The Tides Lodge is situated near Pangani, north of Dar es Salaam on the Tanzanian mainland coast. It is close to Saadani National Park and air links are easilly accessible to Zanzibar and the many parks of Tanzania.
This area of coast is unspoiled and still untouched by mainstream tourism. There are just seven cottages and two suites, offering a friendly, intimate service on the Indian Ocean. There is a honeymoon suite and family suite consisting of two bedrooms. There is a swimming pool and bikes are available to hire to explore the local area. Food at the lodge is excellent with seafood being the main part of the menu, delivered daily by the local fishermen.
Village tours and historical tours are also offered. This area of coast is steeped in Swahili history. For centuries there has been trading taking place along the east African coast from Ethiopia to Mozambique. They traded in ivory, rhinoceros horn, turtle shell, coconut oil and slaves, in return for cloth, rice and beans. For guests interested in the history of Pangani, the Cultural Tourism Office run guided historical walking tours of Pangani, with trained guides. They can be arranged at the lodge, and can also be combined with a river cruise up the Pangani River.
Boat trips can be booked to nearby Maziwe Marine Reserve for snorkelling and diving. This is a sand bar island surrounded by blue waters beneath which is a pristine reef and abundant sea life. It is part of a larger reef system that stretches up and down the East African coast. The island makes a superb location for both snorkelling and scuba diving where numerous species of coral exist and over 200 species of tropical fish. Also inhabiting the waters around the reefs are green turtles and spinner dolphins. Both of these can be seen regularly on snorkelling trips. The Tides are involved with ‘Friends of Maziwe' which is an informal collaboration with local fishermen, the Marine Parks Authority and the local hotels. Its function is to protect the island from illegal fishing and dynamiting but also in the future to educate the local fishing communities in conservation issues.
