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Lying on the edge of what was once the most influential trading port on the East African coastline, The Slow Leopard Kilwa offers the perfect gateway into the ancient region of Kilwa. The island of Kilwa Kisiwani is home to a ruined city dating back to the 14th century and was recently listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. An afternoon exploring these ruins is reason enough to visit this charming fishing village, before beginning to explore the nearby waterways, reefs, and beaches.
No trip to Kilwa is complete without some time on the ocean, whether it be snorkelling, sunset cruises, fishing trips or even a transfer out to the islands of Kilwa Kisiwani or Songo Mnaro, you can be sure that the Slow Leopard has you covered.
The Slow Leopard Kilwa is privileged to have access to an operating fleet of ocean-going boats that can carry groups or can privately charter for any of the above-listed activities. So relax and let our experienced skippers show you the best of what Kilwa has to offer.
Karibu the Slow Leopard Kilwa!
Accomodation
At the Slow Leopard Kilwa, we have rooms for groups of allsizes. For our budget independent travellers, we invite you to check out our dorm room. With 4 bunk beds, ceiling fans, mosquito nets, private lockers, and individual charging stations, plus breakfast included, we think it's an absolute bargain at $20.
For groups of friends, we have two triple rooms available, these rooms sport three single beds, again with all the trappings, for just 60 bucks, perfect for splitting with a couple of mates.
Lastly, for couples (and really close friends) we have our double room, a single double mattress with a single mosquito net drape. Again this room has a ceiling fan, charging station and breakfast included.
All rooms have locking doors and separate keys can be provided. Breakfast is included and involves fresh fruit from the market, homemade granola and yogurt as well as eggs on toast. The perfect start to the day.
Bar & Restaurant
Meal times at Slow Leopard Kilwa are special – the large open-air dining area offers the perfect opportunity to mingle with fellow travellers and guests. All our meals are fixed menu with set times, allowing guests to opt in or out. These communal meals bring guests together and allow us to dish up big portions for you guys without breaking the bank!
From fresh seafood caught in the bay to our homemade bread and granola, not to mention our famous curry night, the Slow Leopard prides itself on dishing up the best food in any locality. We even have our own pizza oven, serving up the best pizzas in Kilwa!
The adjacent bar offers a relaxed setting. It's the perfect place to mingle with fellow guests or even to grab a couple of drinks and head up to the terrace to watch the sunset. Cold drinks are available throughout the day with Tanzanian beers and a selection of wines and spirits to suit any time of day. Guests can even borrow a cool box to take out on the water.
Getting there/away
Slow Leopard Kilwa is easily accessed by tar road from Dar es Salaam in approximately 4.5 hours. We recommend leaving early in the morning or mid-morning to beat the traffic out of Dar. When arriving in Kilwa Masoko continue on the main road through town, just after the petrol station on the left you will see a sign indicating The Slow Leopard Kilwa. Follow the road around eventually passing the soccer pitch, where you will see another sign indicating the final turn.
Kilwa Masoko is also easily accessible by bus from Dar es Salaam's southern bus terminal, Rangi tatu. There are a number of bus companies running routes to Kilwa Masoko, most of which leave between 5-7am and take around 6 hours to arrive. If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed with the ticket purchasing process, then hit up the team at Slow Leopard Dar and they will be more than happy to arrange the ticket and a taxi out to the bus station in the morning.
Coastal Aviation will fly to Kilwa if there are more than 5 passengers. The Slow Leopard can organise transport by private bus or car return from Dar. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
If you have questions about any of the travel options above, please don’t hesitate to contact us. For self-driving guests, we have ample on-site parking and 24 hour security.
