Tongoni Ruins About 17 km south of Tanga City lies the Tongoni ruins, the largest collection of Shiraz Tombs in East Africa. There are approximately 40 tombs on site as well as the remains of a Mosque that date from the 14th to 15th Century. We cycled there with Daniel of Ilya Tours after our morning visit to Urithi Tanga Museum. The ruins indicate there was immense prosperity in the area before the Portuguese arrived and disrupted the trading routes on which the coastal towns, like Tongoni, depended. It was a joy to walk through the Tongoni fishing village guided by Glory who was quite knowledgeable and ready to answer our questions. We got to see how the community still lives in line with the socialism Ujamaa virtue. From Tongoni we crossed with the speed boat to the white sandy beach of Tambarani for a quick swim.

Ngoda was a great guide that knew a lot and most of all, had a very respectfull view towards nature and the local culture. Thank you for the amazing experience. And last but not least, the lunch he made with fresh avocados was delicious!

It was a great experience getting to know one of the main economic activities of Tanga, and of the history of Tanzania in general. The tour left on time and included a visit to Pangani, another historic location in coastal Tanzania near Tanga, for lunch by a beautiful beach. Greatly recommended!

Our experience in Tanga and with the Tanga Cultural Tourism Enterprise (CTE) was incredible. Imani, our tour guide, was so welcoming when we arrived. He gave us a brief history of the area and highlighted the different programs and tours offered in the area. The first day we were taken on a walking tour of the city. Not only is it a beautiful city that lies next to the Indian ocean, everyone is so friendly and the streets aren't crazy busy, giving the town a relaxed feel. We tried out some coconut wine at the local bar and then ended the tour at Imani's house, where we were lucky enough to share a meal with him and his family. The next day, we went on a bike tour to the Amboni Caves and the Sulphur Hot Springs. Because Tanga is relatively flat, the bike ride was super relaxing, allowing us to take in the sights and city. The Amboni Caves are absolutely stunning and the tour throughout the cave was filled with humour and information about the caves. The next part of the bike ride was through scenic fields, ending at the vibrant blueish green sulphur spring. Through all of this, Imani taught us so much about each attraction as well as the surrounding area. We went back to Imani's families house for lunch, where we went through the entire process of making pilau. This was definitely a highlight for me. It's a lot of work but the end result is delicious! After lunch, we headed to the museum, where we learned about Tanga's history and the German occupations of the area. We ended the evening off with a bike ride down by the ocean. Tanga is a place that should absolutely be on anyone's list when coming to Tanzania. Imani and the Tanga CTE were incredible and we can't thank them enough for our incredible experience in Tanga.