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Bagamoyo: A successful eco-tourism spot
By: Elisha Mayallah
 Very few in
the past would propose a visit to Bagamoyo. The place, which is fast-growing as
a leading tourist get-away in Tanzania. The other day when I was in Dar es
Salaam I found myself being asked by a friend, "what are you doing in the city
this weekend?"
Driving north of Dar es Salaam, the nearly 75 kilometres to the former capital
of Tanganyika and the chief port from the Dar es Salaam city, passing through
typical Swahili villages full of original life under the warm tropical scorching
sun, that's Bagamoyo!
None of us in the group had done a visit to Bagamoyo before, but we were
determined and excited to make the most of it whatever Bagamoyo turned out to
be. We got many stories as we tried to gather last minute briefings.
Bagamoyo is said to mean: "Here I lay down my heart", a cry of despair of slaves
before they were forced aboard vessels for their trip into captivity.
It is a pleasant surprise seeing a diversity of activities as you drive through
the tarmac roads. The journey to Bagamoyo lasts about ninety minutes from the
Dar es Salaam city on a less-traffic day. The vegetation along the new road is
inviting with a greenish countryside in the background. The breeze is also
refreshing.
Historically, Bagamoyo remains to be one of the notable places in Tanzania's
history. It was the stopping centre for the Arab slavers and their porters.
Famous early explorers and missionaries to the East and Central Africa usually
started and ended their journeys at Bagamoyo. The great names like: John Speke,
Richard Burton, Grant, David Livingstone, Henry Stanley, Cameron, Joseph
Thompson and Emin Pasha had visited and used the port of Bagamoyo at different
times.
Of all the early visitors, David Livingstone has left a great memory at Bagamoyo
when he died in 1873. His body was carried to the coast by his servants Mr. Susi
and Mr. Chuma, and the body was laid in the chapel of the old Bagamoyo Roman
Catholic Mission. The body was later flown to London, where it was buried just
inside the door of Westminster Abbey.
The Roman Catholic Mission, a century and quarter old, is the first in Tanzania
and can be visited all-round the year. Inside the mission, there is a small but
interesting museum with much information about the missionary and explorers.
The unique museum, which contains many artefacts depicting the cruel slave
trade, has old books and valuable documents in Arabic, German, French and
English. And the priests who are in charge of museum are very helpful.
Bagamoyo in the recent past has had many hotel investors in the area, which is
slowly turning Bagamoyo into a must-see eco-tourism spot in Tanzania graced with
the fine beach with comfortable accommodation facilities.
In addition, Bagamoyo is proud of its warm-open friendly people, interesting
activities and the town makes an interesting visit, a never-to-be-forgotten
experience.
We had stopped briefly at The Paradise Holiday Resort to have our lunch. A
mouth-watering coconut welcome drink was served before we were led to be seated
at the beautiful restaurant. When the waiter gave us the menu, I hurriedly
ordered a whole-grilled Tilapia with French fries. The seafood was enjoyable and
I vividly remembered the same-kind of seafood I ate at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Speke Resort Munyonyo is situated on the shores of Lake Victoria, some few
kilometres off Kampala city.
What makes Bagamoyo special, however, is the virgin natural beauty and probably
it is one place which gives you the heavy aroma of nature, the waves and winds
which slam against the shores, which provide a real-life experience. A few
kilometres away from the shores provide some-rain-like sounds at night.
About 5 kilometres, to the south of Bagamoyo, the Kaole where the ruins of coral
mosque as well as graves and houses dating back to the 13th century – can be
easily found which attracts many visitors.
The Kaole ruins testify to the advent of seafarers as faraway as Japan, Indian,
Persian Gulf, sailing on dhows which used, and still use, the seasonal monsoon
winds between the India subcontinent and Eastern Africa.
Many Dar es Salaam city residents continue to choose Bagamoyo as a most
preferred breakaway spot for the weekend. Country bus services to Bagamoyo
operate daily from Ubungo terminal. A friend was telling me private cars usually
dot the road from Dar es Salaam city to Bagamoyo mostly on weekends and public
holidays. The public transport also makes brisk business during such times. The
hotels in the area are usually busy during the weekends and holidays, and as
such sells all available rooms.
Reservation for hotel rooms are preferred in advance as Bagamoyo still needs
more accommodation facilities to cater for the ever-glowing clientele - eager to
explore the potentials of eco-tourism in the area.
Discos are now famous at Bagamoyo for every weekend! Several foreigners swam the
Bagamoyo for peace and tranquillity, which is offered by the host of resorts in
the vicinity. Tourists are entertained by traditional dances staged at Bagamoyo
College of Arts, at which the Tanzania music and dances are performed.
Today, Bagamoyo is surrounded by old buildings of the previous generation,
beautiful Arab architecture with thick walls of earth. And similar to those in
Zanzibar's famous Stone Town fitted with well-carved doors made of thick African
hardwood.
From Bagamoyo's famous historical sites and beaches it is a short drive to the
newly established Saadani National Park. Saadani National Park is the only such
reserve in East Africa which offers both marine and land ecological regions
together.
A big part of the park is bordered by the Indian Ocean, which gives visitors
opportunity to view wildlife and enjoy the splendid beaches.
On our tour we were able to meet conference delegates from different parts of
Africa – all seemed to have been enjoying their stay in Bagamoyo. Of late,
Bagamoyo is slowly becoming a competitor to famous conference settings in the
country. The mixture of conference business and recreation provide much-needed
eco-tourism economic benefits to the local community.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) Tanzania is hosting the
IIPT 2nd African Conference on Peace through Tourism, which will be held in Dar
es Salaam from December 7 -12.
I think, Bagamoyo's eco-tourism provides a living example of the IIPT 2nd
African Conference on Peace through Tourism conference goals which include:
· Harness the great power of tourism as a leading force for poverty reduction in
Africa.
· Identify needs to be met to complete socially, culturally and environmentally
responsible Community Tourism.
· Showcase case studies of "Success Stories" and models of best practice.
· Develop concrete action programmes to ease and nurture Sustainable Community
Development.
The conference's theme – Community Tourism: Gateway to Poverty Reduction – which
augurs well with the transformed society in and around Bagamoyo.
All that we can learn from the Bagamoyo success story is a result of the
dedication of the Government's initiatives, the business community and the
community - to promote Bagamoyo destination as both a preferred tourism spot for
locals and foreigners.
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