Established in 1906 as a mission station in German East Africa, the monastery is currently home to 71 monks.

[1] The first Missionary Benedictines arrived in German East Africa in 1887, following the creation of the Prefecture Apostolic of South Zanzibar.

A first mission, established at Pugu near Dar-es-Salaam, ended in disaster, as three missionaries were killed and four kidnapped during the anti-colonial Bushiri uprising.

Efforts at evangelization continued, with mission stations being opened throughout southeast German East Africa.

Located in southern Tanzania, 100 km from the Indian Ocean, the station would serve a population previously cared for by the missions of Nyangao and Lukuledi.

Aided by indigenous catechists, missionaries built a number of schools throughout the area, and proceeded to instruct young boarders.

The sisters managed a dispensary and a hospital to care for the local population, created a leprosarium, and eventually established an accredited nursing school.

Following the German defeat in World War I, the British governor of Tanganyika expelled the missionary Benedictines from the area.

World War II brought the internment of the German missionaries at Ndanda Abbey.

Two years later, Abbot-Bishop Viktor ordained Faustin Bwenje, the first indigenous priest of the Abbatia Nullius of Ndanda.

Christian Temu OSB was elected as his successor on 25 March 2021 and received the Abbatial blessing on 8 July 2021 by Bishop Titus Joseph Mdoe.