Tanga travel guide  - Join us for an unforgettable day in a historic city

Tanga is the third largest city in Tanzania and the second most important port in the Indian Ocean. 

While Tanga may not be as recognized to foreign visitors as some of Tanzania's large cities like Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, The Stone Town in Zanzibar, and Dodoma, it is one of the major cities in Tanzania worth discovering and adventuring due to its long history dated back to the colonization period, Tanga has its lists of cultural tours, its wonderful beaches which made its location on the Indian Ocean’s azure waters, and so forth.

In short, Tanga has it all, from a wide range of attractions to activities for every traveler, and no doubt it should be on everyone’s Tanzania safari bucket list. Here's our Tanga travel guide for an unforgettable vacation.

Tanga is a historic city and the capital of Tanga Region

Where is Tanga located?

Tanga (Jiji la Tanga, in Swahili) is a historic city and the capital of Tanga Region. The city is located in the northern port city of Tanzania to the west of the Indian Ocean on Tanga Bay.

Tanga depends on the export of sisal (a fiber crop) and coffee to maintain its prosperity and revenue. The city's compact downtown has a laid-back atmosphere, characterized by quiet boulevards lined with German and Asian architecture.

Best Ways to Get to Tanga

There are four ways to travel to Tanga, namely, rail, road and air.

By Road

Taking a bus from Lungalunga/Horohoro, the southern Kenyan border post, will take you along a new road through the quiet Mkinga district, with stunning views, and the towering Usambara Mountains to the west as you approach Tanga.

The city is on the highway between Mombasa and Dar es Salaam and is well served by buses from Kenya and the northern regions of Usambara, Moshi and Arusha in Tanzania. Ratco and other buses to Dar es Salaam run every few hours (6 hours) daily from 6am to 2pm.

There are at least three buses to Arusha every morning from 6am to 11am (7-8 hours). There are a few direct buses to Lushoto at 7am daily (4 hours).

By Rail

A defunct railway line also exists between Moshi and Tanga. The city's small airport is served by only two small local airlines.

As of July 2019, diesel freight trains are again departing from Tanga Railway Station, and passenger services between Tanga and Arusha will begin in September 2019. The railway line is now operational.

By Air

Tanga has a small airport and is currently served by only two regional airlines, Auric Air and Coastal Aviation, which offer scheduled flights to Dar es Salaam, Pemba and Zanzibar. There are also a handful of private airstrips in the area surrounding the city, providing convenience to the surrounding private estates and industries. The city is served by Tanga Airport.

Tanga can be accessed via four means, thus through railway, boat, road and air by flight

By ferry

From Dar es Salaam, take a ferry to Zanzibar. There are several ferry operators, including Azam Marine and Zan Fast Ferries, offering frequent departures throughout the day. The ferry journey takes about 1.5-2 hours.

How to get to Tanga? 

Dar es salaam to Tanga

The best way to get from Dar es Salaam to Tanga is to fly which takes 1h 3m and costs $200 - $290. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $8 - $29 and takes 5h  32m.

Mombasa to Tanga

The distance between Mombasa and Tanga is 83 miles or approximately 133 kilometers.

There are 2 ways to get from Mombasa to Tanga, including a minivan and bus.

The fastest way to get to Tanga is to drive which takes 3h 40m and costs $25 - $40. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Mombasa to Tanga, which costs $4 - $29 and takes 3h  42m.  

Arusha to Tanga

Arusha is located in Tanzania with (-3.3667,36.6833) coordinates and Tanga is located in Tanzania with (-5.0689,39.0988) coordinates. The calculated flying distance from Arusha to Tanga is equal to 204 miles which is equal to 328 km.

If you want to drive, the driving distance between Arusha and Tanga is 482.33 km. If driving at an average speed of 112 km/h (70 mph), the journey time is 04h 18m. The distance between flying and driving is 154 km.

The best way to get from Arusha to Tanga is to fly which takes 3h 4m and costs $240 - $800. Alternatively, you can take a bus, which costs $28 - $50 and takes 15h 50m. 

Zanzibar to Tanga

The distance between Tanga and Zanzibar is 76 miles, or approximately 122 kilometers. The fastest way to get from Zanzibar City to Tanga is to fly which takes 46 min and costs $140 - $800. Several airlines, including Auric Air and Charterlines, Inc., offer daily flights from Tanga Airport (TGT) to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar.

The BEST Things to Do in Tanga, Tanzania

Explore the Amboni Caves

Exploring the Amboni cave is one of the cool things to do in Tanga. Twenty minutes north of Tanga town, there’s a small sign on the left side of the road: “Ministry of Antiquities – Amboni Caves”. The rough sandy track winds through low scrub and tulip trees, past the yards of a few small houses, and ends in a dense grove of fig trees.

The caves are considered “Tanga’s Treasures” – in fact, they are the only official tourist destination. But there’s never anyone there. You’ll have your own guide and deep, eerie limestone caves. The system has never been fully explored, so there are many claims about its extent, ranging from hundreds of miles to just a few.

