The Ras Mkumbi Lighthouse, built around 1894, is a functioning landmark (🎟️10,000 TZS) at the northern tip of Mafia Island, offering panoramic views of the island and ocean. It’s located in a historically significant area of the island, which has been a crucial stop for traders and...
We hired a local tuk-tuk for 80,000 TZS for the whole day to go around the island (166 km). Our first stop was Kabanga Beach in a northern section of the island known for its pristine, white sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters, and a tranquil atmosphere, offering a secluded and simple...
The ferry to Mafia Island should depart daily around 9 AM from Nyamisati, the mainland port, offering a comfortable, modern vessel with air-conditioning and seating. The journey takes approximately five hours and costs 16,000 TZS. It has been chaotic and time-consuming to reserve the...
Lesser known than the more famous Zanzibar, Mafia Island is a little hard to reach, and if you do not choose the hard way, then it can get rather expensive with a flight from Dar Es Salaam. Of course, we chose the hard way and took a 40-kilometre-long, dirty, and narrow road to reach the...
Kilwa Kivinje was a prominent maritime city-state that flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries, dominating the Swahili Coast and becoming a centre for trade in gold, ivory, and slaves. In the 19th century, the town was a terminus of the southern slave caravan route and served as a...
We sailed to the tiny island of Songo Mnara, about 8km south of Kilwa Kisiwani, for about one and a half hours. It contains ruins at its northern end – including a palace, several mosques and numerous houses built from coral and mortar – that are believed to date from the 14th and 15th...
Today, ‘Kilwa on the Island’ is a quiet fishing village. Still, in its heyday, it was the centre of a vast trading network linking the old Shona kingdoms and the goldfields of Zimbabwe with Persia, India and China. While these days are now well in the past, the ruins of the...
We got unexpected heavy rain for the whole day, when we were trying to reach Kilwa Masoko through terrible roads full of potholes, with missing bridges and long muddy stretches, especially around the Rufiji River Delta and the Marandu River Delta. Kilwa Masoko is the gateway to the...
Bongoyo Island is a small, uninhabited island located approximately 2.5 km north of Dar es Salaam, known for its pristine white sandy beaches, coral reefs, and diverse marine life, making it a popular spot for day trips for swimming, snorkelling, and relaxation. Geographically, it...
We took a private trip (60 USD for two) to a Zanzibar spice garden. It was a multi-sensory experience that offered us a deep dive into the island’s rich history as the “Spice Island.” It allowed us to see, smell, touch, and taste fresh spices, fruits, and local remedies...