MOMBASA

Mombasa is Kenya's second largest town and its only sizeable port. The town of Mombasa is built on an island. Mombasa is attached to the mainland by a causeway. To the north a bridge spans Tudor Creek, with views of the old harbour, linking the town with the north coast beach resorts. On the south side a frequent car and passenger ferry service plies across Kilindini Creek, close to the entrance to the modern port area with its multitude of wharfs and deep water berths, carrying tourists to the splendid beaches of the south coast. Mombasa town itself is a mystical mixture of ancient and modern with a cosmopolitan population blending Africa, Arabia, Asia and Europe.
Fringing the dhow harbour is the old town, a maze of narrow streets and pedestrian lanes with quaint shuttered houses and open fronted shops. The smell of spices is always present. Dominating the entrance to the dhow harbour is Fort Jesus, which is open to visitors and which houses an interesting museum displaying antiquities from the length of the Kenya Coast. Also on display are finds from the Portuguese warship the Santa Antonio D'Atanna which sank near the fort in 1697 while attempting to raise the Arab seige.

Mombasa is Kenya's second largest town and a sizeable port. It has a recorded history stretching back nearly 2000 years and was mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea a pilot's guide to the Indian Ocean Written by one Diogenes, a Greek living in Egypt, around the end of the first century AD. Mombasa was again mentioned by Ptolemy in the second century but then remained in relative obscurity, despite the development of a series of city states by migrant Arabs, until the adventurers, traders and conquerors visited the town beginning with Vasco da Gama in 1648.

The colonisation of the coast by the Portuguese was a hit and miss affair with the invaders sometimes showing interest and sometimes the opposite. But it was also an era of strife between the Catholic Portuguese and the Muslim Arabs. Portuguese hegemony was finally extinguished with the capture of Fort Jesus by the Arabs in 1699 just over a hundred years after it was built.

The next hundred years was a miserable record of petty wars between the minor sultans and Omani Arabs based in Muscat. Trade, except in slaves, came to a halt until an army was sent, in 1822, by the Sultan of Oman to crush the warring states and re-establish commercial activity. Some form of Arab government existed in what became known as the coastal strip until the region was declared a British sphere of influence following the treaty of Berlin in 1885.

The town of Mombasa is built on an island. Less than a century ago the builders of what was then called the Uganda railway attached the island to the mainland by a causeway. To the north a new toll bridge spans Tudor Creek, with views of the old harbour, linking the town with the north coast beach resorts. On the south side a frequent car and passenger ferry service plies across Kilindini Creek, close to the entrance to the modern port area with its multitude of wharfs and deep water berths, carrying tourists to the splendid beaches of the south coast. Mombasa town itself is a mystical mixture of ancient and modern with a cosmopolitan population blending Africa, Arabia, Asia and Europe.

Fringing the dhow harbour is the Old town, a maze of narrow streets and pedestrian lanes with quaint shuttered houses and open fronted shops. The smell of spices is always present. Dominating the entrance to the dhow harbour is Fort Jesus, which is open to visitors and which houses an interesting museum displaying antiquities from the length of the Kenya Coast. Also on display are finds from the Portuguese warship the Santa Antonio D'Atanna which sank near the fort in 1697 while attempting to raise the Arab seige.

GETTING TO MOMBASA
The gateway to the North Coast is Mombasa, although some visitors fly directly to Malindi. The Coastal highway runs north of Mombasa all the way to Kenya's northern frontier. Driving your own car or hired car as far as Malindi is very easy. There are regular buses and matatus along the North coast.Many hotels and resorts in this area have Mombasa shuttles or can arrange vehicle transfers. Private taxis from Mombasa will also take you to the North Coast beaches for an agreed fare. Malindi airport has daily scheduled flights to Mombasa, Nairobi and Lamu. The airport also serves Private Charters.

Fort Jesus Museum
Now an active museum and research center, this former fort is an excellent example of 16th century Portuguese architecture. Nkrumah Rd in the old town, the fort was built in the 17th century to defend the position for Portugal, didn’t work though and you will find much of interest on a walk around the site, including a well set out museum containing artifacts from the battles over the fort.
Attraction type: Museum; Historic site; Monument

Old Town
While you are in the area have a leisurely stroll around the town and you will notice the interesting architecture and predominantly Muslim influence on the buildings. Some of the places of interest to visit are Leven House (The old customs building), The old law courts and the Ndia Kuu (Great Way) one of Mombasa’s remain old roads.
Attraction type: Neighborhood; Historic village


Kizingo
This district lies on the southern side of the island by the lighthouse. Many large colonial style buildings line the streets and a trip to Fort St Joseph which can be reached via a path through the Mombasa Golf Club. The fort was also built by the Portuguese and is in good condition.
Mombasa Mosques Attraction type: Religious site; Architectural building; Neighborhood

MOMBASA MARINE NATIONAL PARK
The 200 Sq Km National Park managed by Kenya Wildlife Services
Mombasa Marine Reserve was formed first, to protect the previous coral heads and their resident marine life from damage by over-fishing and trophy collecting (relics, shells, coral etc). Coral species include: branching (acropora), encrusting (turbinaria) and massive (porites). The National Park opened recently with the support of local hoteliers to prevent further stripping of the natural treasures from the reef in order to preserve its ecological and tourist attraction.