Tanga - Tanzania, History, Location, Things to do
Tanga is a city and port situated in northeastern Tanzania, eastern Africa, along the Pemba Channel of the Indian Ocean. The city was founded on the coast by Persian traders in the 14th century; however, early Iron Age sites in the adjacent foothills of the Pare and Usambara mountains, as well as in the Digo Hills, indicate ancient habitation of the area. During the 16th and 17th centuries, indigenous states that emerged in the region’s interior were predominantly controlled by the Shamba peoples. In the early 18th century, Omani Arabs conducted raids along the coastline region. In the 1840s, Arab and Swahili merchants ventured into the region’s interior in pursuit of ivory and subsequently for slaves. The slave trade was terminated following the arrival of Europeans in the 19th century, who founded missions in the region.
In the early 1880s, the region was placed under German protection and subsequently became a German colony. The city of Tanga had significant expansion during German colonial governance in the 1890s. The port facilities in Tanga were upgraded, and the Tanga–Moshi railway promoted agricultural advancement, establishing Tanga as the primary port for the export of sisal and coffee in the region. German colonial governance concluded during World War I when the British assumed control in 1917. Post-World War I, the railway was integrated with the central line, providing Tanga with a direct rail connection to the capital, Dar es-Salaam, and the central hinterland. In 1922, the Tanganyika Territory African Civil Services Association, the inaugural modern African political organization, was established with its headquarters in Tanga city. The area around Tanga was an essential component of Tanganyika in 1961, upon its independence, then of Tanzania in 1964, when Tanganyika united with Zanzibar.
A few miles inland from the port’s perspective on the Indian Ocean, a succession of hills, ridges, and plateaus ascends to an elevation of approximately 985 feet (300 m). The Usambara and Nguru mountain ranges extend westward, with altitudes exceeding 7,500 feet (2,290 m). Their precipitous inclines descend around 300 feet (91 m) to the Pangani River valley situated between them. A significant portion of this depression was a lake during a phase of the Holocene Epoch. The region cultivates sisal, cotton, millet, oilseed, copra, maize, bananas, and cassava. A significant number of the region’s residents participate in cattle ranching and fishing. Local manufacturers produce textiles, plywood, furniture, fertilizers, paper products, and soap. Salt, mica, gypsum, and copper are extracted close proximity. Roads and railways connect Tanga with Moshi, Morogoro, and Dar es Salaam, and the city is served by an airport. The enhancement of Dar es-Salaam’s harbor has diminished Tanga’s significance as a port. Population (2002): 179,400.
About Tanga
Tanga, located in northern Tanzania, serves as the regional headquarters and is one of the largest cities in the nation. In comparison to Arusha or Moshi, it is a relatively tranquil city, however possesses a similar population size. Tanga is situated on the Indian Ocean adjacent to the Kenyan border.
Chronicle of the Tanga Nomenclature
The term Tanga derives from the word “sail,” as the port and its vicinity remain the focal point of life in Tanga today. The primary export commodities from the port consist of sisal, coffee, tea, and cotton. The Portuguese utilized it as a commerce hub. They governed the area surrounding Tanga from 1500 until 1700. Subsequently, the Sultanate of Oman assumed sovereignty of the settlement. The city functioned as a trading port for ivory and slaves until the abolition of slavery by European powers in 1873. In 1891, the Germans acquired the Tanzanian mainland coastline from the Sultan of Zanzibar. It emerged as the inaugural settlement in German East Africa and served as the nucleus of German colonial governance. Subsequently, Dar es Salaam was established in the early 20th century.
Tanga, as a seaside city, was at the forefront at the onset of World War I alongside British East Africa (Kenya). Subsequent to the war, Great Britain assumed control of Tanganyika, leading to further development of the city and the utilization of its agricultural potential. The port of Tanga remained a conduit for the export of sisal from the region throughout the initial phase of independence in 1961. Nevertheless, due to the government’s regulation of agricultural commerce and the depreciation of global market prices for sisal. The port of Tanga commenced a decline in revenue. Currently, Tanga is an agreeable locale characterized by a languid, semi-colonial ambiance, expansive streets populated by bicycles and motorbikes, intriguing architecture, and a sense of faded allure.
Safari in Tanga
The optimal method to appreciate the city’s stunning, diverse architecture is with a bicycle trip. Rent a heavy-duty Chinese bicycle! South of Tanga, amidst the intricate sandy pathways of the Ras Kazone Peninsula, one may see magnificent Art Deco mansions, some in a state of decay while others are well maintained, reflecting Tanga’s illustrious era of sisal commerce. Adjacent to the shore, residences are positioned alongside the grand colonial homes of the esteemed officials of the British Empire. The historic Bombo Hospital, prominently located on the main route to Ras Kazone, like a castle from a fairy tale. The hospital, constructed by the Germans, has long deteriorated and now serves as a habitat for numerous birds. Stand in the vacant corridors amidst encroaching vegetation and relish the evocative ambiance of a past epoch.
Numerous instances of ancient Arabic-style architecture are present in Tanga, featuring intricately adorned mahogany balconies, meter-high walls, stained glass windows, and substantial dark doors, beside inner courtyards where cats stealthily navigate through deep shadows. If you experience excessive heat while cycling, seek the shade of a mango tree, where you will likely find someone offering cups of hot, sweet espresso and slices of delectable kashata, a form of peanut confection.