The Mangapwani slave chamber is a cavity cut into coral limestone, about 20 km north of Stone Town, where captives were reportedly hidden after the official abolition of the slave trade. It is attributed to a slave trader, Mohammed bin Nassor Al-Alawi, and dated to 1880 by a caving website, which says the illegal trade went on until 1905. You see it in about an hour on the spot, usually with a guide, on a half-day trip from Stone Town. No official site was found: the fees and hours below come from guides and booking sites read in October 2026, so confirm them before you go.
Highlights
The entrance to the chamber
A staircase goes down into the rock towards two rooms. The original wooden roof is gone, replaced by concrete, but the cavity and the stairs are still there. One source speaks of more than 50 people held on each side, separated by sex.
The beach nearby
Captives were landed from boats on the beach before being hidden in the chamber, then sent on to Zanzibar or Oman according to the same sources.
The Coral Cave
A separate site, a natural cave with a freshwater pool, often paired with the visit. Do not confuse it with the slave chamber; some tours combine them, and the coral cave needs good weather according to one listing.
Practical info
Tips
- Entry is modest but sources contradict each other: about 12,000 TZS for the guided visit according to one guide, 5 dollars according to one review, and 1,000 TZS for the coral cave in a 2011 listing. Organised trips with transport cost much more: about 80 dollars per person for 5 hours with the coral cave, and 96 dollars for a small group on one platform. A guide changes the visit a lot: without explanation you mostly see an empty cavity. The last stretch of road is dirt. To round off the day, see the former slave market and Anglican cathedral and the spice tour, often combined with Mangapwani.
How to get there
About 20 km north of Stone Town, by private taxi, on an organised tour (hotel pickup, about 4 to 5 hours in all) or by hire car, with a last stretch on a track. Agree the return fare with the driver before leaving. If you prefer to drive, you can rent a car for the day.
Opening hours
Nearby
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