Tanzania Southern Coast 1 tour

Kilwa Kisiwani

UNESCO-listed ruins of a medieval Swahili trading empire — coral-stone mosque + palace.

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Country

Tanzania

Region

Southern Coast

Best time

June–October

About Kilwa Kisiwani

Kilwa Kisiwani is an island off southern Tanzania that from the 10th–16th centuries was East Africa's richest Swahili trading port, controlling the gold trade out of Great Zimbabwe. The UNESCO ruins include the Great Mosque (one of the earliest standing mosques in East Africa), the 100-room Husuni Kubwa palace, and the Portuguese-era Gereza fort. Reached by dhow from Kilwa Masoko on the mainland.

Highlights

  • UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Great Mosque (10th-c. original, 14th-c. domes)
  • Husuni Kubwa palace ruins
  • Gereza Portuguese fort
  • Dhow crossing from Kilwa Masoko

Best time to visit

June–October

Itineraries

Tours that visit Kilwa Kisiwani

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