For six years, "Philomel" served on station, intercepting slave traders along the coast of Africa. In 1896, she participated in the Anglo-Zanzibar War, during which rebels murdered the Sultan of Zanzibar and seized his palace. Along with the three gunboats and , she bombarded the palace fortress and the only ship of the Zanzibar Navy, . This action lasted less than an hour and resulted in the routing of the rebels. The following year, "Philomel" was transferred to the West Africa component of the Cape of Good Hope Station and participated in the Benin Expedition.