Pangani

Well, this fine 2008 year was my 29th birthday, not quite 30 yet. Interesting year with the US election and the world in change - sorry to reflect for a moment, but all in all life is good. I needed a bit of ocean comfort and a group of us headed towards Pangani on the Tanzanian coast. Pangani is described as the Zanzibar of the mainland and is about 5 hours from Arusha near Tanga, only 40km down a dirt road. Pangani is an unspoiled area of beach that mostly ex-pats visit and run. This place has been described as the world's best kept secret beaches, un-hit by mass tourism. The town is small and the Pangani river nearby is an old Arab trading port for slaves and ivory. The seafood is fresh and the beaches have waves that break off of reefs, something that Zanzibar does not have - surf...
Just off shore are pristine waters and Maziwe Marine Reserve. Maziwe is a sand island surrounded by beautiful and colorful reefs. Over 200 species of tropical fish inhabit these waters and animals like sea turtles and dolphins are regularly seen. The island is about 7 miles off shore and easy to get to - perfect for a day of picnics and sunbathing, with a bit of snorkeling or scuba diving. I was quite impressed with this area, it seemed desolate, a peaceful place of relaxation.
We had some nice dinners at the Tinga Tinga Lodge, very small and quaint place in the middle of new renovations and ownership. The paths that lead down to the beach are in a great location to paddle out by the reefs and relax on the beach. The beaches and properties on the other side of the river are whiter and flatter. Plenty of palm trees and coconuts to drink around the area. We enjoyed beers, fish, lobster, and prawns. Living inland, sometimes fresh seafood is missed and this was a treat. Pangani is a quieter and inexpensive alternative to Zanzibar with pristine beaches and decently priced accommodations. Most people are often persuaded or want to visit Zanzibar, thus these paradise spots are often overlooked.
The journey is not easy and charter flights are now available and perhaps this difficulty is good for the area to remain quiet. A place to find true serenity in a hide away beach paradise.

The beach, nature's simple pleasure..