Tanzanian coast
Tanzania has over 800km of coastline, most of which is completely ignored by the main tourist trail. From Tanga in the north to Mtwara in the south there is a huge variety of attractions for the curious traveler. The Tanzanian coast is famous for its wonderful beaches, slave caves and the relaxed and informal atmosphere of its lodges. Here you will find the former capital, Dar Es Salaam, as well as other historical gems, including Tanga, Pangani and Sadani.
The most well known island off the coast of Tanzania is Zanzibar where you can spend a couple of days exploring the markets and alleys of this old Arab trading town before spending a few more days at one of the really luxurious beach resorts (see separate section). On the other hand Mafia Island is even more remote with a well protected reef and some of the best snorkelling on the coast.
Saadani National Park is Tanzania’s only coastal wildlife reserve and the boat safari on the Wami river provides some of the most interesting meetings with hippo in the country. This small Park was upgraded to National Park status and is the closest wildlife reserve to both Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam.