Book Flights to Kilwa Masoko

World Heritage Sites near Kilwa

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songa Mnara, on the islands off the main coastal village of Kilwa Masoko, which are easily accessible by motorboat or traditional sailing dhow. Dating from the 13^th Century, you get a unique glimpse into Swahili culture of yesteryear. Explore sultan’s palaces, graveyards, mosques and forts, where there once was a bustling trade in gold, ivory and slaves. Imagine yourself in the audience of a play in one of the theatre auditoriums and wonder at the sophisticated sanitary systems using fresh water, keeping the settlement clean and pleasant.

Excellent diving and snorkelling around Kilwa

Organise a scuba diving or snorkelling trip to explore the beautiful array of sea life below the waves in and around Rukila Island. With unspoilt reefs teeming with various fish species, including Moorish idols, puffer and lionfish as well as giant clams and rays you will not be disappointed. If you are lucky you may spot one of five turtle species known to inhabit these waters.

White beaches fringed with palm trees

The area is blessed with plenty of beautiful beaches, for example, Masoko Pwani which has white sands, azure blue waters and is fringed with coconut palm trees. Make sure you check for coconuts above your head before putting your towel down as falling coconuts can be incredibly dangerous.

Fascinating caves in the Kilwa region

In Matumbi hills, there are several large cave complexes just waiting to be explored. The entrance to the caves at Nangoma spans impressively across 68 meters and houses a sizeable colony of bats. They were used as hideaways during war times by local rebel troops and are now places of worship and spots to collect porcupine needles. Namaingo caves are also close by if you fancy ducking and diving through more fascinating rock cavities. They are both accessible from Kipatimu village using a local guide to show you the locations, as they are pretty hard to find.

Bird watching in Kilwa

If you are a keen ‘twitcher’ and have your binoculars at the ready you could catch sight of some of the magnificent birdlife in the Kilwa area. It is popular with sandpipers, tern, egrets, heron, cormorants, ibises, storks, fish eagles, plovers, little stints, gulls, kingfishers, frigates, gannets, oystercatchers, weavers and much more. See if you can spot them all or add to the list!

Salt farms of Kilwa

There are plenty of opportunities to witness the traditional harvesting of salt in and around Kilwa Masoko, as there are 36 producers farming nearby. Hire a bicycle or set off on foot for an interesting cultural tour through the surrounding fields and hamlets, which you can take by yourself and practice your Swahili with the farmers or take it easy with a local guide.