Mombasa is a city on the coast of Kenya. It is the country’s oldest and second-largest city, after the capital Nairobi, with an estimated population of about 1.4 million people in 2016.
A visit to Mombasa would not be complete without a visit to the Elephant tusks.
A visit to Bombolulu Cultural Centre in the North Coast. and also a visit to the Handicapped Centre to sample their Workshop productions.
A visit to Fort Jesus. This is Mombasa’s biggest tourist attraction. The metre-thick coral walls make it an imposing edifice, despite being partially ruined. The fort was built by the Portuguese in 1593 to enforce their rule over the coastal Swahilis, but they rarely managed to hold onto it for long. It changed hands at least nine times in bloody sieges between 1631 and 1875, finally falling under British control.
After the entrance you will find a museum which contains ceramics, reflecting the variety of cultures that traded along the coast. When you look trough the ‘windows’ you will have an amazing view over the beach and the harbour. With the sun on your head you will feel free and relax between the old ruins.
At least we will make a walk into Old Town. You will ever remember this walk because of the old buildings, the different cultures you will see, the Muslims, the mosques.
The houses in old town are characteristic of coastal East African architecture, with ornately carved doors and window frames and fretwork balconies, designed to protect the modesty of the female inhabitants. I will show you around and during our walk I will guide you between the different cultures in this ‘old town’.
