In 1888, the Abushiri revolt, a major uprising against German colonial rule in German East Africa, prompted the navy to send reinforcements to the colony. "Pfeil" was recommissioned on 12 November to join the unprotected cruiser , which were to be deployed there. While on the way, "Pfeil" suffered storm damage in the North Sea and had to stop in Plymouth for repairs that delayed her arrival until 4 January 1889. Upon reaching the area, she joined the East Africa Squadron, under the command of "Konteradmiral" Karl August Deinhard, who flew his flag in the screw corvette . Deinhard initially ordered "Pfeil" to take up blockade duties along the coast from Bagamoyo to Mafia Island. On 1 March, he sent "Pfeil" to patrol off Zanzibar; over the course of her time on blockade duty, she inspected 411 merchant ships, the most of any warship in the unit. "Leipzig", "Pfeil", and "Schwalbe" shelled Saadani on 6 June and sent men ashore to attack rebels there. "Pfeil" was the first steel-hulled, unrigged warship ever sent by Germany to its African colonies, though her steel hull rendered her unsuitable to long-term deployments to the tropics, and she was detached on 29 September to return home.