When in Pangani there are some relaxed activities to do, and a number of attractions to visit in Panga. The Pangani old town itself warrants a couple of hour’s exploration, you can arrange a boat trip up the forested Pangani River, a snorkelling excursion to Maziwe Island or walking tours of the inland.
4×4 game drive – whilst it doesn’t have the diverse game of some other national parks, Saadani has elephants, giraffes, several species of antelope, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo and birds such as the impressive ground hornbill, as well as lion and leopard although these are rarely sighted. It’s quite enough to make for an exciting game drive.
Dhow ride with the fishermen to Maziwe marine reserve
Take a wonderful round in dhow, which alone is worth it regardless of the place where we had docked, head with a bag with box lunch, and in the company of fishermen, you can navigated for 10 kilometers to reach the Maziwe natural reserve.
Take to the water – the Wami River flows through Saadani and a boat trip here is a great way to observe life in and around the water. Look out for hippos, crocodiles and fish eagles as you sit back and enjoy the cruise. For a change of scene board a canoe to drift through the coastal mangroves where you can hope to spy herons, kingfishers and lizards.
Go for a stroll – the sands of both Saadani and Pangani are ideal for leisurely walks by the Indian Ocean. In Saadani you can also go for forest walks looking out for colobus monkeys.
Go fishing. You can decide to go fishing by hiring a local boat under guide of the local fishermen and you carry out some fishing, over 400 fish species do exist in the ocean.
Snorkelling and diving – from Pangani you can access Maziwe Island Marine Reserve where you can don a mask and flippers or diving gear to explore the clear ocean waters, corals and fish and you may find yourself side by side with a turtle or dolphin. The depths of the marine reserve has 400 species of fish, 35 kinds of hard and soft corals, sponges and algae, and also of birds
Relax at Ushongo Beach
Ushongo Beach is one of the little known secrets of the coast of Tanzania, it is a quiet place that prides itself of a beautiful white sandy beach edged with coconut palms, and in general is a great place to relax in.
The bay has no undercurrents, no sharks, there are no street vendors and above all no crime occurs there. The white beach of Ushongo is three kilometers long, the water temperature is very pleasant going between the 25 and 28 degrees.
Sailing and kayaking – relax on the ocean on a sunset dhow cruise as you sip a chilled drink, or maybe you’d prefer a spot of sailing in a laser dinghy. Kayaks offer the chance to explore the nearby creeks. All are available in Pangani.