Size & Population:
Tanga City is located on the shores of the Indian Ocean in northeast Tanzania. It has a land area of 474 square Kilometres with an estimated population of about 273,332 people according to National Census 2012. It is the administrative city of Tanga region situated at the extreme northeast corner of Tanzania between 40and 60degrees below the Equator and 370-39010’degrees east of the Greenwich meridian. The region occupies an area of 27,348 sq Kms, sharing borders with Kenya, Morogoro, Coast, Kilimanjaro and Arusha in Tanzania.
Brief Information:
In comparison to other Tanzanian cities and towns, Tanga City has the best economic and social infrastructure in the country and is well connected by road, railways lines, Domestic Airport and telecommunications. Tanga is the seaport city situated in the northeast of Tanzania very close the islands of Pemba and Zanzibar.
The City is the second largest port, third largest industrial center in Tanzania, and also the headquarters of Tanga Region, Tanga District and Tanga City Council. Tanga city has institutions in medical and livestock research, the largest Regional hospital and companies offering financial services. An airport provides air services to other urban and tourism centers in the country.
It was known to Shirazi Persians over a thousand years ago, had thriving trade links with Asia and the Middle East in the 13th Century, and became a continental gateway, including for the colonial activities of Omani Sultans, the Germans and British. During the past century and half, it developed functions as a transport, commercial, administrative, military and urban-industrial hub and as an important engine of the Regional and National economy.
Tanga people are originally Digo ethnic group, however other ethnics groups namely Sambaa, Zigua, and Bondei migrated to the city from other parts of Tanga region. There are other small ethnic groups such as Segeju, Duruma, Mbugu and Pare, and small population of Asians and Europeans living in the city.
Popular attractions:
Tanga is a city with unique resources in terms of cultural and heritage tourism. The history of the city and its architectural heritage is special in Tanzania to offer most popular attractions just to mention a few:-
- Well-preserved Tongoni Ruinsmanaged by the department of Antiquities in a small fishing village situated17 km south of Tanga City. The ruins was once a prosperous and respected trading center in the 15th century established by the Shirazi of Persian
- Mysterious Amboni Caves located about 8 km north of Tanga City. The caves are the most extensive limestone caves inEast Africa, and were sculptured by nature into a fascinating underground world of halls, chambers, niches and tunnels, some equipped with stalactites and stalagmites.
- Toten Island in Tanga Bay. The island is covered by a lush coastal forest with huge baobab trees and has also ruins of early settlements. Toten Island also has small beaches and nature trails crisscrossing the forest and ruins and can be visited by boats, arranged by hotels and tour operators in Tanga.
- Gallanos Hot Sulphur Springs located about 8 km from Tanga City and only 3 km from the Amboni caves. People visits these hot and sulphurous springs for their healing properties, especially for skin ailments.
- Traditional Boat Building, Yambe Island, Old Ndumi Village Ruins, Tanga Museum and an experience to Traditional Medicine
Getting There:
By Air
Tanga City is served by the Tanga Airport [TGT] for domestic flights from and to Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Moshi, and Zanzibar.
By Bus [Road]
There aredaily busess and coaches to and from Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, and Morogoro and neighbouring countries of Kenya [Mombasa] through the all way tarmac roads.
Originally posted 2018-05-29 12:12:34.