Mikindani

Mikindani sits on a sheltered mangrove bay in the far south and was the main port of the region before Mtwara was built, a Swahili town of coral-block houses and carved doors with a nineteenth-century trading history including the caravan routes inland. Livingstone set out from here on his last journey in 1866. The German boma of 1895 stands above the town, restored as a hotel, and the old market building and slave market ruins survive in the streets below.

What to look for

• The German boma - an 1895 administrative building above the town, now restored.
• The Swahili houses - coral-block buildings with carved doors in the old streets.
• The mangrove bay - the sheltered harbour that made the town's trade.
• The Livingstone connection - the departure point of his final journey in 1866.

When to go

June to October is the dry season and the most comfortable. The long rains from March to May are heavy on this coast. Humidity is high year round.

Things to know

The town is very quiet and there is little to do beyond walking it. Many historic buildings are decaying. Getting to the far south takes a long time by road or a flight to Mtwara.

Nearby

Mtwara is east, and the Makonde Plateau is inland.

Key facts