Travel to Mikindani

the start point for Livingstone’s final journey

Set on the remote southern coast of Tanzania, Mikindani is a forgotten backwater.

This small town was once one of the most important Arab trading stations on the East Coast. It was famously the starting point for Livingstone’s final journey into the interior in 1866.

But since the establishment of a deepwater harbour at nearby Mtwara, Mikindani has become a forgotten backwater.

It is now little more than a rural village, except for the remains of the many historic buildings which serve as reminders of a more illustrious past.

The town is crowned by a fabulous German fort, surrounded by endless palm tree plantations and pretty Swahili villages. The fort has been converted into a very interesting and unusual hotel, which provides a wide range of activities with day trips far and wide.

The area can be visited at any time of year, but the Mar-May rains are usually best avoided.

Getting there

Mikindani is usually accessed by scheduled air services from Dar es Salaam into Mtwara, from where it is about an hour by road.

In the past, we have organised overland safaris which combine the wildlife reserves of Ruaha and Selous, before turning south down the coast and visiting the historic Kilwa area, before reaching Mikindani. However, these are very rare and niche trips, which only tend to appeal to guests with a specific interest, such as German colonial history or palaeontology.

occasionally features in epic overland explorations