Kilwa is a trading city on the southern coast of Tanzania which has the largest group of pre-colonial ruins in East Africa. The ruins are confined almost exclusively to Kilwa Kiswani (on the island), whilst Kivinje and Masoko are both later settlements on the mainland. The history of Kilwa is known from the Kilwa Chronicle which relates the history of the city from its foundation to the beginning of the Portuguese period in the sixteenth century. The earliest settlement at the site seems to have been in the eighth century although there are few standing remains from this period. A permit is needed to visit Kisiwani itself, and can be obtained from the local government building on the main road in Kilwa Masoko.

The history of the city is reflected in the surviving buildings, although it should be remembered that the number of stone buildings was small compared to a majority made out of less permanent materials. The main buildings on Kilwa are the Great Mosque and the Great House, the Small Domed Mosque, the Jangwam Mosque, the palace of Husuni Kubwa and the nearby Husuni Ndogo, the Makutani palace and the Gereza fort. There are also important ruins on nearby islands including Songo Mnara, Sanje Majoma and Sanje ya Kate. Also belonging to this period is the southern ablutions courtyard which included a well, toilets and at least three water tanks. Sometime in the fifteenth century this arcaded southern courtyard was rebuilt and covered over with the present arrangement of domes and barrel vaults supported on composite octagonal columns, making this the largest pre-nineteenth-century mosque in East Africa.

Mikindani is a traditional coastal Swahili town, with winding streets and a blend of African, Arabic and European architecture. In the 15th Century, it was the central port in the Swahili's coast network of Indian Ocean stretching as far as the African hinterlands of the Congo and Zambia. The area is still wonderfully undeveloped, tourism still in its infancy, showing Tanzania at its unspoilt best. Mikindani Bay is a large, well protected harbour, within easy reach of superb beaches and a marine park. The local people are friendly and will talk to guests, giving them a chance to experiment with theirr Swahili and learn about the local culture and lifestyles.

Accommodation in Kilwa & Mikindani

Images of Kilwa & Mikindani