SEE WHAT AWAITS
MISSION CROSS (MSALABANI)
This big commemorative cross marks the Centerport for the missionaries and the point where David Livingstone’s body sailed back to London. This is also the beginning point of the Bagamoyo pilgrimage for Roman Catholics. They begin at the cross and up to the mission ending with worship in the church. Bagamoyo is the first mission for Roman Catholics in East Africa and it is from here that the Roman Catholic have grown into all parts of East Africa.
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH BAGAMOYO
Within a very small Christian population there are even smaller numbers of Anglicans. The local Anglican Church at Bagamoyo is situated between Msalabani and the Roman Catholic Mission. In fact, it was built on Roman Catholic land! (It seems such are the relations between the two denominations). The story is that when there was a Commemoration of the Roman Catholic mission (in 1974) then the Anglican Bishop of Dar es Salaam (who was in attendance) asked for that piece of land to erect an Anglican Church. On this site used to be a big tree under which David Livingstone’s body was laid (after being brought from the church tower) while waiting for high tide for the transporting to England. The site was granted and the church duly built. Above the door is what might seem an anachronistic inscription “Through this Door Dr. David Livingston Passed”.
ROMAN CATHOLIC MUSEUM
The Sisters’ House, built in 1876, was converted into the Roman Catholic Mission Museum. The museum has many sentimentally touching exhibits of photographs of slaves tied together with chains to their necks, exhibits of the history of Missionary work and conversion to Christianity, books and booklets on prehistory of Bagamoyo, Indian and Arab door frames, and shackles, chains and whips used during slave trade, and many local wood crafts.
OLD FORT
A provision house, built in 1856. This is the oldest surviving building in Bagamoyo, which was used by the Arabs until 1870s then later on used as a German military camp, a British prison, and as a customs office and police headquarters. Its original function was to hold slaves before they were shipped to Zanzibar. Now it is used as headquarters of the Department of Antiquities
CARAVAN SERAI
This is a place where caravan parties rested and prepared for journeys to and from the hinterlands. It is said that caravan porters gave Bagamoyo its name as the place where “one’s heart came to rest and relax after a long journey.”
GERMAN CUSTOM HOUSE
The first customs house built in 1895 to serve the German administration. The structure is still in use as a customs house.
MWAMBAO PRIMARY SCHOOL
Built in 1896 by the Fathers of the Holy Ghost, was the first multi-racial school in what is now Tanzania, Still in use.
THE HANGING PLACE
This is a scaffold gallows where leader of the Bushiri rebellion may have been executed in 1889.
GERMAN CEMETERY
The cemetery for German soldiers killed during the Bushiri War and other battles. The site features twenty graves dating from 1889.
THE KAOLE RUINS
Situated about 5 km south of Bagamoyo, they include ruins of two mosques and 22 tombs as part of an early Shiraz settlement. The village was founded in13th century, and it is thought to have one of the oldest mosques on East African mainland.
CHUO CHA SANAA
Bagamoyo College of Arts and Culture, which provides short and long courses in music/dance/theatre/art. Conducts frequent local performances; organizes and hosts annual Bagamoyo Arts Festival.
THE FISH MARKET
A waterfront location where fish are landed daily and sold fresh as well as cooked.
BAGAMOYO SALT WORKS
A privately owned and run salt mining operation. Visitors are welcome to visit and observe but are not guided.
KAOLE MAMBA RANCH
A privately owned and run farm raising crocodiles for export (meat, skin, and alive) but with tourist viewing as a secondary business. It is a sanctuary and breeding place for crocodiles, with a few of them being as old as 55 years old and the youngest being just a few months old. The word 'mamba' comes from the Swahili word for crocodile, with ranch referring to the large property within which it is situated.
GERMAN BOMA
Built in 1897 to replace Liku House as German government’s colonial administration headquarters and residence.
KAOLE SNAKE PARK
Kaole Snake Park & Leisure is a new educational and tourist attraction located at Kaole Village, adjacent to the major attraction of Bagamoyo and Tanzania at large “The Kaole Ruins” which date back to 13th Century. It is a wonderful source of enjoyment and relaxation for locals and foreign visitors.
The Kaole Snake Park has been built to serve both educational and tourism purpose within and outside the country.
At Kaole Snake Park you will get to see and interact with World’s dangerous snakes from Black and Green Mamba, Spitting Cobra, Rock Python, Gabon Viper and many more.
The Park is also a home to a number of attractive East African birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Visit Kaole Snake Park today and enjoy a guided tour as you watch a variety of World’s deadliest snakes in glass cages.
BAGAMOYO ART MARKET
The Art Market is a big market that is established under the protection of a large storage-hall-like building. The large tin roof is supported by a wood frame structure. Although it seems a little dark inside, enough sun light comes through from the sides of structure and through some cracks of the roof.
Here, local artists get together and sell their artworks, paintings, sculptures, jewelry, etc. It is an overwhelming feeling to see all of the amazing artworks present at the market, hundreds of paintings are displayed. It is crazy. You can definitely spend almost 2 hours looking at every single painting.