Kilwa Kisiwani Safari Tour : A genuine historical town in the Real South is Kilwa Kisiwani. Kilwa Kisiwani is the most important historical site in southern Tanzania, and it is situated around 300 kilometers south of Dar es Salaam city. When discussing the fascinating history of the Swahili coast that stretches along the eastern shore of the Indian Ocean in Tanzania, a simple trip to Kilwa Kisiwani provides an exciting reminiscence.
Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania’s historical town, is located between 8°57′35′′ S latitude and 39°30′46′′ E longitude. Prior to that, it served as the seat of the powerful Kilwa Sultanate in the middle Ages. The Lindi Region’s Kilwa District includes the town of Kilwa Kisiwani, which is about 300 kilometers south of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s main city.
Kilwa Kisiwani, one of Tanzania’s most popular historical tourist attractions, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. It is home to numerous iconic historical buildings, including the Great Mosque and the Mkutini Palace.
Despite the island’s beauty, recollections of earlier civilizations and villages could provide visitors to this region of Tanzania with memories they will never forget. It is located in the Kilwa District in the Lindi Region. Kilwa Kisiwani, together with its twin island of Songo Mnara, is a UNESCO World Legacy Site noted for its rich history and the fusion of Swahili cultural heritage with African and Arabic civilizations.
A popular tourist destination, Kilwa Kisiwani is one of the oldest and most important trading centers on the East African coast. Historical structures on the island were built with limestone and coral stone mixtures, which made the architecture beautiful and stable to withstand humid and hot weather conditions for hundreds of years.
Between the 13th and 16th centuries, when gold and ivory from mainland Tanzania and the Congo were traded for silver, carnelians, perfumes, Persian faience, and Chinese porcelain, the island benefited from control of the Indian Ocean commerce with Arabia, India, and China.
The island’s historical significance is primarily due to mosques constructed in the 13th century and a Portuguese fort. These mosques range in age from the 13th to the 18th century. Between each mosque, there are cemeteries and places of worship that are embellished with ancient Chinese porcelain and Persian antiquities, including Middle Eastern ceramics. From the ninth through the nineteenth century, Oman Sultans and Persian traders lived in Kilwa Kisiwani. The island prospered as a significant commercial hub on the Indian Ocean coast throughout the 13th and 14th centuries.
The renowned Muslim traveler Ibn-Battuta claimed that Kilwa Kisiwani was one of the most beautiful cities in the world at the time when he visited and resided there between 1331 and 1332. The Great Mosque of Kilwa was East Africa’s biggest mosque of its sort. Two mosques that date back to the 11th century are housed in the mosque.
The History of Kilwa Kisiwani:
The founding of the Kilwa Sultanate is the subject of numerous proven and unproven ideas, although one hypothesis strongly contends that the Persian prince of Shiraz, Ali ibn al-Hassan, founded the sultanate in the tenth century, and his descendants ruled until 1277. Later, Kilwa was ruled by the Arab family of Abu Moaheb, who departed the area when the Portuguese invaded in 1505. From the late 19th century until Tanzania’s independence, Kilwa Kisiwani also saw British and German rule.
How to get to Kilwa Kisiwani?
Kilwa Masoko Airport, operated by Coastal Aviation, connects Kilwa Kisiwani to Dar es Salaam, Mafia Island, Pemba, Selous game reserve, Tanga, Zanzibar, and many more Tanzanian destinations. It is located inside the town’s boundaries. From Dar es Salaam, the main city in the country, you can take a bus to Kilwa Kisiwani. The trip could take up to six hours. To get around Kilwa Kisiwani, the most practical options are Tuk-tuks and taxis.
You’ll need a boat to travel from Kilwa Masoko to Kilwa Kisiwani. There are boats waiting at the dock that you may charter, or you can arrange this yourself. Upscale hotels will arrange this for you (and charge you). For a sailing boat to pick you up, wait for you, and then take you back to Kilwa Masoko, be prepared to pay TSH 10,000–15,000. A boat with an engine will cost more. If you don’t know Swahili, you can hire a guide, who should also handle this and who you’ll probably want to tour you around the ruins. However, keep in mind that the guide might not always strive to offer you the best deal.
There are shared taxis that frequently travel between Kilwa Masoko and Kilwa Kivinji, but if you show up, they will probably insist that you purchase a private taxi or you will have to wait for a very long time. They often depart every thirty minutes or so if you respectfully decline and agree to wait.
The best way to get around of all three of these small villages in Kilwa kisiwani is on foot. If the heat is too much for you, there are several taxis and Tuk-tuks (bajaji) around the town.
