Cruise ships now docking at Kilwa Island

In the past four weeks the historical archipelago has received over 850 high-end tourists sailing into Kilwa Kisiwani aboard luxury liners. Numerous cruise ships are expected to drop their anchors there in the coming months, public authorities affirm.

Christopher Ndubiagai, the district commissioner, said here yesterday that the precinct with its glass-clear sea waters and soft beach sand is enabling visitors to skip crowded destinations for the pristine cocoon.

Since the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) took control of the Kilwa Kisiwani there have been major improvements, he said, noting that the walkways are well paved, with a concrete pier for easy access by passengers from docked vessels to land.

There are also comfortable hotel facilities in case one wants to take a rest,” he further stated, while TAWA board chairman Maj. Gen, (rtd) Khamis Semfukwe earlier said that upwards of 15 cruise ships are expected to anchor at Kilwa in the course of this year.

Six cruise ships are expected to arrive during March, while for the rest of the year a luxury liner or two will be sailing into the island each month, he said.

TAWA has on the other hand restored classical ruins in Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara.

With coral and lime mortar, the ancient structures include the great mosque, the main palace and little palace, several other mosques, public squares and the prison, all featuring in explaining Kilwa as among the seven World Heritage Sites for Tanzania listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

As more tourists flock to Kilwa the latest luxury liner, Le Bougainville, a floating luxury hotel run by French cruise ship operator Ponant, docked at Kisiwani with 140 tourists among them French, Chinese and German travellers.

Ponant le Bougainville had previously called port at Zanzibar and from Kilwa it will be heading to the Seychelles.

A second Ponant luxury cruise ship is already on the way to Kilwa with more than 150 visitors aboard, the TAWA executive added.