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  • Home
  • Africa
    • South Africa >
      • Cape Town >
        • Cape Town Accommodation
        • Cape Town sightseeing
        • Cape Town Diving
      • KwaZulu-Natal >
        • KwaZulu-Natal safaris >
          • Hluhluwe-Imfolozi >
            • Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
            • Zululand Tree Lodge
            • Hluhluwe River Lodge
            • Anew Hluhluwe Hotel
            • Primitive trail walking safari
          • Nambiti GR >
            • Springbok Lodge
            • Ndaka Safari Lodge
            • Umzolozolo Safari Lodge
            • Nambiti Plains Game Lodge
          • Pongola GR >
            • White Elephant Safari Lodge
          • Manyoni Private Game Reserve
        • Kwazulu Natal Diving >
          • Aliwal Shoal (diving)
          • Protea Banks (diving)
          • Sodwana Bay (diving)
          • Rocktail Beach (diving)
        • Sardine Run
        • Battlefields
        • Hiking and trekking in KZN
      • Kruger >
        • Sabi Sand
        • Timbavati
        • Klaserie
        • Balule
        • Manyeleti
        • Motlala
      • Madikwe GR
      • The Garden Route
    • Namibia >
      • Namibia Itineraries
      • Windhoek accommodation
      • Etosha
      • Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast
      • Sossusvlei
      • Damaraland
      • Kunene
      • Deep South
      • Kalahari
    • Botswana >
      • Botswana Itineraries >
        • De Luxe Botswana
        • Classic Botswana
        • Low Key Botswana
      • Chobe
      • Savuti
      • Khwai
      • Moremi
      • Linyanti
      • Okavango Delta
      • Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan
      • Central Kalahari
    • Tanzania >
      • Northern Tanzania >
        • The Serengeti
        • Ngorongoro Crater
        • Lake Manyara
        • Tarangire
        • Northern Tanzania itineraries
        • Kilimanjaro treks
        • Mount Meru trekking
      • Southern Tanzania >
        • Ruaha NP
        • Selous Game Reserve
        • Southern Tanzania itineraries
        • Kilwa >
          • Kimbilio Lodge
      • Western Tanzania >
        • Katavi NP
        • Mahale NP
        • Gombe Streams NP
      • Zanzibar >
        • Stone Town
        • Zanzibar diving
      • Pemba >
        • Fundu Lagoon
        • The Aiyana
        • Pemba Island history
        • Pemba Island culture
      • Mafia Island >
        • Mafia Island History
        • Mafia Island Tours
        • Mafia Island Diving
    • Kenya >
      • Kenya Safari Itineraries >
        • Deluxe Kenya Safari Itineraries
        • Classic Kenya Safari Itineraries
        • Low Key Kenya Safari Itineraries
      • Masai Mara National Reserve
      • The Lakes Region
      • Aberdare National Park
      • Mount Kenya
      • Meru National Park
      • Laikipia Plateau
      • Samburu-Buffalo Springs & Shaba National Reserves
      • Amboseli National Park
      • Tsavo National Park
    • Uganda >
      • Gorilla Tracking Trips
      • Uganda safari itineraries
    • Zambia >
      • South Luangwa
      • North Luangwa
      • The Falls
      • Lower Zambezi NP
      • Kafue NP
    • Mozambique >
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      • Ponta do Ouro >
        • Ponta d'Ouro Accommodation
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      • Quirimbas Archipelago >
        • Ibo Island >
          • Ibo Island Accommodation
          • Ibo Island Diving
          • Dhow Safaris
        • Vamizi Island >
          • Vamizi Accommodation
          • Vamizi Diving
        • Quilalea Island >
          • Quilalea Accommodation
          • Quilalea Diving