Amboni Cave is Tanzania's most extensive limestone caves

Visit Toten Island

Toten Island is located near Tanga Harbour in Tanzania. It is at Tanga Bay. The island comprises the remnants of two mosques and graves. The term derives from the German phrase for "dead bodies," which refers to the island's many burials. Observing these peaceful, friendly creatures in their natural habitat is undoubtedly among the refreshing things to do in Tanga

Safari to Saadani National Park

Get immersed in the natural wildness and beach combined sensation of Saadani National Park, where even wild creatures love and appreciate being on the beach. It is Tanzania's sole coastal wildlife refuge. This park has tremendous biodiversity, and its setting is very unique. You may enjoy the safari for a few days to relax at the beach, followed by wildlife drives and guided treks up to the Wami River.

Saadani has plenty of marine life and large numbers of wild animals

Wander through the European cemetery

Any taxi will take you there. If you're on a bike, head to Bombo Hospital, turn right and follow the sandy road behind Popatlal School, where you'll find this quiet, leafy area.

During colonial times, the cemetery was reserved for Europeans only, and so stands as a testimony to the experience of white equatorial Africa: the graves of countless babies, women who died in childbirth, men who died of malaria. Some of these were left for British soldiers, mainly those of the Loyalist North Lancashire Regiment, who died in the Battle of Tanga in 1914. (The German dead are in another cemetery; the Indian Regiment has been completely forgotten.)

This cemetery holds a great mystery: seven crew members of an American plane that crashed off the coast of Tanga in 1956 are buried here. It is indeed a very quiet place.

Visit Soni Falls

Soni Falls is an unmissable attraction featured prominently in all reputable Tanga travel guides. A visit to Soni Falls will reward you with a wonderful nature walk and a breathtaking perspective of the surrounding surroundings while you appreciate the meandering rural road. The falls are spectacular, and it is enjoyable to stroll up to them.

Relax on the Tanga beach

The place is considered a Tanga beach, famed for its golden sand and clean water. It is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and eating fresh seafood at seaside restaurants, and it is always a good choice for lonely and peaceful individuals. It is one of the best places to visit in Tanga for couples and family companies because of the peaceful atmosphere and magnificent sunset views. 

Tanga Beach is one of the top places to see in Tanga

Visit Saadani National Park

Tanga is located near several wildlife reserves and national parks. Embark on a safari to the Saadani National Park is one of the best things to do in Tanga. Sadani combines wild nature experiences with relaxation on pristine beaches. A wide variety of wildlife inhabits the savannah and mangrove beaches.

You will see elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, Nile crocodiles and more. The mighty Wami River also flows through Sadani. You can take a boat to watch the sunset or take a day trip.

Finally, you can see many birds along the riverbanks, on the beach and in the bushes. There is a turtle colony here where you can see turtles nesting and more.

Hike the Usambara Mountains

This is one of the crazy things to do in Tanga.  Explore the stunning diversity of this vast region on a hike with a local guide. On a clear day, you can see the Mkomazi grasslands as well as Mount Kilimanjaro and enjoy stunning views of the region. On this particular hike, you will have the opportunity to meet locals who will wave and smile at you. The locals are very welcoming and if you are open and interested, they will naturally invite you to learn more about them.

You can hike up to the Irente viewpoint for panoramic views of Mazinde village, nearly 1,000 metres below, and the vast Maasai Plains beyond.

Or walk through the fertile farmlands of Jaegertal to a fruit nursery and learn about different fruit varieties and how they are propagated. The ‘Growing Rocks’ tour starts at Soni and takes you to the top of Mount Kwamongo, famous for its butterflies, and from the summit you can enjoy views of Soni, Lushoto and the Handeni Plains.

Hike the Usambara Mountains

Best places to stay in Tanga

When it comes to finding the perfect place to stay in Tanga, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are a few of the best places to stay in Tanga:

• Villa Mata
• David Crater Homestay
• Lawns Hotel
• Lushoto Executive Lodge
• Pangani Cliffs Lodge and Lawns Hotel.
• Miseni Retreat

Where to eat in Tanga?

Most of the traditional foods ranging from grilled meat to barbecue corn and chips & eggs can be had on almost any street.  Here are some best places to eat in Tanga that you should try during your visit.

• D'Amour Bar and Grill
• Sea View Hotel and Restaurant
• The Kitchen Cafe
• Hashtag Cafe
• Kitisa Restaurant
• Gatundu Green Light Bar
• Kingfish Restaurant 
• Meridian Restaurant

Best places to eat in Tanga

FAQs About Tanga Travel Guide

When to visit in Tanga?

The best season to visit Tanga is during the long dry season, which falls from June to October

Do you need a visa to visit Tanga?

Most foreign travelers on a trip to Tanzania need to obtain a visa. Tanzania eVisa is the quickest and easiest way to get a visa to Tanzania since visitors may submit their application and supporting documentation online. When the application is approved, applicants will receive an electronic confirmation of their eVisa.

Where to go shopping in Tanga?

Tanga is a great place to shop for souvenirs and unique items. Some of the best places to do shopping in Tanga:

• Abdul Jewellers
• Dennis Munga
• Soko Kuu La Ngamiani Tanga
• Okaz Centre
• Mambo Msaidizi Market
• Kisutu Street Market
• The Palm Tree Mall
• Coco Beach Souvenir Bazaar
• Tanga's  art galleries

Conclusion

Whether you are looking for fun, activities and attractions in Tanga, essential travel information to make your visit to Tanga as smooth as possible or accommodation in Tanga, you can find Tanga holiday information on our website. Tanga travel guide provides the latest information on events that you should not miss when visiting Tanga - there is always something going on, so don't miss the latest exhibitions, shows and more during your trip to Tanga.