Tongoni Ruins

Tongoni Ruins is an archaeological site along Tanzania's coast featuring around forty standing tombs and the remains of a mosque set on a small area. The structures are surrounded by baobab and mangrove trees that give the location its distinctive character.

The site was built in the 14th and 15th centuries when the area thrived as a major Swahili trading hub along the Indian Ocean. This prosperous period left behind the structures and layouts that remain visible today.

Local families use the site as a place to remember their ancestors, conducting ceremonies near the tombs as part of their spiritual practices. The ruins serve as a living connection between past and present for the community.

The site sits about 21 kilometers south of Tanga City and is reached by heading toward Pangani along the coastal road, passing through distinctive landscape. Visitors should allow time to wander among the tombs and appreciate the setting near the ocean.

Archaeologists uncovered around seven thousand handmade ceramic pieces at the location, showing how far the trade connections of this region extended. These findings suggest goods were exchanged across vast distances through Indian Ocean networks.