kymnjoro
Elder Lister
Lost Cities of Kenya – Echoes of a Forgotten Past
Kenya hides in its soil and forests the stories of thriving cities that once buzzed with trade, culture, and power — now silent, but not forgotten. Here are some of our most fascinating ancient sites:
Gedi Ruins – Kilifi County:
A 12th–17th century Swahili trading town, abandoned mysteriously in the 1600s. Coral stone houses, mosques, and palaces now sleep under a forest canopy.
Mnarani Ruins – Kilifi County:
Two ancient mosques & tombs (14th century) perched over Kilifi Creek, left behind after Portuguese raids disrupted trade.
Takwa Ruins – Manda Island:
A peaceful 16th–17th century settlement, deserted after water scarcity and conflict with neighbors.
Shanga Ruins – Pate Island:
One of the oldest Swahili towns (8th–15th century), an early hub of Islam in East Africa, mysteriously abandoned.
Ungwana (Faza) Ruins – Tana Delta/Pate:
A 14th–17th century port city that fell after Somali and Portuguese attacks.
Thimlich Ohinga – Migori County:
A massive stone fortress (15th century or older) guarding the western highlands, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Manda Town – Manda Island:
Flourished in the 9th–15th century before trade routes shifted.
Kaya Forest Settlements – Coastal Kenya:
Sacred, fortified villages of the Mijikenda (16th–19th century), abandoned but still revered.
Every ruin has a story. Every stone has a memory. These sites are Kenya’s ancient whispers, reminding us of our place in the long river of history.
Kenya hides in its soil and forests the stories of thriving cities that once buzzed with trade, culture, and power — now silent, but not forgotten. Here are some of our most fascinating ancient sites:
Gedi Ruins – Kilifi County:
A 12th–17th century Swahili trading town, abandoned mysteriously in the 1600s. Coral stone houses, mosques, and palaces now sleep under a forest canopy.
Mnarani Ruins – Kilifi County:
Two ancient mosques & tombs (14th century) perched over Kilifi Creek, left behind after Portuguese raids disrupted trade.
Takwa Ruins – Manda Island:
A peaceful 16th–17th century settlement, deserted after water scarcity and conflict with neighbors.
Shanga Ruins – Pate Island:
One of the oldest Swahili towns (8th–15th century), an early hub of Islam in East Africa, mysteriously abandoned.
Ungwana (Faza) Ruins – Tana Delta/Pate:
A 14th–17th century port city that fell after Somali and Portuguese attacks.
Thimlich Ohinga – Migori County:
A massive stone fortress (15th century or older) guarding the western highlands, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Manda Town – Manda Island:
Flourished in the 9th–15th century before trade routes shifted.
Kaya Forest Settlements – Coastal Kenya:
Sacred, fortified villages of the Mijikenda (16th–19th century), abandoned but still revered.
Every ruin has a story. Every stone has a memory. These sites are Kenya’s ancient whispers, reminding us of our place in the long river of history.
