To find the ruined ports and amazing relics of Kilwa, you'll need to venture off the usual tourist-safari trails of Tanzania. A UNESCO World Heritage tag, tales of maverick gold merchants, and haunting visions of half-ruined mosques and markets makes it worth it. 

Kilwa actually refers to a trio of areas on the Indian Ocean coast of Tanzania. Together, they offer a glimpse into the 16th- century trading past of East Africa. Kilwa Kisiwani is unquestionably the most famous. It is a ghost town on an island of its own; a place of crumbling trading houses and depots, haunted by the spectres of Swahili fishermen and traders. Wandering here with a dedicated Kilwa tour guide unravels enthralling tales of Persian kings and elaborate mosque architecture. Then comes Kilwa Kivinje. A sobering remnant of the African Slave Trade that dates from the early 1800s, IT IS now home to a sparkling beachfront and rustic fishing hamlets. The third area, Kilwa Masoko is the modern side of the region, hosting a clutch of guesthouses and restaurants.