Some 75 kilometers to the north of Dar es Salaam lies Bagamoyo, once one of the most important trading centers on the East African Coast and a famous embarkation port for slaves from the hinterland. When the German colonialists came to East Africa they made Bagamoyo their first German East Africa capital between 1886 and 1891.

It is a place of considerable significance to world history, both as an entry point for Arab and European missionaries, explorers, and traders in East and Central Africa and the history of the infamous slave trade. Fortunately, Bagamoyo is now being considered for inclusion into one of the World Heritage sites, to conserve and protect the fascinating Gothic and Afro-Arabic architecture in this coastal settlement steeped in history. Tourist attractions include among others:

• the Kaole ruins dating back to the 12th century are thought to mark one of the earliest contacts of Islam with Africa;
• the Old Fort was built in 1860 to hold slaves for shipment to Zanzibar;
• the first Roman Catholic Church in East Africa was built around 1868 used as a base to run a camp of about 650 freed slaves;
• the German colonial administration headquarters, the Boma, in the first capital of German East Africa until 1885;
• the Mission Museum, depicting the history of Bagamoyo;
• the Livingstone Memorial Church.
• Bagamoyo white sand beaches are considered some of the finest on the whole of the East African coast.