        • Medjumbe Island >
          • Medjumbe Accommodation
          • Medjumbe Diving
      • Vilanculos >
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      • Bazaruto Archipelago >
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      • Mozambique & safari combos
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    • St Helena >
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    • Seychelles >
      • Regions >
        • Seychelles Inner Islands >
          • North Island
          • Mahé
          • Praslin
          • La Digue
          • Silhouette
          • Round Island
          • Bird Island
          • Cerf Island
          • Chauve Souris
          • Cousine Island
          • Denis Island
          • Frégate Island
          • Ste Anne
        • Seychelles Outer Islands >
          • Alphonse Island >
            • Alphonse Accommodation
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            • Alphonse Fishing
          • Astove Atoll >
            • Astove Accommodation
          • Cosmoledo Atoll >
            • Cosmoledo Accommodation
            • Cosmoledo Diving
          • Desroches
          • Aldabra Atoll
          • Assumption
          • African Banks
          • D’Arros Island
          • Poivre Atoll
          • Remire Island
          • St Joseph Atoll
          • Coëtivy Island
          • Platte
    • Maldives >
      • Manta and Whale Shark trip August 2017
      • Maldives Liveaboards >
        • Blueforce 1
        • Carpe Diem
        • Carpe Novo
        • Carpe Vita
        • Blue Spirit
        • Blue Voyager
        • Maldives Explorer
        • Duke of York
        • MV Sheena
  • Caribbean & Americas
    • Bahamas >
      • Travel Information
      • Bimini >
        • ​Bimini Hilton Resort World
        • ​Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina
        • Bimini Diving
        • Bimini Dive packages
      • Andros Island >
        • Small Hope Bay Lodge
      • San Salvador
      • Grand Bahama
      • New Providence
      • Long Island
      • The Exumas
      • Bahamas liveaboards
      • Bahamas Tiger Beach Shark Safari 2020
    • Turks and Caicos >
      • Humpback whale snorkeling
    • Dominica >
      • Dominica Sperm Whales
      • Dominica a dive story
    • Bonaire
    • Mexico >
      • Baja Sur >
        • Sea of Cortez Liveaboards >
          • Rocio Del Mar
          • Quino el Guardian
        • Socorro >
          • Nautilus Explorer trip March 2019
        • La Paz
        • Cabo San Lucas >
          • The Pelagic Safari
          • Cabo San Lucas Diving
          • Cabo San Lucas Dive Rates
      • Yucatan
    • The Galapagos >
      • Galapagos Liveaboards >
        • ​AGGRESSOR III
        • Humboldt Explorer
        • Galapagos Master
      • Galapagos Land Based Multi-Island
      • Galapagos wildlife cruises >
        • MY San Jose
        • MY Eden
        • SY Nemo I
        • MY Archipell I
        • MY Beluga
        • SY Cachalote
        • MY Tip Top II
        • MY Tip Top III
        • MY Tip Top IV
    • Cocos Island >
      • Cocos Dive sites
      • Okeanos Aggressor I
      • Okeanos Aggressor II
      • Sea Hunter
      • Argo
      • Cocos Expedition 2021
  • Oceania
    • Papua New Guinea >
      • PNG Dive Specials
      • Tufi >
        • At Tufi Dive Resort
        • Tufi Reefs And Muck Diving
        • Tufi Wrecks
        • Tufi Fishing
        • Tufi Village Guesthouses Stays
        • Tufi Birding and Wildlife
        • Tufi Gallery
        • Tufi Videos
      • Walindi >
        • At Walindi Plantation Resort
        • Walindi Tours and Walks
        • Walindi Bird Watching
        • Walindi Diving
        • Walindi Gallery
