Mangapwani Coral Cave Tour

Duration

3 Hours (Approximately)

Max Group Size

100 People

Minimum Age

Children with 3 Years & Above

Meeting & Pickup

Any place of stay in Zanzibar

Overview

Mangapwani Slave Chambers were built by Mohammed Bin Nassor Al-Alwi around 1880 from the cave and connected to the seaside 2kms away, the area is surrounded by varieties of indigenous trees such as Breadfruit, Rambo tans and scent shrubs. It was an important transit point for the captured slaves to be sold to the outside world at the time of the abolishment of slavery in 1873, especially in the Middle East. Between 1880-1905, the Slave chamber was used as a place of concealment of human cargo pending their disposal. A utilized as a hideout by the Arabs for their human cargo ready for shipment.

Tour Highlights

  • The Slave Trade – A historical background
  • Visit Mangapwani Ruins & Caves

Included/Excluded

  • Pick up and drop off from your hotel in private car with air condition from Stone Town Area
  • Service of Informative, friendly and Experienced Professional Tour guide
  • Waiting Charge, Fuel Surcharges & Service Fees
  • VAT (18% charged by the Government)
  • All Entrances Fees
  • Drinks & Beverages (Champagne, Spirits, Premium Brands and Cigars)
  • Travel/Medical Insurance if needed
  • Gratuities for Guides/Drivers (please tip separately)
  • Any domestic connection flights on arrival or departure
  • Expenses of a personal Nature

Tour Plan

What You Can Expect

Mangapwani (meaning “Arab Shore”) lies on the coast, about 20km north of Zanzibar Town. The Coral Cave is a deep natural cavern in the coralline rock with a narrow entrance and a pool of fresh water at its lowest point. Water was probably collected from here by early inhabitants of this part of the island but at some time in the past vegetation grew across the entrance and the exact position of the cavern was forgotten.

Later, the area became the property of a wealthy Arab landowner called Hamed Salim el Hathy who had many slaves working on his plantations. During this time, the cavern was rediscovered by a young boy searching for a lost goat. Local people were able to use the water again, and Hamed Salim arranged for his slaves to collect the water regularly for his own use. It has been suggested by historians that the cave may have been used as a hiding place for slaves after the trade was officially abolished in 1873.

The Mangapwani Slave Chamber is a few kilometers further up the coast from the Coral Cave. Although sometimes called the Slave Cave, it is a square-shaped cell that has been cut out of coralline rock, with a roof on top. It was originally built for storing slaves, and its construction is attributed to one Mohammed bin Nassor Al-Alwi, an important slave trader.

Boats from the mainland would unload their human cargo on the nearby beach, and the slaves would be kept here before being taken to Zanzibar Town for resale, or to plantations on the island. It is thought that sometime after 1873, when Sultan Barghash signed the Anglo – Zanzibari treaty which officially abolished the slave trade, the cave was used as a place to hide slaves, as an illicit trade continued for many years.

Tour Map

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Min - Max (Persons) Adult Price Children Price
1 - 1 $120.00 $60.00
2 - 2 $60.00 $30.00
3 - 4 $50.00 $25.00
5 - 6 $45.00 $22.00
7 - 12 $35.00 $17.00
13 - 100 $30.00 $15.00