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Mombasa
Attractions |
Mombasa
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. |
Mombasa Old
Town |
“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 “Old
Town” can be done in a single
day. |
Gedi Ruins |
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
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. |
Fort Jesus |
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. |
Hindu
Temple |
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. |
Mamba
Village |
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
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. |
Haller Park |
The Haller
Park (formerly Bamburi Nature
Trail) is the largest animal
sanctuary in Mombasa. Located in
Bamburi next to the Cement
Factory, the park 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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Mombasa
Tusks |
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. |
Bombolulu Workshops |
The
Bombolulu workshops are located
along the north coast of Mombasa
along the Mombasa-Malindi road.
Founded in 1969, these workshops
are a project of the Association
for the Physically Disabled of
Kenya (APDK). It is a major
tourist attraction, which
consists of a cultural center
with 8 traditional homesteads.
The center also runs a
traditional restaurant and
entertains guests with
traditional dances throughout
the day. The center employs
disabled craftsmen/women, who
produce jewelry, hand-printed
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 centers in Kenya
and have built a reputation as
one of Kenya’s most reliable
exporters. |
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