Pujini Ruins

Ruins of a Fortified Town

Around 10km south east of Chake Chake, near the village of Pujini, are the remains of a fortified town built around the 15th century, and unique on the coast of East Africa.  Various legends surrounding the ruins are probably more interesting than the site itself, which is largely overgrown and bearing little resemblance to the formerly impressive structure with ramparts, high walls, watchtowers and a moat. 

It is thought to have been built under the command of a tyrannical ruler named Mohammad bin Abdulrahman, whose reputation for cruelty struck fear into the hearts of men from Kenya to Comoros.  This merchant and part-time pirate with a passion for building boats and mosques is also known locally as Mkame Ndume, the milker of men, after his people were forced to carry the large stones for the fortress while shuffling along on their buttocks. 

Today, all that can be seen are the thick outer walls, more than a metre wide, and the crumbling remains of a large stairway and watch tower, although archeologists have also uncovered the vestiges of three large buildings, an underground shrine and chamber inside the walls.  There are also the remnants of a two-chambered well, which legend has it, was used by two wives who lived in separate parts of the palace and never met.  The  ruins can be reached on foot from Chake Chake, but it is a long walk and easier to travel by hired car or bike.

Pemba Lodges with Style

Our team at Specialist Tanzania regularly visit Pemba's growing choice of accommodation to check on hotel quality, service levels and new developments. Here's our choice of Pemba lodges which offer a nice mix of style, location, ambience and service. To include your choice in any of the holidays we offer, just contact us for a quote!

> Fundu Lagoon
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