Kilwa Kivinje lies about 30k north of Kilwa Masoko and has an attractive historical feel about the place. The town has a good number of old colonial buildings and crumbling remains of ancient Omani buildings. The Old German Boma in Kilwa Kivinje overlooks the waterfront and is the town's oldest buidling.
Kilwa Kivinje is a 19th Century Arabian slave and ivory trading town from which southern caravans started off into the interior of Africa. On the decline of Arab rule towards the end of the 19th century, the German colonial government constructed a fort and enlarged the town.
The Market Hall and the fort (with a canon from the First World War) still remain from the German period. There are also two stone pillars to commemorate the tribal dead of the Maji Maji uprising by the Hehe and other tribes of Southern Tanzania against the German colonial authorities and the other is for the two German traders who were also killed during the same conflict.
Located on the southern slave caravan route, the town exported at least 20,000 slaves during the 1860's - most of these were sent to the United States.
The streets of Kilwa Kivinje also give real taste of coastal life. The dhow port is still busy with colourful painted boats. Kilwa Kivinje also played an important role in the United States history since most of the slaves from Kilwa Kivinje were shipped to the United States.
There is an attractive palm-fringed beach running along the town, and also extensive mangrove swamp which provides an excellent opportunity for birdwatching and canoe safaris.
For more information on visiting Kilwa Kivinje contact us.
ShareThis
