Livingstone House in Zanzibar: history and can you visit it? (2026)
Livingstone House is an old building put up in the mid-19th century for Sultan Majid (who reigned 1856 to 1870) and lent to missionaries and explorers. David Livingstone is said to have stayed there for some weeks before leaving on his last expedition, in 1866. The sources we found disagree about the place today: one travel source says the building has become a hotel, others describe a historic site. We found no confirmed fee, hours or visiting status: do not build a day around this place.
Highlights
The lanes of Stone Town
Photo of the old town: the house is in the Stone Town built-up area, north of the centre according to a 1910 archive photo.
The explorer's story
Livingstone prepared his last journey towards Lake Malawi and central Africa from Zanzibar; the town was then the great starting point for expeditions.
Sultan Majid's context
The Zanzibar sultanate then housed European travellers and missions.
Practical info
Tips
- Without reliable access information, the simplest is to ask a Stone Town guide whether they can show you the outside on a walking tour. To get inside a sure historical site, visit the House of Wonders, the slave market or the Palace Museum instead. If you want to sleep somewhere linked to Livingstone, check the property's own page before booking.
How to get there
Exact address not confirmed in our sources. Ask a local guide or your Stone Town hotel; everything is on foot or a short taxi ride.
Opening hours
Nearby
See on the map →
Comments
No comments yet.