A Day Tour in Bagamoyo

History left its mark on Bagamoyo long before the 18^th century. If you go sightsee the Nunge Salt Fields, you will learn that close to these sites is the Mkandini, where Sassania-Islamic pottery from the 9th century was unearthed. And salt, being a valuable commodity contributed to the importance of Bagamoyo. One of the best places to visit is the Kaole Ruins at the south of the town; here, you will see traces of the Mongol invasion of 1256.

There are two mosques, the Northern and the Southern and cemeteries with tombs and pillars. In no other location outside, Eastern Africa will you see cemeteries sited next to Muslim places of prayer. Also at this archaeological interest site, you will see the vestiges of a stone structure where Chinese pottery, ceramic beads and other items have been found indicating Bagamoyo’s ties with ancient Asian civilization.

One of the things to do is to walk through the Makaburini Mwana Makuka Cemetery where you will find evidence that the affluent Muslim African clans from other local areas were also among the first native emigrants into Bagamoyo. Some of the tombs have legible dates of 1793 and 1813 while others have a structure around them pointing to the possibility that the people buried here might have been religiously revered or otherwise significant.

A. S. Mahrabi who built the Old Fort in Bagamoyo, also built the Old Arab Tea House (must see local attractions), probably even before the beginning of the 19th century. Originally erected to house a shop and a guesthouse, the building was also used as a hospital. A sprawling structure with many rooms, the Germans continued to use it as a hospital, but the British converted it into a bank and used the upper floor as their offices.

Today, it has been restored and is used by the local administration of Bagamoyo. India Street also dubbed by the Germans as “Kaiserstrasse” has many historical structures located on it. Visit the street and you will see the first Post and Telegraph Bureau in East Africa. Also on this street, is the Boma, considered being among the most significant structures in East Africa. It was first built in 1895-97 as an official base and residence for the German Colonial Governor. Having several rooms, it has been changed by its different owners and natural elements but has now been restored by the government of Tanzania.

The Liku House is yet another good point of interest structure on India Street sited close to the Public Garden. Constructed by an Asian trader, it was later used by the Germans for their offices and homes. Do take the time on your Bagamoyo excursion to visit the Public Garden also. Stretching from the Boma to the beach, it was known for its sports arenas and flower beds.

You will find vestiges of the slave trade at many locations in Bagamoyo. The Customs House is sited close to the harbour, and since it has a stone walkway leading from the seaside into the main hall, it may be safe to assume that slaves were once walked to the dhows for loading. The Customs House finds mention in the records of Richard Burton, who talks about the Indian Chief of Customs in 1857.

Local lore has it that slaves were auctioned off under a tree in the Old Market and an underground tunnel lead from here to the beach through which slaves were walked after being blindfolded, to be seated in the dhows. The present-day Old Market was actually built by the Germans in place of the ancient one. The Caravan Serai served as a base for caravans traveling to and carrying cargo from the interiors of Africa, and at the time, there were large courtyards with pens to house animals and other structures for porters.

Historical records also show that there were camps where slaves were kept. Today, it houses a tourist information center office and the Antiquities Office of Bagamoyo. Everywhere you look you will see strong traces of the colonial past of Bagamoyo. For example, you can tour the German Colonial Cemetery and the German Block House. It was built by Major Wissman during the freedom struggle led by Bushiri in 1889 as a defence post for the western entrance to the town.

In all, Wissman built five such towers to defend Bagamoyo. In memory of Bushiri and his followers who were hanged to death by the Germans, a monument has been erected in the vicinity of the Badeco Beach Hotel called the Hanging Place. Then, there are also the Bagamoyo District Hospital and the Mwambao Primary School financially donated by philanthropic Sewa Haji, both constructed during the colonial era and now renovated so that they are fully functional.

If you are a connoisseur of seafood, you might want to trip out to the Fish Market of Bagamoyo where the catch of the day is auctioned off every day after the fishing dhows return. You might also find that some of the catch is cooked and eaten right there but not recommended for non-native stomachs.