Attractions and Activities: things to see and do at Kilwa kisiwani:
Visit Masoko Pwani:
Idyllically untainted, calm, and tidy. The lovely palm-lined beachfront of the Indian Ocean is called Masoko Pwani. The beach at Masoko Pwani lies 5 kilometers northeast of Kilwa Masoko. By bicycle or Tuk-tuks (Bajaji in Swahili), Kilwa Masoko is the most effective way to accomplish this. The fish for Kilwa Masoko is exchanged in this vibrant location, especially toward the end of the afternoon.
A visit to Kilwa Kisiwani:
The former Islamic city-state of Kilwa Kisiwani is situated on an island off the coast of Kilwa Masoko. Arab and Persian settlers built the city in the tenth century (now Iran). It has developed into one of the busiest commercial hubs on Africa’s east coast. The most significant historical site in Tanzania’s southern region is Kilwa Kisiwani. These structures date to the height of Swahili culture and are among the best preserved. Since 1981, the historic Swahili ruins have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Songo Mnara:
8 kilometers to the south of Kilwa Kisiwani lies the island that is home to the port city of Songo Mnara, often known as the twin island. Both islands have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and because of their lengthy histories and Swahili cultural legacies, they are a fusion of African and Arab cultures.
On the northern side of the island, Songo Mnara is home to the remnants of five mosques, a palace complex, and roughly thirty-three coral stone and wood-walled houses.
Kipatimu caves:
The Kipatimu Caves is another one of the best attraction to see in your safari tour to Kilwa kisiwani, Tanzania. Amazing limestone formations that nature has carved over the ages and in a variety of hues. Humans have lived there for thousands of years, long before they began to construct dwellings above ground.
These caves served as early humans’ homes as well as a shelter for locals (Matumbi) during the epic tribal warfare against Germans that shook southern Tanzania over a century ago. The miles-long, interconnecting caves can accommodate thousands (4,000–5000) of people. The dirt has a dense natural forest covering it.
Millions of bats now live in these caves throughout the day, along with snakes and other nocturnal creatures. However, these caves (Nang’oma cave and the larger Lihimalyao cave) are highly recommended as an underground miracle.
Kilwa Kivinje:
In the early 1800s, the sleepy village of Kilwa Kivinje became the destination of the southern slave caravan. Kilwa Kivinje’s mainland port is still a great place for wooden boats to land. By 1850, Kivinje had expanded into a community of 12–15,000 people, many of them rich families of Indian heritage, and had become the main hub for the slave trade in the area.
Kilwa Kivinje was chosen as the administrative hub for Germany at the end of the 19th century. Kilwa Kivinje’s brief glory ended with the end of the slave trade and German defeats in the war. With an intriguing blend of German colonial and Omani Arab architecture, Kilwa Kivinje is today a modest, evocative community with a Swahili village vibe.
Lindi:
The Indian Ocean is where Lindi is situated. Lindi was once a property of the Sultan of Zanzibar and served as the destination for slave caravans traveling from Lake Nyasa. The region’s most significant city at the time was Lindi. Today, Lindi is a bustling and enjoyable area to explore. The little but active dhow dock, the exquisitely carved doors, and some relics from its affluent history are just a few of the attractions. Game fishing, snorkeling, diving, sunbathing, swimming, and birdwatching are additional activities you can partake in during your safari tour to Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania.
Other places of interest to visit in and around Kilwa Kisiwani includes:
- Mikumi National Park
- Kilwa Masoko Airport.
- Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve.
- Dar es Salaam Botanical Garden.
- Benjamin William Mkapa Pension Tower
- Makumbusho Village Museum.
- The Beaches of Dar es Salaam
- Azania Front Lutheran Church,
- Karimjee Hall
- Mbudya Island
- Askari Monument
- The National Museum of Tanzania
- Wonder Workshop
- Dar es Salaam Zoological Gardens are located in Dar es Salaam.
Accommodations: Where to stay in Kilwa Kisiwani?
As a well-known tourist location, Kilwa Kisiwani has a lot of hotels that are well-equipped and have modern amenities like air conditioning, airport shuttles, TVs, and food delivery services. Listed below are some luxurious hotels to stay in and near Kilwa Kisiwani:
- Kilwa Pakaya Hotel.
- Kilwa Beach Resort
- Mwangaza Hideaway
- Kimbilio Lodge
- The Retreat, Selous
- Jimbiza Lodge
- Selous Impala Camp
- Lake Manze Tented Camp
- Sand Rivers Selous
- At Sable Mountain Lodge
- Lindi Beach Resort
- Selous Great Water Lodge.
- Selous River Camp.
- Selous Mbuyu Safari Camp.