        • Walindi videos
      • Lissenung Island Resort >
        • Lissenung Island Life
        • Lissenung Island accommodation
        • Lissenung Diving
        • Lissenung Surfing
        • Lissenung Fishing
        • Lissenung Tours
        • Lissenung Gallery
        • Lissenung Videos
      • Rapopo Plantation Resort >
        • Rapopo Diving
        • Rapopo Tours
      • MV Febrina Liveaboard >
        • MV Oceania >
          • MV Oceania Itineraries
        • MV FeBrina >
          • On Board The Febrina
          • MV FeBrina Itineraries
          • Mv Febrina Gallery
          • Mv Febrina Videos
      • Madang >
        • Madang Accommodation
        • Madang Diving
  • Indonesia
    • Bali >
      • Seminyak Luxury Accommodation
      • Bali Dive Safaris
      • Bali Dive and Adventure Safari 2019
      • Bali Discoverer Cultural Safari 2019
    • Komodo National Park >
      • Komodo Liveaboards >
        • Pratiwi
        • Lalunia
        • Sinar Pagi
      • Kalimaya Resort >
        • Kalimaya Resort Accommodation
        • Kalimaya Resort Diving
    • West Papua and Raja Ampat >
      • Dampier Straits dive sites
      • Indonesia Liveaboards
      • Papua Explorers
      • Kri eco resort
      • Sorido Bay Resort
      • The Baliem Valley >
        • The Baliem Valley Tour 1
    • Lembeh >
      • Lembeh Diving
      • NAD Lembeh Resort >
        • NAD Lembeh Diving
      • Lembeh Resort
      • Cocotinos Lembeh Resort
      • Two Fish Lembeh Resort
    • Bangka Island >
      • Bangka Accommodation
      • Bangka Diving
    • Siladen Island >
      • Siladen Resort
      • Siladen Diving
    • Manado >
      • Two Fish Resort Bunaken
      • Cocotinos Manado Resort
      • Murex Manado Resort
      • Manado Diving
    • Indonesia Liveaboards >
      • Raja Ampat Aggressor
      • Emperor Raja Laut
      • Ondina Liveaboard
      • Sea Safari 8
      • Sea Safari VI
      • Sea Safari VII
      • Cheng Ho
      • Amira Liveaboard
      • Indo Aggressor
      • Tambora Liveaboard
      • Seahorse Liveaboard
      • Adelaar Liveaboard
      • Damai I Liveaboard
      • Damai II Liveaboard
      • Tarata Liveaboard
      • Ambai Liveaboard
      • Gaia Love
      • Putri Papua
      • Indo Siren Liveaboard
      • TemuKira Liveaboard
      • Solitude Adventurer
      • Pearl of Papua
      • Seven Seas
      • Pindito Liveaboard
      • Mermaid I Liveaboard
      • Mermaid II Liveaboard
      • Dewi Nusantara
      • Coralia liveaboard
      • Blue Manta
      • True North
  • South East Asia
    • The Philippines >
      • Puerto Galera >
        • Puerto Galera diving
        • Puerto Galera Tours and activities
        • Atlantis Resort Puerto Galera Special Offer
      • Atlantis Azores, Christmas and New Year Special
      • Anilao, Batangas >
        • Aiyanar Beach & Dive Resort >
          • Aiyanar diving
      • Philippines Liveaboard >
        • Philippines Siren
        • Siren Southern Visayas
        • Siren Leyte
        • Moalboal >
          • Magic Island Resort Accommodation
          • Magic Island Resort Diving
        • Siren Tubbataha
      • Bohol >
        • Magic Ocean Resort Accommodation
        • Magic Ocean Resort Diving
      • Negros >
        • Atlantis Dumaguete >
          • Atlantis Dumaguete Accommodation
          • Atlantis Dumaguete Diving
        • Punta Bulata >
          • Punta Bulata Accommodation
          • Punta Bulata Diving
  • Specials & Faves
    • Dive Specials
    • Safari Favourites
    • Budget Safaris
  • Vehicle Hire
  • Reviews
  • Travel insurance
  • Giving back
  • Contact Us
  • Dive clubs
  • Indigoblog
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Why Book With Us?

