Old Fort of Zanzibar | Our Expert’s Trip Report

The Old Fort seen from Forodhani Gardens Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved

Vendors inside the Old Fort Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved

Open-air amphitheater in the Old Fort Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved

Bastian of the Old Fort — Bastion of the Old Fort Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved

The Old Fort is the longest-surviving building in Stone Town. Also known by the name Ngome Kongwe (literally ‘Old Castle’), this imposing construction is one of the most distinctive architectural landmarks on the Forodhani waterfront.

Its tall, thick coral stone walls enclose an area of roughly 300m²/3,230ft², which now includes an outdoor café and a collection of art and craft stalls. The Old Fort is a popular stop on walking tours through Stone Town, and – rather refreshingly – no entrance fee is charged.

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Historical Background to the Old Fort

Excavations at the Old Fort suggest it was the site of a trade port from the 11th century onward. The Portuguese settled there in 1560 and built a large church in 1598. This church was

expanded to become the present-day fortress after Zanzibar was captured by Omani Arabs in 1698. Originally the fort occupied a prime waterfront defensive location, but it is now separated from the sea by Forodhani Gardens, which stands on reclaimed land.The fort was used as a prison during the last years of Omani rule and remained one after Zanzibar became a British protectorate in 1890. Between 1905 and 1930, it was repurposed as a terminal for a railway line to the town of Bububu. The building fell into disrepair after the . Following extensive renovations in 1997, it is now a cultural center and the focal point of the annual Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF).

Enter the Fort Through the Main Gatehouse

Most people enter the Old Fort through the main gatehouse. This is built into the fort’s sea-facing wall, which stands behind a row of palm trees opposite Forodhani Gardens. The main entrance to the fort

has always been here, but the actual gatehouse is a relatively modern addition. It was designed by the architect Ajit Singh as the headquarters of the Ladies Club in 1948, and restored in the 1990s. By contrast, the studded Zanzibari wood door and its ornately carved frame date back to the Omani era. A randomly staffed tourist information office stands inside the gatehouse and a wooden staircase leads up to a (locked) first-floor gate.

Wander Through the Main Courtyard

The gatehouse leads into the main courtyard, where a large open-air amphitheater added in the 1990s hosts screenings during July’s Zanzibar International Film Festival and occasional live music at other times. The walls of the

courtyard incorporate parts of the original 16th-century Portuguese church and include two large – one round, one four-sided – whose fortified roofs are inaccessible.Several stalls selling paintings and handicrafts stand inside the courtyard, as does a tree-shaded café where you can enjoy a light snack, coffee or chilled drink. Next to the café, a small back entrance leads out to what was formerly the bustling Soko Kuu (main market).

Explore the Second Courtyard

Fortified wall of the Old Fort — Fortified wall of the second courtyard

An arched opening on the west wall of the main courtyard leads through to a larger but emptier second courtyard. This has tall fortified walls on all four sides and large circular on three corners.

A wooden staircase climbs to the first floor of the northwest bastion, which is home to an art gallery. This bastion also offers access to the western , a good viewpoint for getting a feel of the fort’s overall layout.

How To Get to the Old Fort

The Old Fort has a very central location directly opposite Forodhani Gardens. A popular start and end point for guided tours of Stone Town, it is also readily included in a self-guided tour, or can be

visited as a destination in its own right. If you prefer not to walk, ask your hotel to arrange a taxi to take you to the large car park that stands immediately outside the Old Fort’s western wall.

Nearby Attractions

Farm worker on a spice plantation presenting freshly harvested annatto food coloring seed — Annatto food coloring seed seen on a spice tour

Most points of interest in Zanzibar’s Stone Town lie within walking distance of the Old Fort and can be visited in combination with it. Forodhani Gardens, St Joseph’s Cathedral and the Freddie Mercury Museum all lie

within 300m/1,000ft of the Old Fort, and it is only 700m/2,300ft to the Old Slave Market and Anglican Cathedral. If you are staying at an out-of-town beach resort, the Old Fort and other sites in Stone Town are often combined with a boat excursion to Changuu (Prison) Island or a spice tour.

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