At the height of the slave trade, over 15,000 slaves were exported annually from Zanzibar across the world. Millions were sold throughout Africa and thousands died on route to their destination, miles away from their homes. In 1822, the Omani Arabs signed a treaty to criminalize selling slaves to Christians. Despite British diplomatic relations, the Arabs largely ignored the terms of the treaty and the trade was to continue in private for another hundred years. Caravans would travel from Bagamoyo either buying slaves or simply capturing prisoners along the way.

This excursion begins at the Dhow Harbour in Malindi, where slave ships brought their human cargo from Bagamoyo to Zanzibar and on to the world beyond, then heading to the house of Tippu Tip, the notorious Arab slave trader. The tour continues at the Anglican Church, built by missionary Edward Steere on the old slave market, site of human misery for hundreds of years. From here, you’ll be driven to Mbweni, past the missionary graves to visit Mbweni Ruins, formerly a school for freed slave girls, before heading to Livingstone House and onto Mangapwani Beach. At Mangapwani, you can walk through the caves, which stored hundreds of slaves, kept waiting for the monsoons and the arrival of the dhows to be exiled away from home. At the end of this excursion, you’ll have time to reflect, relax on the golden sands of the beach and enjoy a buffet lunch at Mangapwani Restaurant.

Advisable
• Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat and swimwear.