Kilwa is a city in Southeast Tanzania.
Kilwa Masoko sprang up as the market town associated with the thriving Arab city-state of Kilwa Kisiwani on the large island surrounded by the Kilwa Bay. Over time the city-state collapsed and the brunt of the population moved off the island to Kilwa Masoko. Kilwa Kivinji is an pleasant Swahili town smaller and politically less important than Kilwa Masoko about 20km away. Today Kilwa Masoko is the capital of the Kilwa district in the Lindi region. Most visitors stay in Kilwa Masoko and use it as a base for visiting the other two Kilwas
