RUINS OF KILWA

The ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani are a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on an island off the southern coast of Tanzania. These ruins are remnants of a once prosperous and influential trading port city that flourished from the 9th to the 19th century. Kilwa Kisiwani was a key hub along the Swahili Coast, connecting East Africa with the Arabian Peninsula, India, and China through trade routes across the Indian Ocean.

The ruins feature impressive structures such as the Great Mosque, which is one of the oldest standing mosques in East Africa, and the Gereza Fort, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Additionally, there are remnants of palaces, residential areas, and ancient tombs scattered throughout the site.