Why to go there
The island is a small fishing village of about 300 persons. But for centuries, it was the home to a rich and powerful Sultanate that most significantly embraced the entire Swahili Coast. Known as an important trade route, it connected to the ancient gold mines of Zimbabwe. Travellers described Kilwa as being one of the greatest and most beautiful cities in the world.
Kilwa emerged as a thriving trading centre after the land bridge connecting it to the mainland was dug up by the Persians.
Springing up as a market town, Kilwa Masoko is the capital on the mainland and associated with Kilwa Kisiwani on the large island. After the collapse of the city, the majority of the people moved from the island to Kilwa Masoko. About 20km away is Kilwa Kivinji, a pleasant and smaller Swahili town, politically of lesser importance than Kilwa Masoko, which is the capital of the Kilwa district today, in the region of Lindi. Kilwa Masoko is used by most visitors on a Tanzanian Holiday to stay in, using it as a base for visiting the other Kilwas or a Tanzania Safari.
Kilwa Kisiwani is a UNESCO world heritage site containing incredible ruins. Kilwa Kivinji an appealing sleepy little Swahili town, not as popular as the other Kilwas you see on a Tanzanian Holiday. A great deal Kilwa Kivinji is constructed in the conventional styles out of the customary coral-rag. Even though its sights are not as great as Kilwa Kisiwani, it is considered a pleasant enough town in its own right to deem it well worth to take a trip for the day, before launching on a Tanzania Safari.
A guide with thorough information on the history and archaeology is a bit difficult to find, but a few are around on a Tanzania Budget Safari. A guide and a boat are at your disposal at most hotels. If your guide does not have an in-depth knowledge of the ruins, but knows only the locations, there are enough information signs and a useful book with detailed explanations and descriptions of the ruins that you can carry away as a memento.
There are dive centres from the newest hotels, and several of them cater to sports fishermen.
Kilwa is safe. It is a small sleepy township with dirt roads and makes it pleasant for strolls in the morning or when it is cooler in the late afternoon to visit the market and the port, to get a real experience of this excellent Swahili town. It is considered safe to walk around town during the day, but significant caution is advised after dark as there have been incidents where a number of tourists were mugged in recent years. It is always safe to travel in groups or take a taxi / tuk-tuk.
You won’t find any lodgings on Kilwa Kisiwani, but a few Tanzania Budget Safari options in the nearby Kilwa Kivinji. Kilwa Masoko is where most visitors prefer to stay.
When To Go / Weather
Kilwa is a tropical country. The Tanzanian coast experiences a typical tropical weather pattern with high temperatures throughout the year. Characterised with year round rainfall, two seasonal peaks caused by the change in equatorial winds by the earth's rotation is evidenced in relation to the sun.
It is a very difficult, to predict the weather at a certain time in a particular place. Any traveller would like to get acquainted with the climate conditions in advance to be able to organise their future trip. A study of the average temperatures or rainfall can facilitate in getting a good idea.
The temperatures mentioned are expressed in degrees Celsius and correspond to the monthly averages experienced over a period of several years.
The rainfall graph can also be useful in determining the better time to set out on a trip.
TANZANIA - KILWA: Climate, temperatures, precipitation, sunshine
Average Temperatures
 |
Rainfall in mm
 |
Common with most of Tanzania, July to October is when the weather is at its best. Winds are from the Southeast and relatively mild.
Usually in early November the winds change course, coming from the northeast and is known to be strong, bringing a high precipitation comparatively. It is felt to be particularly hot and humid during this time. However, it is relatively unpredictable year on year. Lodges facing north and east are likely to face the wind. It will result in their view of the ocean being choppy and grey rather than the azure blue calm of other seasons.
During December to March, the winds usually continue from the northeast. Rainfall will slightly drop from November, and the temperatures should ease up a little. The rain will still be around from time to time with hazy clouds at times, but overall, this is well thought-out to be a splendid time to be on this coast.
Usually, in early April, the winds suddenly move violently to the south and southeast. It brings a remarkable increase in rainfall, with often precipitous rain every day for two months. Temperatures remain high, but in between the rain, very pleasant and sunny spells can be experienced. Even though, most lodges are closed during this period, a few that does stay open. These are inclined to do reasonable business, especially amongst the expatriate population of Dar es Salaam, who are more equipped to take their chances with the weather between April to May.
The rains ought to have largely died down by June, but the month is known for its winds, which persist in coming in from the southeast side. The winds are no stronger than the months preceding. It is because there are more guests in the lodges to experience them. Mainly exposed are the Lodges facing south and should possibly be avoided at this time.
Extra Information
Big game fishing, sailing and diving from the offshore reefs and expeditions canoeing into mangrove swamps are some of the favourite activities in Kilwa.
Temperature - Precipitation
| ||||||||
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
June
| |||
Average high in °C
|
31
|
31
|
31
|
31
|
31
|
30
| ||
Average low in °C
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
23
|
22
|
21
| ||
Av. precipitation - mm
|
135
|
114
|
175
|
213
|
63
|
15
| ||
July
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
| |
Average high in °C
|
29
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
31
|
31
|
Average low in °C
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
24
|
Av. precipitation - mm
|
8
|
13
|
20
|
18
|
48
|
114
|
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