Old Fort of Zanzibar
Ngome Kongwe
The oldest building in Stone Town, constructed in the late 17th century after the Omanis drove out the Portuguese. Inside the walls, you will find an open-air amphitheater, craft stalls, and cafés.
The Old Fort was built around 1699. Its ochre walls and battlements are well preserved. The inner courtyard is free to enter and has a visitor information desk, craft and textile stalls, and an amphitheater that seats several hundred people, where taarab music and traditional dance performances are sometimes held in the evening. Every February, the Sauti za Busara festival, one of East Africa's best-known music festivals, takes place here. The fort faces Forodhani Gardens and is within walking distance from anywhere in the old town.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–22:00
Nearby sights
- Forodhani Gardens Night Market
- House of Wonders
- St. Joseph's Cathedral
- Palace Museum (Beit al-Sahel)
- Freddie Mercury Museum
- Hamamni Persian Baths
- Christ Church Cathedral & Old Slave Market
- Darajani Market