Mombasa & Surroundings

The second largest city in Kenya with a population of about 600,000. It has a history dating back to more than 2,000 years when the Persians, Arabs, Greeks and Romans visited the East African Coast and carried out trade between the Coast and the Mediterranean Lands. It is built on what was formerly an Island separated from the mainland by a narrow channel until a causeway was built at the beginning of this century connecting the Island with the mainland. Both the seafarers from the Persian Gulf, the Indian Subcontinent, the Cape of Good Hope and the landlubbers from the African Continent met at Mombasa Island to enjoy its calm beauty once described by Winston Churchill, (1908) as ‘alluring and delicious’.

Mombasa was the hub of commerce and communications between Eastern Africa, Middle East and the Far Eastern countries. The Portuguese were however driven out of Mombasa by the Arabs who ruled the Island until the arrival of the British in 1873. The British stopped the dreadful slave trade and eventually established orderly government and development facilities like the Uganda Railway, Kilindini Harbour and several tourist facilities along the Coast.

The best activities to do in Kenya are Safari at Tsavo East and West National Park where you will be able feel the wildlife of many animals, Haller Park is home to a variety of wildlife. As well as that, there are smaller mammals and birds too, Variety of mesmerizing sandy beaches offering the best captivating views of Mombasa and visit to the Old Town Mombasa has an interesting multi cultural, old fashioned houses, narrow streets and passages, socio-economic and political activities, which together define it.

In addition there are many more other adventurous activities to experience in Mombasa and its surroundings. Missionaries built churches and Indians and Muslims established temples, Mosques and bazaars, a museum has been established within Fort Jesus displaying ancient artifacts of the coastal life. Shops in Digo Road and Moi Avenue in the main town offer excellent shopping facilities. A significant landmark in Mombasa is the ‘Mombasa tusks’ built in 1952 to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth. The town offers numerous night entertainment facilities, night clubs and bars, casinos and cinemas. Plenty of town hotels offer a wide range of Arab, Chinese, Indian, Pakistan and European styles of cuisines for all relishes.

From the Island Mombasa, visitors can make short trips to many of the nearby beach resorts where the attractions of Mtwapa Creek with dhow trips and skiing offer the biggest recreation. Before setting off to the north or south coast, it would be worth visiting the Wakamba carvings show-room at Changamwe to see the displays of magnificent wooden wildlife carvings or visit the traditional villages of Giriama tribe at Rabai.