Mombasa City
Kenya
This Coastal town located on
the South Eastern part of Kenya undoubtedly has one of the best white sandy beaches and coral reefs that Africa has to offer.Coupled
with an array of hotels on the beachfront situated along the North and South coasts of the town and its rich history, Mombasa
is characterized as the ideal place for a vacation thus is a major tourist destination.
The town is most popular
for its exciting nightlife with many nightclubs all of which have different themes that cater to different crowds.For a truly
Kenyan experience, a ride in a Matatu which is the most common form of transportation within the town is quite a unique adventure.
The most common language spoken here is Swahili, followed by English. Mombasa
town is symbolic represented by Ivory statures at its enterance into the heart of 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:
Mombasa Attractions
Old Town: This 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. It is well known for its ancient
buildings, extravagant art designs and curio shops that sell antique and popular Kenyan souvenirs. The town’s inhabitants
are mostly of Arab origin whose forefathers once roamed the same streets of the town. 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.
Fort Jesus: Located just a few steps away from where Old Town ‘starts’ the fort
is Mombasa’s most popular tourist attraction. It is a monumental piece of architecture built in the 16th century by
the Portuguese. The museum 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.
Mombasa Tusks: The tusks were built to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth
to the town in 1952. They lay directly on the path from the port to the
Bamburi Nature Trail:
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?
It is now the largest animal sanctuary in Mombasa. It is now a habitat for a large number of flora and fauna species and 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. On many occasions holding or feeding a reptile is allowed under close supervision of a guide
Bombolulu Workshops
Founded in 1969, Bombolulu
Workshops is a Project of the Association for the Physically Disabled in Kenya (APDK). It is a major tourist attraction consisting
of a Cultural Centre with eight traditional homesteads. The Centre is run by the "Association for the physically disabled"
and employs 150-disabled craftsmen/women who produce jewellery, hand printed textiles, woodcarvings and leather crafts. Bombolulu
Workshops have.
The Hindu Temple: It is one of the many symbols
of Mombasa It is one of the many symbols of Mombasa's cultural diversity. The temple is a popular tourist spot with a
historical background of the temple. A tour, given by one of the temple gurus, can be taken inside the temple. Extravagant
idols and stone carvings of the various religious beliefs are displayed within the temple and on its walls.
Mamba Village: This is East Africa’s largest crocodile farm situated in Nyali.
A tour of the farm starts with a movie on the life cycle and behavior of crocodiles, then a comprehensive tour of the rest
of farm, and ends with the highlight of the day: a spectacular scene of blood-thirsty crocodiles during feeding time. Excellent
cuisine is available at the Mamba Restaurant, and the house specialty is superbly grilled crocodile meat.
Gedi Ruins: The most pre-historic ruins found in Mombasa and date back from the 15th century.
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. Through careful preservation most of the original foundations can still be seen today. The ruins are
designated as a National Museum by law.
Mombasa Activities
Deep-sea fishing
some of the best fishing of
the African continent is to be found off the Kenyan coast, where many all-Africa records are set. Not only are there more
than five million billfish in Kenyan waters, but they also contain most of the top sporting game-fish of other species. Malindi
is probably the best place in Africa for sailfish, while the Pemba channel is known for striped marlin, large yellow-fin tuna
and sharks. All along the coast, from Lamu in the north to Shimoni in the south, there boats available for hire, with well
trained crews, to take anglers out to the fishing grounds. Types of craft vary from luxury cruisers to a wide range of smaller
craft, both for offshore and inshore fishing trips. The bigger offshore boats are fitted with radio and are fully equipped
with tackle. Fishing from the shore is possible in some places, with squid or prawn being the best bait. Kenya has an eight-month
fishing season, which runs from the beginning of August to around the end of March, although. some boats operate through the
rainy season. There are two peak fishing periods, August to October for tuna and December to March for billfish, although
it is possible to reel in impressive catches year round.
Water-sports:Numerous activities are available
along the entire coast, including water-skiing, wind-surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving.
Dolphin-watching:These friendly creatures of the sea can be frequently observed off the coast. At
Shimoni special dolphin spotting dhow trips are organized to the Kisite Marine Park, which include a traditional lunch. Snorkeling
equipment is provided for exploring the coral gardens.
Dhow trips:A dhow is a traditional Arab
sailing ship with a 1000 years history of plying the waters of the East African coast.Built entirely of wood, they were used
to transport spices, carpets and other goods between Africa and India. Sightseeing, lunch or dinner cruises are available
with on-board entertainment such as fire-eaters, limbo dancers, acrobats and fashion shows!
Glass-bottomed boat trips:a fascinating way of observing the reefs and marine life is from a
glass-bottomed boat.
Shopping:you might like to treat yourself
to a souvenir from the Makonde carvers, who will carve a name plaque for your home. while you wait. There's also ample
opportunity to watch a performance of Masai dancers.
Golf:The game is well established
in Kenya. There are golf courses on both the North and the South coasts.
Bird watching
the area has a rich bird life both in the mangrove forests and on the overhanging
cliffs. Ngumi Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its wealth of bird life.
Butterflies:The
latest attraction in the Bamburi Quarry Nature Park is the Butterfly Project where many of Kenya's 870 different species
of butterfly can be seen.
Night Partying:The World famous night life
of Mombasa and its Coast is one area you should actually experience to enjoy your stay
