Bagamoyo is a famous town in Tanzania that is at once beautiful and disturbing. It is beautiful for its cultural heritage, but disturbing for its history of slavery.
Founded at the end of the 18th century, Bagamoyo is situated 72 kilometres north of Dar es Salaam. Under German rule, it was the first capital of Tanzania. This place was also famous for the ivory trade, besides slavery.
Presently, the Bagamoyo town is the capital of the Bagamoyo district. The name of the place has been derived from the Swahili words ‘bwagamoyo’, meaning ‘throw down your heart’.
There are many important sites in the town, like the ‘Bagamoyo Church’ which was perhaps the first on the East Coast of Africa, the ‘Bagamoyo Museum’ that preserves old photos and remains of the slave trade and the Kaole ruins of the 12th century. Another important place is the Ruvu River Delta, a paradise for birds.
In addition to these, the Bagamoyo white sand beaches are something known to leave visitors fascinated. They are among the finest beaches on the whole of the East African coast.
