Kenya's second largest city, Mombasa, is a thriving metropolis with a rich history dating back to the twelfth century. Located on the shores of the Indian Ocean, the city offers tourists glimpses of its rich culture and history through its ancient ruins and monuments, long beaches with their myriad leisure activities, good value Mombasa hotels and well-preserved nature parks teeming with wildlife - all set in a pleasant tropical climate of sunny days and nights cooled with sea breeze.
Mombasa offers its visitors a range of entertainment options, including its beautiful beaches which are rated among the best in the world.
Mombasa, which is an island, is linked to the mainland by a bridge to the north and two causeways to the west. Access to the southern part is still dependent on a ferry service. The city's older neighbourhood, the Old Town, is a maze of narrow streets cutting through ancient buildings and mosques that reflect the grandeur of Islamic architecture. The streets lined with old houses crowded to capacity, slope gently towards the once busy harbour of yore. Fort Jesus, one of the many things to see and do in Mombasa , is a thirteenth century fort that served to guard the city and was a witness to its complex past. Its current status as a national monument and museum attracts visitors in large numbers who appreciate the land's rich history as seen through the art and artefacts housed in this museum.
The newer parts of modern Mombasa with its wide avenues and atypically, low-rise buildings can be toured during a leisurely stroll through the city. Despite the frenetic activity that marks every modern city, especially one that serves as a major commercial port, Mombasa's ambience remains convivial and relaxed. In Mombasa, you would hardly find any of the typical sprawling slums that seem to populate every urban city in Africa.
Mombasa serves as the hub of Kenya's coastal tourism initiatives and is the ideal place to begin a coastal tour in Mombasa . Apart from the mainland reserves that are home to many kinds of wildlife such as the elephant, leopard and the sable antelope, towards the north coast of Mombasa, there are dedicated marine reserves on the Shimoni Island and Wasini islands that house a variety of sea life, including beautiful coral gardens. They are ideally visited on a Mombasa tour .
Along the south coast of Mombasa are the legendary beaches and their resorts that offer tourists different holiday options - calm and relaxed getaways, vacation options for families, and for the adventurous traveller, a range of water sports including spectacular diving spots, snorkelling and angling options. The Mombasa resorts and hotels offer world-class facilities paired with friendly service. You can also use our Mombasa map to choose your hotel in Mombasa based on its location.
While its history, beaches and wildlife attract tourists who are major contributors to its revenue, Mombasa lives on an identity that goes beyond it being a mere tourist destination. While Mombasa has no beach that keeps the tourists engaged within the city, the numerous resorts and Mombasa hotels that dot the north and south coast of Mombasa direct tourist traffic to the city - tourists generally travel to Mombasa to shop for curios and souvenirs and also use the city as a transit point.
The north and south coast of Mombasa which have many resorts and big Mombasa hotels have in-house nightclubs to entertain their guests. There are also numerous standalone clubs that cater to tourists. Apart from these clubs, there are a number of bars and pubs that dot the area, with the favourite drink of choice being, naturally, Tusker beer! Some of these Mombasa hotels also house casinos which are quite popular with the locals and tourists. Other entertainment options for the locals and tourists include cinema houses and bowling alleys.
[more info]
