"Real life"

I'm about to make the trip of my life! Leaving to Tanzania in the beginning of March, to Bagamoyo for four weeks and probably a week in Nairobi also. Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Zanzibar are on my 'must-see-list', but I want to experience the unknown Tanzania, the real life in Tanzania. I am greatful for every single tip or advise I can get. And all of you who's been there; share your experiences!

Hi yes, me too question for experinece on Bagamoyo:
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Bagamoyo any good vs Zanzibar?

My father and I lived/worked in Tanzania back in 1985-88 (Arusha). Did all the things then that I guess one has to do (Mombasa, Zanzibar, Mafia, Dar-"beaches", the nat.parks, hunting, fishing etc) but now would like to go back just as toursist with our respectives, who have not seen East-Africa. We're thinking of the, i recon, usual 1 week national parks tours (i must say, it seems to have grown VERY expensive these days?!) followed by 1 w of seaside stay.

So what do you think, any good to go to Bagamoyo? We haven't been there before at all.
Go directly to Zanzibar from the northern parks? Via Bagamoyo to Zanzibar?

Our initial thoughts were to hire a car to do the park tour and drive down to Bagamoyo or Dar to further catch the fery to Zanzibar. However it seems cheaper to actually pay for a driver on an arranged tour (in the parks). Is this so?

Comments?
Cheers,
Anders

You see pretty much of the "real life" (and a spectacular landscape) by taking the train from Dar-es-Salaam to Mwanza. Most enjoyable train ride.