tanga is a historical city as well with old buildings and structures that are still standing on it today including the clock tower, St. Anthony cathedral and old railway station that had connected many parts of the northern Tanzania with the sea.
Tanga however does not receive many guests but it worth a visit for a peaceful tour.
The city is as well by the road to Dar es Salaam-Arusha-Morogoro so you can make a stop by while on route to visit those regions. 
Facts
Area: 536 km sq.
Weather: 31°C 

WHERE TO GO

+ Amboni Caves

Oh gee, is that a rock lion?
can you see it?

Amboni caves are ten limestone caves in Tanga covering a large area of about  234 sq km. having being formed about 150 million years ago during the Jurassic age. 
Among the ten caves it is only one that is being used for tour.
To walk through these caves you really need a guide because the caves are lethal and can lead to fatalities. 
These caves naturally had formed shapes of many structures like map of Africa, crocodile, elephant and more.
Visit the caves for a tour and more fascinating stories, like that of the European ex-army officers who tried exploring the caves and never returned while the Dog that they walked along with was found 400km away at the foothills of mount Kilimanjaro. It was strange how this happened.
Location: Amboni, Tanga
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+ Tanga museum

The museum building was built in the 1890s by the imperial Germany colony administration during time Germany ruled Tanga.
The building was fully rehabilitated and opened for a museum though it is still in a process of being equipped with more exhibits and open fully.
 The museum however currently exhibits photos of historical architecture and buildings of Tanga +few more  exhibits.
The building itself is impressive you can walk around through the basement to the watch tower and get the feel of early housing.
Location: Independence avenue
Check the Map

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+ Amani nature reserve, Usambara mountains

Germany established this as agriculture research station in 1902 later to become Amani nature reserve in 1997.

The reserve covers a large area and inside it you will see a large botanical garden.

There are excellent routes and trails in these forests where you can do hiking while enjoying a peaceful and beautiful forest scenery that is a home of wild animals, like black and white colobus and blue monkeys.

Nduk Eagle Owl of Amani forests

The forest is as well a home of many birds and butterflies to make it colorful.
The nduk eagle owl that is only found in these forests can be spotted too.
Amani means Peace, this might just be a good place to go for that. 

Location: Muheza
Check the Map

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+ Pangani

Pangani is named after the river that is crossing through it, the pangani river sourced from the foot of mount Kilimanjaro to bring water to the Indian ocean. It is an old town that had been a station on the caravan route for exporting slaves and ivory during colonialism, it is holding much of historical sites.

Things to do in Pangani

-visit the former slave camps and slave market site
-Walking tour in the historical city, admire buildings that are 100+ year old.
-Visit Maziwe island, that has an interesting story, where as before these dates it was larger with a lot of vegetation but many factors had lead to the disappearance of all vegetation and the island had gone smaller. Today it is a sandy island that submerges when tides are high, it totally disappears.
-Pangani river boat safari

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+ Tongoni ruins

These ruins that age from the 14th century are located about 17 km south of Tanga city center.
They are ruins of more than 30 tombs and a mosque that are believed to be of Shiraz people. This is the largest collection of such tombs in the whole East coast.

Vasco Da Gamma had as well visited Tongoni in April of 1498 and made a second visit  the next year and stayed for fifteen days. 
Why don't you?
Location: Pangani

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+ Saadani National Park

Saadani national park is the only national park in Tanzania that sides with the ocean.
You will get a chance to see more than 25 species of mammals wondering along the ocean shore as well as reptiles and birds.

Location: 

Check the Map

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+ Peponi Beach

Peponi Beach is a famous beach in Tanga, portraying its name peponi which is Swahili word 

for heaven by having being set around an untroubled and nature retained area.
It is the most visited beach in Tanga and hopefully you can enjoy it as well too. 

Location: Kigombe
Check the Map
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