A short boat trip from the mainland in southern Tanzania lies Kilwa Kisiwani Island, once a flourishing seaport. Oman Sultans and Persian merchants were the first to settle it, from the 9th to the 19th centuries. From the eleventh century onwards, the sultans of Kilwa grew wealthy by controlling the gold trade. In historical terms the island was the heart of the Kilwa Sultanate, a medieval sultanate whose power, at its peak in the 13th-15th centuries, reached along the full length of the Swahili Coast.
Historic buildings of Kilwa
The most significant standing ruins from that era are the Great Mosque and the Palace at Husuni Kubwa. In its architectural refinement and scale, the palace had no equal in East Africa. The Great Mosque dates from the 14th century and remained the largest mosque in sub-Saharan Africa until the 16th century. It was built by Sultan al-Hasan ibn Sulaiman, ruler of Kilwa Kisiwani, and was the biggest mosque of its kind in East Africa. The complex actually holds two mosques, both built from coral stone combined with limestone materials, which gave the structure enough stability to withstand every kind of weather for centuries. In 1505 the Portuguese added a fortress on the island.
Kilwa Kisiwani today
Kilwa Kisiwani was placed on the World Monuments Watch in 1996, and the island's historic sites followed in 2008, the same year WMF started its conservation work. On Kilwa, the palace ruins of Husuni Kubwa and a collapsed stretch of the original city wall close to the Makutani palace have since been restored. In March 2014 the conservation team finished restoring 13 structures and rebuilding the main water reservoir on Songo Mnara. Together, Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara rank among the most important historical sites on the East African coast, and both became UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981.
Travel time to Kilwa Kisiwani
From Dar Es Salaam 5.5 hrs by car
Expert travel tips for Kilwa Kisiwani
I am Omar, and I have worked as a guide in Kilwa for 7 years. Most of our guests come for the site's historical significance. Now that the restoration work is finished they appreciate it even more, because standing among the mighty ruins gives you a real sense of the grandeur of former times.
How long to stay? 1 day minimum
Which hotel?
- Kilwa Seaview Resort
- Kilwa Beach Lodge
- Kimbilio Lodge
Information and facts
The town of Kilwa Kisiwani sits on the island that shares its name. It has a long past, with Omani, Persian and Portuguese influences still clearly visible. Wander through the historic old town and discover a side of Tanzania that is entirely different.
Facts about Kilwa Kisiwani
- Located in southern Tanzania
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981
- On the World Monuments Watch list since 1996
- Restoration carried out by WMF
Highlights in Kilwa Kisiwani
- Built by a medieval Swahili sultanate
- Large mosque from the 14th century
- Sultan’s palace
- Portuguese fortress from 1505
