Bagamoyo

Some 70kms north from Dar Es Salaam lies Bagamoyo. From 1887 Bagamoyo was the capital of German East Africa. It transferred to Dar Es Salaam in 1891 and has been in decline ever since. Nonetheless it is a great place to stroll around with a few examples of colonial style architecture, and again a history of slave trafficking. Whilst 50 of the slaves ended up working in the spice plantations of Zanzibar, others ended up in central and North America.

slave posts outside the old slave market

The first Roman Catholic church in Africa was built in 1872 and missionaries bought slaves their freedom. It was here that Livingstone’s embalmed body was initially brought to before taken to Westminster, London via Zanzibar.

oldest Roman Catholic church in Africa from 1872

Next door to the church is the Christian Mission which has an excellent museum (Tsh500/Tsh1500, student/non-student entrance fee). It chronicles the history both of the town and the Christian mission with some quality artefacts if somewhat squashed in just three rooms.

I stay at Francisco’s Inn (single/doubles with attached bath and breakfast for Tsh20000/25000) and recommend the stone House International restaurant close to the fish market, boasting banana milkshakes and “the best burgers in town”.