Situated a stone’s throw away from the idyllic island of Zanzibar, on Tanzania’s beautiful coastline, the town of Bagamoyo lies within the UNESCO-listed Bagamoyo District. It was once a major trading port, the capital of German East Africa, and it served as a stopover for slave and ivory caravans who travelled from Lake Tanganyika to Zanzibar. Today it is a hub for traditional dhow building and is known for its arts, culture and fascinating history. The town features many colonial-era buildings lining narrow, unpaved streets. It makes for an excellent day or weekend trip from Dar es Salaam.