The Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)

The Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)

The Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)
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  • graham e
    Birkenhead, United Kingdom581 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Plenty of history but not much to see
    Close to the sea front and on the main tourist route. Arabian, British and Portuguese ownership have shaped this crumbling fort. Open air amphitheatre with live music performances and small tourist shops selling the usual tourist nik naks
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 February 2024
  • Aruna Gunawardena
    Colombo, Sri Lanka5,721 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Old Fort Covered With Vendors
    What is most interesting is that the Old Fort is now full of people selling souvenirs. Because of this the true picture of this ancient fort cannot be seen. I think the government should organise another place for all vendors. May be around the night market
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 28 May 2024
  • Ariberna
    Ourense, Spain3,416 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    obligatory visit
    The old fort, historical memory and is in place UNESCO Stone Town. It is a must visit to the old fort, with a few shops and an open-air theater where they make the Zanzibar festival important. They could have it better exploited and taken care of.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 24 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

3.0
3.0 of 5 bubbles805 reviews
Excellent
89
Very good
193
Average
371
Poor
117
Terrible
35

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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laurence guill... L
Armentieres, France471 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
These are the ruins of an old fort which still deserves a look because it is one of the historical monuments of Stown Town.
Entrance is free and it takes less than an hour for the visit.
Unfortunately, only the 4 surrounding walls remain. The interior is empty except for the remains of an ancient amphitheater and a plethora of stalls selling souvenirs at exorbitant prices.

Google
Written 16 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Toblje
Zurich, Switzerland8,429 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
The fort was built around 1700 by Omani Arabs after they replaced the Portuguese as rulers of the island. At one point it also served as a prison. Today it is open to the public. There is not much to see other than the outer walls. A few souvenir stalls have been set up in the inner courtyard and a Roman theater has been built in which performances are held from time to time. After about 15 minutes you have seen everything and are back outside. As in many places on Zanzibar, there is still a lot of tourist potential here.
Google
Written 5 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EVA122014
Italy20,923 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Friends
During the Stone town tour with our guide Kassim, a visit to the Old Fort was unmissable, one of the main attractions, the imposing structure built in stone is located next to the Palace of Wonders. Built at the end of the 17th century by the Omani Arabs to protect themselves from attacks by the Portuguese, the fort was later used as a prison, storage of materials, barracks, now inside there are shops selling local craft souvenirs, the square is used as theater, where major events and concerts take place, and there is also a cultural club. We were staying at the Meru Meru Hotel which is located just a few steps from the Fort, the view from the terrace was also beautiful.
Google
Written 4 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kathi X
11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Couples
The Old Fort itself is a nice old building that is worth a short visit. The music performances in the evening by the Zanzibar Music Cultural Center are an absolute must-see. We visited a performance of traditional taarab music, which was just stunning. They also have Afrojazz sessions on other evenings. Get your tickets in advance at the Old Fort.
Written 19 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kevin S
Pontypridd, UK7,109 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
Free to enter, despite perhaps efforts at the beach road entrance to encourage a 'donation'. There are also a side and rear door you can walk in through unhindered. I don't think the traders inside the Fort, or the very nice cafe, would be happy with reduced numbers if charges were applied.
No historic features other than the old unrestored walls and turrets. But don't be put off by a few shop out-lets, this really is a good, and perhaps only, real piece of Stonetown history available.
Written 8 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mohamed S
Al-Ansab, Oman9 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
visited the fort in August. its presence over the old stone town as a landmark on the beach front is quiet significant. However, the lack of utilization of the fort facilities is a missed opportunity.

So much can be done within the fort walls and its surroundings, things like an actual museum with integrated shopping and F&B outlets plus utilizing the theater grounds for events and concerts more often than what it is for at the moment
Written 30 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Haytham Abu Firas
Qatar21,087 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Solo
The Old Fort, known as the Arab Fort and by other names, is a fortification located in Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar. It is the oldest building and a major visitor attraction of Stone Town. It is located on the main seafront, adjacent to another landmark building of the city, the House of Wonders (former palace of the Sultan of Zanzibar), and facing the Forodhani Gardens.
Nice theater in the middle, huge and fortified walls, many souvenirs shops and art gallery on the top.
Written 13 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MatthewASharp
Torquay, UK2,459 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Couples
Interesting history with a paid entrance, of which I didn't partake

The external walls along with its stonework could be restored and cleaned, but as it's Africa. It's gonna stay like this, which is a shame

Please read the history notices around its external walls to help explain is inception and subsequent additions and flourishes

I'm in two minds as to the internal usage for, yet more stalls selling the usual artworks, carved gifts and clothing. Yes it's colourful, and blends and adds colour to the fort but I still think it should be as is
Written 17 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

nojus
Lithuania2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Couples
When you are in Zanzibar don't miss to visit this museum. The old fort in swahili ngome kongwe .The building was built by the Arabs when they defeated the Portuguese in 1698. Very Important history to know about Zanzibar. My tour guide Suleiman gave us history about the British,Portuguese and the Arabs.
To know a lot it's better to get a guide .we really recommend Suleiman +255756983368.if you love history this is a place to visit
Written 5 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hermes_NL 🇳🇱
Amsterdam, The Netherlands21,648 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Solo
The Old Fort is an impressive and dominant structure to see in Stone Town. You will be taken there on a tour of the city. Interesting that it is still very much in use as a theatre and as an art gallery, as well as residence of numerous trinket sellers.
Written 10 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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The Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe), Stone Town

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