Journey into Amboni Caves – Wonders of the world

TANGA: THE air is thick with excitement as students from Alharamain High School in Dar es Salaam and Alfagems Secondary, joined by visitors from different corners of Tanzania and even beyond the country, step into the cool darkness of the Amboni Caves at Kiomoni village, Kiomoni ward in Tanga region.

What begins as a school trip quickly turns into something bigger, a shared adventure. Inside the caves, voices echo off ancient limestone walls, laughter blends with curiosity, and flashlights light up formations that seem sculpted by time itself.

Some marvel at the silence, others whisper about the stories and legends tied to the caves, and many simply stand in awe at the thought of walking where generations before them once stood.

It isn’t just about exploring nature’s underground masterpiece. It’s about connection, students discovering history outside the classroom, strangers becoming friends through shared wonder, and everyone realising that Tanzania’s heritage is not just a story in books but a living, breathing experience you can walk through, touch and feel.

Amboni Caves are more than just a destination. They are a stage of discovery, where adventure sparks wide-eyed excitement and history unfolds in real time.

As the group steps back into the sunlight, they carry more than memories; they carry stories worth retelling, friendships worth keeping and a spark of pride in Tanzania’s hidden gems. The caves don’t just show the past; they light up the present, leaving everyone eager for the next adventure.

The Amboni Caves are the most extensive limestone caves in East Africa. They are located 8 km north of Tanga City in Tanzania off the Tanga-Mombasa Road. The caves were formed about 150 million years ago during the Jurassic age. It covers an area of 234 km². According to researchers the area was under water some 20 million years ago.

There are altogether ten caves but only one is used for guided tours.

The Amboni Caves area is characterised by a series of caves with rocky walls and a variety of interesting and amazing landscapes and objects.

These limestone caves are formed by a special nature of erosion. According to Mturi (1975:18-19), there are tree theories which explain the formation of the Amboni Caves.

The first theory is known as the vedose process. According to this theory, rain water absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and forms a weak carbonic acid which is capable of dissolving calcium carbonate minerals of which limestone is formed.

When this acidulated rain water seeps trough the limestone it is dissolved and cavities and caves are formed. The second theory is that of phreatic origin. According to this theory, the caves are formed by erosion from the sub water table. The rain water with carbonic acid rapidly seeps through the limestone and reaches the water table before being a saturated solution of calcium bicarbonate.

At this stage it is still capable of acting as a dissolving agent for the calcium carbonate. As the groundwater is moving slowly along joints and shale partings between the limestone beds dissolving the calcium carbonate and thus forming channels.

As channels grow. the flow of water becomes turbulent and this speeds up the dissolution process. The channels are consequently enlarged into passages and a network of solution passages are formed.

At the junction of major joint systems, these may be enlarged to become caverns. This process only stops when the water table is lowered which leaves the cavern dry, while the dissolution process continues at a lower level.

The third theory is that of the sea wave action. This is based on the assumption that the area in question at a particular time was along a shoreline and therefore subject to wave action. The waves gradually eroded the limestone forming caves. Afterwards the fall in the sea level left the caves dry.

It is most likely that all three processes contributed to the formation of the Amboni caves.

The name Amboni, was derived from the name of a woman who owned a large farm in the area of the Amboni caves. The woman was known as Mboni ‘the pupil of the eye’. When the Whites came to set up large sisal plantations, they failed to pronounce the word Mboni and instead pronounced the word ‘Amboni’. From then on, the name Amboni became popular to this day.

The Amboni caves area is characterised by deep gorges with rock walls, extensive limestone pavements that are cut by deep fissures and dongas, fields of eroded limestone pillars and extensive systems of caves and rock shelters opening to the surface within the gorges.

Since Amboni caves are within the city centre, there are modern hotels, restaurants, lodges that are comfortable and affordable for any type of a guest. Such facilities are Mkonge hotel, which provide excellent service to guests. There are also tourist hotels, such as Tanga Beach Resort, New Raskazone Hotel, Mkonge Hotel and many others, which are comfortable and safe for visitors.

Accessibilities

Tourist can use air, train, boat and car transport. Air transport: The distance from Tanga airport to Amboni caves is 11 kilometres, so after landing, a guest can take a car ride, drive from Airport to Amboni, and it takes about 15 minutes at normal speed.

If the visitor wishes to use tax transport from the airport to Amboni caves, they will be required to pay no more than 10,000/-. The airport is only for local flights where there is often a route from Zanzibar – Dar es Salaam to Tanga. In general, for tourists who will be able to rent domestic flights, they can use the airport, to reach Amboni caves.

Water transport: At the Port of Tanga there is a comfortable boat that makes its journey from Zanzibar to Tanga, providing an opportunity for tourists from Zanzibar to visit Amboni using water transport.

From the Port of Tanga to Amboni caves, is only 10 kilometres, it is a journey of 13 minutes at a very normal speed.

Road transport: Amboni caves are connected by Horoholo International Road, which connects Tanzania and Kenya. So, from Horoholo Highway to Amboni caves, it is only one kilometre long on a rough road, but it is level. For travellers from Kenya, through Horoholo Road, it is 60 kilometres from Horoholo border to Amboni Caves, an hour’s drive.

Railway transport: Amboni has also been connected with rail transport. The railway provides opportunities for visitors from Dar es Salaam, through Morogoro and into Tanga region.

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Amboni Limited, a company which was then operating sisal plantations in Tanga Region acquired the area in 1892. The company notified the British colonial government about the caves who in turn declared the caves a conservation area in 1922.

It is not known when the caves were exactly discovered but reports indicate that ethnic groups such as the Segeju, Sambaa, Bondei and Digo who lived near the caves used it for prayers.

In 1963, the then government of Tanganyika handed over the caves to the Department of Antiquities.

Accommodation

Since the Amboni Caves are located within the city of Tanga, there are modern hotels and guest houses that are nice and affordable.