Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (1981)
United Republic of Tanzania

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The remains of two great East African ports admired by early European explorers are situated on two small islands near the coast. From the 13th to the 16th century, the merchants of Kilwa dealt in gold, silver, pearls, perfumes, Arabian crockery, Persian earthenware and Chinese porcelain; much of the trade in the Indian Ocean thus passed through their hands. 

• Tanzania 1996. 50th anniversary of UNESCO. Kilwa Kisiwani Makutani Complex. 
• Tanzania 2001. Historical Sites of East Africa. Fort Kilwa. 
• Tanzania 2002. Archaeological Discoveries of Tanzania. The Mosque at Kilwa. 

In 2004, the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. 

Sources and links:

• Kilwa Kisiwani, Kilwa Kivinje, Songo Mnara

Other World Heritage Sites in Tanzania (on this site). Please refer to the UNESCO-listing, Tanzania Section, for further information about the individual properties.  

• Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Serengeti National Park
• Selous Game Reserve
• Kilimanjaro National Park
• Stone Town of Zanzibar 
• Kondoa Rock Art Sites