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The bustling port of Tanga is Tanzania’s
secondary port after the urban centre of Dar es
Salaam. Yet although the port is a centre of
marine export, import, and trade, the town of
Tanga still has a quiet, laid-back feel to it,
as if not much has changed over the decades.
Indeed, along the older sections of the town,
examples of old colonial architecture and a few
Arab houses still give testament to the area’s
importance during the heyday of Indian Ocean
trade. The fish market and beaches make a
pleasant stop during a day trip, and the city is
a good place for buying supplies if you’re
headed to one of the more remote areas of
beaches on the northern coast.
Tanga was once another stopping point, in
competition with Pangani and Bagamoyo, for
caravans on their way to the hinterland of
Central Africa searching for ivory and slaves.
The Germans also made it a centre of colonial
administration during their occupation in the
early 20th century. Evidence of German presence
can be found in Tanga’s architecture today, but
few landmarks and historical buildings remain in
the area. Tanga’s port, however, provides a main
link between northern Tanzania and the Indian
Ocean.
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