Kilwa
KILWA: is home
to the most spectacular 13th century a ruin on the East
African Coast. It was during the 13th century that Kilwa
established itself as a center for gold trade. Signs of its
prosperity can still be seen through the ruins. The town
Kilwa as such is divided into three different towns. Kilwa
Kivinje, Kilwa Masoko and Kilwa Kisiwani with Songo Mnara and
Sanje Ya Kiti. Kilwa Masoko is however the least interesting
history wise, but the modern town right now, and centre of
operations as well as location of all modern day facilities.
The others are the places to go for historical reasons.
Kilwa Kivinje,
was in the 19th Century an Arabian slave and ivory trading
town, where caravans started off into the interior. With
the end of the Arab time at the end of the 19th century, the
German colonial government built a fort and extended the town.
From German times one can still find a Market Hall, the big
Fort with a canon from the 1st World war, and two pillars one
for the tribal dead of the Maji Maji War fought between the
local tribes of Southern Tanzania and the German Colonial
government and the other for two German traders also killed
during the same Maji Maji War.
Kilwa Kisiwani, is where one will find the greatest
collection of ruins. Directly on the Northern shore one will
find the old Omani Fort, which is built on the foundations of
the old Portuguese fort, in the early 19th Century, and where
still an old wooden door remains. The Big
Mosque is from the 12th Century and was further extended up to
the 15th Century. It was said to be the largest mosque in East
Africa. The Great House directly south of the mosque was once
a complex building which was most likely the Sultan's palace.
In it there are four graves, of which one is rumoured to be of
a Sultan. The small mosque from the 15th Century is the best
kept building on the island, and still in use today. The large
complex of walls in the west of the island is called
"Makutani" (in the great wall). In the middle is a palace from
the 18th Century, south of it, another Sultanas palace, with a
mosque from the 15th Century. All the way to the east of the
island there are the ground walls of the "Husuni Kubwa",
once the largest building in tropical Africa. Songo
Mnara, another island with 14th to 15th Century houses and
mosques. Some of which still show high walls and even parts of
their roofs.
Getting
there:
Kilwa is accessible by road and air
When to
visit:
Nearly all year
round
For more details
contact us
