MARUHUBI RUINS
The Palace is named after its former owner an Arab from the Al-Marhubi tribe, the 3rd Sultan of Zanzibar, Sultan Barghash 1880-1882 for housing his wife and up to 100 concubines. The ruins of Marhubi are only four km North of Zanzibar Town, just a few steps from the beach.
Today the sandy beach behind the palace is used by local fishermen as a sort of informal shipyard, where they build and fix their traditional wooden fishing dhows using only hand tools.
Marhubi palace was destroyed by fire 1899 leaving few remains including large stone columns which had once supported a large wooden balcony that circumnavigated the upper floor. Separate bathrooms for the women and the Sultan’s own large bathroom can still be viewed.
The sensational view of the grounds spotted with shade trees, large lawn areas, and the original water reservoirs which now overgrown with water lilies and large mango trees once imported from India would easily create a beautiful imagination of magical garden where the royal elite would entertain their guests.
