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Mombasa is the second biggest city
in Kenya, lying on the Indian Ocean. It has a chief port
and an international airport. Mombasa is one of Africa's
chief tourist targets, with some of the top beaches in
the world. Located on Kenya's Eastern coastline adjacent
to the Indian Ocean, Mombasa has developed into a popular
attraction for its exotic beaches, diverse marine life,
first-class hotels and welcoming people. Mombasa's history,
back dates to the 16th century and it has been ruled by
the Arabs, Portuguese and British-who have all influenced
the town's customs and the magnetisms that still exist
including historical remnants such as Fort Jesus and the
Old Town.
Mombasa being the second largest
city in Kenya, it offers a mass of activities hence it
has become one of the East Africa's greatest attraction
for kids and adults alike such as deep-sea fishing, sunbathing
and even many other water sports. Hotels also slot in
these activities as part of their different entertainment
systems, with the intention of creating the tour to Mombasa
the ultimate vacation experience!
Mombasa has a lot more to offer visitors than just beautiful
beaches. It was a very influential port in the 15th century,
and has played a significant role in laying the foundations
of the nation that it is a part of today. Some of the
popular attractions in the town relate directly to the
historical context, while others seek to complement the
tourism industry that the town thrives on. Here is a list
of major attractions in and around Mombasa:
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| MOMBASA
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: |
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| [a]
Mombasa Haller Park (Formerly Bamburi
Nature Trail) |
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The Bamburi Nature Trail is the
largest animal sanctuary in Mombasa. Located in Bamburi
next to the Cement Factory, the Nature Trail boasts an
enormous variety of animals, reptiles, insects and botanical
gardens. Walking along the trail is the ideal way to look
at the various animals, and on many occasions holding
or feeding a reptile such as a snake is allowed under
close supervision of a guide. Educational videos are also
shown, with emphasis on the the history and continuous
improvement of the trail. It was previously a barren piece
of land that had been stripped of its resources through
limestone mining, and was redeveloped through reforestation
and conservation efforts, and is now a habitat for a large
number of flora and fauna species
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| [b]
Mombasa Fort Jesus |
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Fort Jesus is
Mombasa’s most popular tourist attraction. The
fort, located along the coastline near the Old Town,
is a monumental piece of architecture that was built
in the 16th century by the Portuguese. The fort has
a museum that displays various artifacts from the
era where Mombasa served as a transit point for the
slave trade and commodities, and |
| which enjoyed
regular visits by seafarers and the like. Its interior
comprises of torture rooms and prison cells where
slaves were kept in captivity before being traded.
Weapons such as canons, which were used to defend
the fort from invading foreigners as well as rioting
locals, can be seen both inside and outside of the
fort. The fort opens its gates for viewing in the
morning and closes at dusk. |
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| [c]
Old Town Mombasa |
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“Old Town” is the part
of Mombasa that is reminiscent of the days when the Arabs
exerted a heavy influence on the town and its culture,
and especially in the architecture and language (Kiswahili
has a lot of phrases derived from various Arabic dialects).
It is well known for its ancient buildings, extravagant
art designs and curio shops that sell antique and popular
Kenyan souvenirs. Old Town is best seen when explored
by foot with an experienced guide, as the streets are
too narrow to accommodate a large number of vehicles.
The town’s inhabitants are mostly of Arab origin
who’s forefathers once roamed the same streets of
the town. Fort Jesus is located just a few steps away
from where the town "starts", thus a complete
tour of the fort and the “Old Town” can be done
in a single day.
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| [d]
Mombasa Mamba Village
(Crocodile Farm) |
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| Mamba Village, which is situated
in Nyali, is East Africa’s largest crocodile
farm. A tour of the farm starts with a movie on the
life cycle and behaviour of crocodiles, followed by
a comprehensive tour of the rest of farm, and ends
with the highlight of the day: a spectacular scene
of blood-thirsty crocodiles fighting for food during
feeding time. Excellent cuisine is available at the
Mamba |
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| Restaurant, and
the house specialty is superbly grilled crocodile
meat. Souvenirs of your visit can be bought at the
Mamba Souvenir shop located within the village. |
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| [e]
Mombasa Bombolulu Workshops |
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The Bobmbolulu workshops are located
along the north coast of Mombasa. Founded in 1969, Bombolulu
Workshops is a Project of the Association for the Physically
Disabled in Kenya (APDK). It is a major Tourist attraction
which consists of a Cultural Centre with 8 traditional
homesteads. The Centre also runs a traditional Restaurant
and entertains guests with traditional dances throughout
the day. The Centre is run by the "Association for
the physically disabled" and employs 150-disabled
craftsmen/women who produce jewellery, handprinted textiles,
wood carvings and leather crafts. The products are sold
in a large showroom and exported to 20 countries. Bombolulu
Workshops have grown to be one of the biggest rehabilitation
centres in Kenya and has built a reputation as one of
Kenyans most reliable exporters.
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| [f]
Mombasa Tusks "The Gateway Landmark" |
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The Mombasa "Tusks"
are symbolic representations of entrance into the
heart of the town. The tusks were built to commemorate
the visit of Queen Elizabeth to the town in 1952,
as they lay directly on the path from the port to
the town. Ivory was considered to be an exquisite
commodity during the time, and in essence the tusks
were meant to embrace the Queen |
| and the British
Empire into the town and within its social structure.
Coincidentally the tusks also spell the letter "M"
for Mombasa. |
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| [g]
The Mombasa Hindu Temple |
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The Hindu temple is a one of the
many symbols of Mombasa's cultural diversity. The temple
is a popular tourist spot and a tour can be taken inside
the temple, with a historical background of the temple
given by one of the temple gurus. Extravagant idols and
stone carvings of the various religious beliefs are displayed
within the temple and on its walls. It is located near
the Railway Station just outside the perimeter of the
downtown area.
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| [h]
The Gedi Ruins |
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| On the North coast of Mombasa
towards the town of Malindi lays one the most pre-historic
ruins found in Mombasa, called the Gedi Ruins. Gedi
was a small town built entirely from rocks and stones,
which was inhabited by a few thousand Swahili people
and ruled by a very rich Sultan. These ruins date
back from the 15th century, and through careful preservation
most of the |
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| original foundations
can still be seen today. A well-informed and educated
guide gives a tour of the ruins. The ruins are designated
as a National Museum by law, and their preservation
are a direct reflection of the commitment of the Government
to uphold the country's cultural and historical background. |
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| NB: For more
information regarding this topic, DO NOT hesitate to contact
us. |
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