kilwa

KILWA

​Kilwa – meaning ‘Place of Fish’ – is the collective name given to three different areas on the Tanzanian coast: Kilwa Kisiwani, Kilwa Kivinje and Kilwa Masoko. Visitors come here to explore UNESCO-listed ruins that tell the story of centuries of coastal history.

Kilwa isn’t located on the usual tourist route, so the quality of accommodation isn’t as high, however, travellers who want to learn a little more about the colourful history of this area will find it an adventurous addition to an off-beat itinerary. 

Kilwa Masoko
The most modern of the three ‘Kilwas’, Kilwa Masoko is where most people base themselves to visit the ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani. There is little of historical interest here, but Jimbizi Beach – where Kimbilio Hotel is situated – is pleasant enough for a day or two. Click here to see the lodge. 
​

Kilwa Kisiwani is an abandoned city filled with crumbling mosques, remnants of once glorious palaces, and ancient tombs. Said to be one of the most important-surviving relicts of the Islamic-influenced Swahili maritime trade, it’s quite rightly the main attraction for visitors to the area. The runs of the Sultan's 100-room palace are the largest palatial ruins on the continent, and the Great Mosque the oldest standing in East Africa. In 1331-1332, the great traveler, Ibn Battouta made a stop here and described Kilwa as one of the most beautiful cities of the world.

Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara were Swahili trading cities and their prosperity was based on control of Indian Ocean trade with Arabia, India and China, particularly between the 13th and 16th centuries, when gold and ivory from the hinterland was traded for silver, carnelians, perfumes, Persian faience and Chinese porcelain. Kilwa Kisiwani minted its own currency in the 11th to 14th centuries. In the 16th century, the Portuguese established a fort on Kilwa Kisiwani and the decline of the two islands began.
The remains of Kilwa Kisiwani cover much of the island with many parts of the city still unexcavated. The substantial standing ruins, built of coral and lime mortar, include the Great Mosque constructed in the 11th century and considerably enlarged in the 13th century, and roofed entirely with domes and vaults, some decorated with embedded Chinese porcelain; the palace Husuni Kubwa built between c1310 and 1333 with its large octagonal bathing pool; Husuni Ndogo, numerous mosques, the Gereza (prison) constructed on the ruins of the Portuguese fort and an entire urban complex with houses, public squares, burial grounds, etc.
The ruins of Songo Mnara, at the northern end of the island, consist of the remains of five mosques, a palace complex, and some thirty-three domestic dwellings constructed of coral stones and wood within enclosing walls

From the 9th century all the way up until the 19th century, Kilwa Kisiwani was a wealthy and powerful port, reaching its peak around the late-Middle Ages. At its height, the empire stretched from Kenya to Mozambique, and Kilwa Kisiwani’s prosperity was crucial to the development of Swahili civilisation.  From the 13th to the 16th century, the merchants of Kilwa dealt in gold, silver, pearls, perfumes, Arabian crockery, Persian earthenware and Chinese porcelain; much of the trade in the Indian Ocean thus passed through their hands.
During this time great structures were built that are now stunning ruins, all that’s left of the late empire. One of the most impressive of the ruins is the Great Mosque, the oldest standing mosque on the East African coast, which has 16 domes supported by many arches and pillars. Another amazing site is the Palace of Husuni Kubwa, which overlooks the island from on high and was once the largest building in sub-Saharan Africa.
When the Portuguese took over the coastline in 1505 they assumed control of Kilwa Kisiwani. They murdered the majority of the residents and replaced the Arab palaces with forts. Today, a small number of local fishermen live on the island, but for the most part it is deserted. 

The island can be reached by a short boat ride, and explored with a private guide for around US$50, including the entrance fee (which the guide will buy on your behalf from the Department of Antiquities). The trip takes at least half a day, or a full day if you want to combine it with Songo Mnara.
Kilwa Kivinje – a small town on the mainland – was once the southern centre of the slave trade with up to 20,000 slaves passing through annually and, consequently, it was very wealthy. Outlawed in 1873, the slave trade is still thought to have continued in Kilwa Kivinje until 1880. Afterwards, the Germans took over the town and used it as an administrative centre, but following the end of World War II the town gradually lost importance and today it is a small port. Travellers can visit the big fort with a cannon leftover from World War I, an old German market hall, as well as an attractive beach where you can watch the local fishermen. Very few people visit the area, so it provides an authentic insight into Tanzanian life.

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