Songo Mnara, Archaeological site in southern Tanzania.
The stone and coral ruins rise above coconut palms on an island, containing six mosques, four cemeteries, and multiple residential blocks within its boundaries.
Between the 14th and 16th centuries, Songo Mnara functioned as a central trading port connecting East Africa with merchants from Arabia, India, and China.
The settlement incorporated spaces specifically designed for hosting foreign merchants, facilitating extended stays that led to cultural exchanges throughout the Indian Ocean region.
Access to the site requires a one-hour boat journey from Masoko, with local guides available to explain the archaeological significance of different structures.
The city emerged as a single planned development rather than gradual growth, preserving an untouched layout that reveals precise details about medieval Swahili urban planning.
GPS coordinates: -9.03907,39.55191
Latest update: March 4, 2025 07:10
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