Travel Guide Pangani

Pangani is a charming village off the beaten tourist track. It's a favorite resort for Tanzanians, either north of the village or south across the river, on Ushongo beach 16 km away. The town was an important trading center from the 14th century onwards. The Persians and Arabs built coral stone structures early on the left bank of the easily navigable Pangani River, which enabled them to travel far inland. You'll love the view here (especially at sunset). In the 19th century, the town was an important arrival point for caravans bringing ivory and slaves to the islands of Pemba and, above all, Zanzibar, where the trade route then continued by sea, mainly to the Arabian Peninsula (Oman).German settlers moved in, in particular to establish and develop sisal cultivation. This was the golden age of the town, which boasted a cinema that was famous throughout the region until it closed in the 1980s. Decolonization and falling sisal prices (linked to the advent of synthetic fibers) took their toll on the town's economy. Today, Pangani is trying to rise from the ashes, but without regaining its former splendor. We can only hope that, one day, the region's roads will be improved and it will be easy to reach Pemba or Zanzibar by boat. The Tanzanian government is now undertaking the necessary restoration of the colonial buildings, which have become veritable ruins. Financed with funds from the American Embassy, the first memorial site, the Pangani Heritage Centre, was built in 2015 in an old 19th-century mansion.Please note: Pangani is split in two by the river of the same name. The part on Ushongo beach on the other side of the center is more developed and more pleasant for bathing, while the resorts to the north are very isolated.