Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Sat: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About Bagamoyo
Located just 75km north of Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo is a town where the air is thick with history. Once the most important terminal of the East African slave and ivory trade, its name literally means "Bwaga-Moyo" (Lay down your heart) in Swahili—a tragic reference to the despair felt by enslaved people who knew they would never see their homes again.
Bagamoyo was also the first capital of German East Africa and a major center for early Christian missions. Today, it is a quiet, artistic town where crumbling 19th-century Arabic and German architecture stands as a silent witness to a turbulent past. As you walk through the narrow streets of the Old Town, you'll feel the fusion of African, Arab, and European influences that shaped modern Tanzania.
Quick Facts
Activities You Can Do
Explore centuries of history and cultural fusion
Historic Walking Tour
Visit the Old Fort, the Caravan Serai, and the first Catholic Church in East Africa.
Explore Kaole Ruins
Walk among ancient coral-stone ruins and the oldest mosque in mainland Tanzania.
Art & Music
Visit TaSUBa to watch traditional dance rehearsals or purchase unique local carvings.
Dhow Sailing
Take a sunset cruise on a traditional wooden boat along the Indian Ocean coast.
Location & Map
Find Bagamoyo on the Tanzanian coast, 75km north of Dar es Salaam
Ready to Explore Bagamoyo?
Step back in time and discover centuries of African, Arab, and European history. Contact us today.
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