Kilwa Kisiwani Island

Located on Tanzania’s eastern coast, Kilwa Kisiwani Island is a quiet fishing community which once served as the seat of sultans. It has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical significance, which includes the ruins of the Kilwa settlement one of the most important vestiges of ancient Swahili/Arab history along the East African Coast. Visitors can use the nearby town of Kilwa Masoko as a base to explore this island. There are a variety of activities and attractions to enjoy including: exploring the Husuni Ndogo, meaning ‘Little Fort’, built from coral rubble and limestone mortar; discovering the 14th-century Palace of Husuni Kubwa, a former sultan's palace; and visit the Great Mosque, said to be one of the earliest surviving mosques on the Swahili Coast.