Situated on the coast north of Dar es Salaam, on a river of the same name, this is a delightful village, with its mosque, ancient Arab buildings and six kilometer palm-fringed, sandy bay.

Some 75 km to the north of Dar-Es-Salaam, on the coast opposite Zanzibar, is the former capital of German East Africa, Bagamoyo. Possessing a good, natural harbour ideal for sailing vessels and dhows, it was once the centre of the notorious slave trade. Its name is derived from the word Bwagomoyo, which means "Here I throw down my heart," reflecting the desperation and despair of the 'broken hearted' captives whose voyage into the unknown began here. The present police station, near the beachfront, was the first stone building in Bagamayo. Originally an Arab residence it was at one time the old prison where slaves were herded through underground tunnels to waiting dhows. The city was also the starting point for the first European explorers on their way to search for the source of the Nile. Livingstone, Stanley, Burton and Speke all passed through here. Livingstone's body was laid to rest here before being taken first to Zanzibar and then to England. The Mission has a museum with a wonderful collection of photographs and mementoes relating to Livingstone and to German colonial times. A house where Henry Morton Stanley lived a century ago can be seen in solitary splendor near the beach.

About five kilometres to the south of Bagamayo, at Kaole, are the ruins of a once prosperous Arab town, which was forced into decline by the arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century. The ruins, dating back to the 12th century include two mosques, one with a well and over 20 tombs. All the buildings, including a house, were built in carved coral stone blocks. The new part of Kaole is fishing and farming village.

Dar es Salaam boasts one of the finest natural harbours in the world, and while it has become a bustling port and economic centre, it remains a place of fascination, with many reminders of its colourful past. Dhows still ply its waters. Dug-outs, filled with fish, bob by the harbourside. The city also displays the many influences of its history. There's an Asian district, with its speciality shops, tea rooms, restaurants and Hindu temples, while the German colonisation has left behind a Bavarian-style railway station, the Roman Catholic St. Joseph's Cathedral and the Lutheran Azania Front Church. The flowerfilled parks - like the peaceful Botanical Gardens - tree-lined streets and Gymkana Club, are evidence of British occupation. The Nyerere Cultural Centre, a self-supporting handicraft scheme, is well worth a visit. Here over 100 young artists can be seen at work producing various works including paintings, carvings, batiks, pottery and weavings.

Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the Kariakoo Market were fish, fruit, vegetables, traditional medicines, herbs and livestock are traded. The maze of stalls and shops in the bazaar that surrounds the market, are also worth exploring.

A lovely beach, less than 30 minutes drive from Dar es Salaam, with a number excellent hotels and restaurants. An ideal venue for all forms sort of water sports, the setting-off point for day trips to Mbudya Island; and home to the Water World Amusement Park.

Soon to become a National Park, this recently enlarged 1,000 sq km reserve is situated north of Bagamoyo directly west of Zanzibar. Tanzania's only coastal reserve, it is an area of savannah, grassland and unspoilt beaches. It is the most southerly home of Coke's hartebeest. Elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, colobus monkey and, if visitors are fortunate, the rare Roosevelt sable can also be seen, as well as hippo and crocodile and an excellent bird population.

The park contains many indigenous species including Liechtensteins hartebeest and the rare Roosevelt sable. A good population of elephant live in Saadani as do several herds of buffalo and numerous large groups of hippo. Lion, leopard, hyena, giraffe, warthog, wildebeest, yellow baboon, black and white colobus and vervet monkey, crocodile and monitor lizards can also been seen as can bushbuck, eland, reedbuck and waterbuck.

The bird life in Saadani is extensive and, in addition to fish eagle and flamingo, features lilac-breasted roller, fork-tailed drongo, grey hornbill, ring-necked dove, greyheaded sparrow and weaver birds. Waders include yellow-billed stork, grey heron, little egret, sandpiper and various species of kingfisher. Bottle nose dolphins are common off the southern coast of the park; whales pass through the Zanzibar channel in October and November; and green turtle breed at Madete Beach.

Saadani village, one of the oldest communities on the East African coast and an enclave to the park, allows tourists the opportunity to meet the local people, and watch the prawn fishermen at work, while Bagamoyo and the nearby Kaole ruins provide proof of an even earlier culture Access to Saadani is by a good tarmac road from Dar es Salaam to Bagamoyo, or Chalinze, and then by gravel road, or by boat, to Saadani. The journey time is around 4 hours. Alternatively, charter flights are available from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Arusha.

Kitulo will be the first park in tropical Africa to be gazetted 'primarily' for its floristic significance. Known locally as God's Garden or the Serengeti of Flowers, Kitulo plateau has had over 350 species of plants documented to date. These include 45 species of orchids many found nowhere else in the world. Some 31 species are Tanzania endemics; 26 are endemic to the Kitulo region; at least three species are endemic to the plateau itself; and two more are found only on the plateau and in the adjoining forests.

The plateau is home to some important bird species, again many endemic to Tanzania, including blue swallow, Denham's bustard, lesser kestrel, Pallid harrier, njombe cisticola and Kipengere seedeater while some of the world's rarest butterflies also inhabit the area.