The ruins of Maruhubi Palace stand 4 km north of Zanzibar Town, on the edge of the beach. This free-entry site preserves the memory of a 19th-century sultanial palace ravaged by fire in 1899, then looted in 1964. Today it offers a blend of architectural remains and scenes of maritime life.

Why visit Maruhubi

The site combines three rarely seen interests on the island of Zanzibar. First, a rare testimony to the residential architecture of the Omani sultanate: coral stone pillars, Persian-style baths and pools now hidden beneath water lilies. Second, a direct reading of Zanzibar's history, spanning sultanial construction, the 1899 fire and the events of 1964. Finally, a living setting: behind the palace, the beach serves as an informal shipyard where fishermen repair their traditional dhows. The visit is brief (allow 45 minutes to 1.5 hours) and easily fits into a half-day trip north of Stone Town.

History of the Palace

The property originally belonged to a man of the Al-Marhuby tribe, who gave it his name. Sultan Said Bargash, who ruled Zanzibar from 1870 to 1888, acquired it during his reign and set about building a pleasure palace designed to house his wives and concubines. Oral tradition speaks of 99 inhabitants—a figure better understood as a symbol of prestige than as documented fact, much like the stories surrounding the pools and court rituals.

The entire complex was built of coral stone and wood, with an upper storey surrounded by a wide balcony. Bargash commissioned the high perimeter walls after his 1875 trip to England, where the architecture of grand estates had impressed him. Fire ravaged the palace in 1899, destroying the wooden structure. In 1964, during the revolutionary events that ended the sultanate, the remaining gilt and marble were removed. The site was never rebuilt.

What You See Today

The remains are concentrated on open, flat ground overlooking the sea. Several elements merit attention:

• The stone pillars of the main building, which once supported the wooden balcony lost in the fire.
• The Persian-style baths, with a separate bathtub attributed to the sultan and spaces for his wives.
• The water reservoirs, now overgrown with water lilies, which fed the baths and gardens.
• A series of arches and steps to the north of the site, leading towards the beach: these are the remains of a reception area.
• The old lawns dotted with shade trees, which reveal the park's layout.

The Beach Behind

Behind the ruins, the beach is used as an informal shipyard. Fishermen repair traditional dhows using hand tools and make nets. The ground is often covered with small dried fish laid flat in the sun—watch where you step. This section gives the site a contemporary dimension that few other ruins on the island offer.

Practical Information

• Admission: free, no ticket office.
• Duration of visit: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on your pace.
• Equipment: closed-toe shoes (uneven ground, dried fish on the beach), water, sun protection.
• Guide: not required but useful for historical context; local guides may offer themselves on site.
• Photography: permitted, interesting light late morning and late afternoon.

When to Visit

The site is open-air. It can be visited year-round but is most pleasant during the dry season, mainly from June to October, as well as from late December to February. The rains of March-May (long rains) and November (short rains) make the remains slippery and the beach less accessible. Prefer mornings before 11am or late afternoon to avoid the most intense heat.

How to Get There

From Stone Town, you reach Maruhubi via the main road heading north towards the village of Bububu. The Livingstone House is on the right; the palace sign appears a few kilometres further on the left. Several options:

• Dala-dala (local minibus) heading to Bububu: get off just after the palace entrance.
• Taxi from Stone Town: short journey, negotiate the price in advance.
• Bicycle or scooter: the road is flat and well marked.

Nearby Attractions

Maruhubi sits on a historic attractions axis north of Stone Town. Easily combined with:

• The ruins of Mtoni Palace, another sultanial residence, a few kilometres to the north.
• The Livingstone House, the explorer's former base, on the same road.
• The Kiwengwa forest, further northeast on the island, for a nature-focused day.
• The Amboni caves on the mainland, for those extending the journey to the Tanga side.

Plan Your Trip

The Maruhubi ruins fit naturally into an itinerary combining Stone Town, the beaches of the island's north and the interior. To build a tailor-made itinerary including Zanzibar and the mainland, consult our travels in Tanzania.