Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Tanzania Kilwa Masoko Kilwa Kisiwani Ruins
AO Edited

Kilwa Kisiwani Ruins

Stunning ruins of what was once the center of one of the greatest empires in East Africa.

Kilwa Masoko, Tanzania

Added By
Roger Simons
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Grand Mosque   rogsimons / Atlas Obscura User
Elephant Proof Door   rogsimons / Atlas Obscura User
Cannon in situ   rogsimons / Atlas Obscura User
The mosque   rogsimons / Atlas Obscura User
Small fort on arrival   rogsimons / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Situated off the coast of Tanzania, the island of Kilwa Kisiwani ("isle of the fish") was once the center of one of the greatest empires in East Africa.

From the 9th century all the way up until the 19th century, Kilwa Kisiwani was a wealthy and powerful port, reaching its peak around the late-Middle Ages. At its height, the empire stretched from Kenya to Mozambique, and Kilwa Kisiwani’s prosperity was crucial to the development of Swahili civilization.

During this time great structures were built that are now stunning ruins, all that's left of the late empire. One of the most impressive of the ruins is the Great Mosque, the oldest standing mosque on the East African coast, which has 16 domes supported by many arches and pillars. Another amazing site is the Palace of Husuni Kubwa, which overlooks the island from on high and was once the largest building in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to legend, the empire was established on the island by a Persian prince who bought Kilwa Kisiwani from an indigenous king for enough cloth to circle the island. The prince then destroyed a bridge that connected the island to mainland Tanzania.

Kilwa Kisiwani grew rich and powerful because it was well placed on trading routes between Africa, China, India, and Arabia. Gold, porcelain, quartz, ivory, and other valuable treasures all passed through the island. Among the island’s own exports were spices, tortoiseshell, and slaves.  The start of its decline came in the 16th century, when the Portuguese completed their own fort on the island and came to dominate trade in the region.

Related Tags

Islands Empire Mosques Palaces Fortresses Ruins Archaeology

Know Before You Go

You have to register for a permit to visit the island at the local antiquities office. You must take a local dhow (traditional sailboat) out to the island.

Community Contributors

Added By

rogsimons

Edited By

Max Cortesi

  • Max Cortesi

Published

July 26, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/144
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilwa_Kisiwani
  • https://theculturetrip.com/africa/tanzania/articles/kilwa-kisiwani-the-ruins-of-east-africa-s-greatest-empire/
  • https://www.wmf.org/project/historic-sites-kilwa
  • http://www.africanworldheritagesites.org/cultural-places/swahili-coast/ruins-of-kilwa.html
  • http://www.tanzaniatourism.com/en/destination/kilwa-kisiwani
Kilwa Kisiwani Ruins
Kilwa Kisiwani Island
Kilwa Masoko
Tanzania
-8.978678, 39.522655
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Songo Mnara

Songo Mnara Island, Tanzania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tanzania

Tanzania

Africa

Places 19
Stories 8

Nearby Places

Songo Mnara

Songo Mnara Island, Tanzania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tanzania

Tanzania

Africa

Places 19
Stories 8

Related Stories and Lists

Ancient DNA Restores the Origin Story of the Swahili People

science

By Chapurukha Kusimba and David Reich

Kilwa Kisiwani

Podcast

By The Podcast Team

Exploring the Ruins of a Medieval East African Empire

ruins

By Lizzie Philip

Explore the Ruins of a Medieval East African Empire

Video

By Atlas Obscura

Related Places

  • The ruins of Songo Mnara.

    Songo Mnara Island, Tanzania

    Songo Mnara

    Mosques carved from coral and dozens of well-preserved stone structures fill this 500-year-old Swahili trading center.

  • Aerial view of Castellum Fectio

    Bunnik, Netherlands

    Castellum Fectio

    For years, the remains of this ancient Roman fortress were hidden under an orchard.

  • Ruins of Surosowan Palace in Old Banten.

    Serang, Indonesia

    Surosowan Palace

    A palace-fortress ruin in Indonesia complete with legends of two magical tigers, eight bathing angels, and a wish-granting cannon.

  • Ruins of a tower, destroyed during the Battle of Bomarsund

    Bomarsund, Ă…land Islands

    Bomarsund Fortress

    This impressive coastal fortress was destroyed before it was finished.

  • View from Above; a more recent concrete construction can be seen nearby

    Green Island, Taiwan

    Youzihu

    The ruins of a prehistoric village hide on a remote Taiwanese island.

  • Whoever chooses to come must be prepared to walk on a soil path, jump over prickly bushes and stone piles

    Onogur, Bulgaria

    Palmatis Ruins

    On the outskirts of the small village, an abandoned grassy field glitters thanks to the white stones of an ancient structure.

  • Overview / sea view

    Greece

    Castle of Agia Mavra (Santa Maura)

    A seaside castle complex that stood through centuries of conquests.

  • Bijay Mandal complex

    New Delhi, India

    Bijay Mandal

    This ruined relic of the medieval city of Jahanpanah is a quiet oasis in the middle of New Delhi.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.