Mombasa

Understand

300px|thumb|Scene in the Old town Mombasa is Kenya's main tourist destination. It is on the eastern coastline of Kenya, bordering the Indian Ocean which has made it a popular destination for its beaches. Mombasa offers a diverse marine life, world-class hotels and friendly atmosphere. There is a tropical climate all year and it is a great destination filled with activities for all ages.

Mombasa is one of the oldest cities in sub-Saharan Africa, and its precise date of founding remains unknown. The first accounts of Mombasa date back to the 12th century, when the Arab geographer Al Idrisi mentioned it as a prosperous trading post in his writings. Pre-colonial Mombasa was a prosperous city state in a region of East Africa known as the Swahili Coast, which also included other city states such as Zanzibar and Kilwa Kisiwani, and a main centre for trade between Africa and the Arab World, with trade routes even going as far as India and China. At different points in history, Mombasa would be ruled by the Portuguese, Arabs and British. The city's culture today still exhibits that of its pasts. Historical ruins like Fort Jesus and the Old Town are attractions that display the history in Mombasa.

The central part of the city, Mvita, is an island in a river delta, accessed by bridges and from the south by ferries operating around the clock. It is a very cosmopolitan city, and you can see a group of Muslims wearing niqab (here known as "bui bui") and Giryama people wearing almost noth…

Get in

thumb|right|Moi International Airport as seen from the runway thumb|right|View towards Mombasa during landing

Mombasa is an important node for all forms of transportation. It is the end of the Trans-African Route 8 from Lagos and of the railway to Uganda. It has an international airport, Moi Airport, and one of Eastern Africa's most important ports, Kilindini, which is also the main port for goods to Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.

Get around

The traffic will likely appear chaotic to a westerner. Traffic laws are not respected, even when police are present.

See

thumb|The Santo Mathias bastion and the main entrance to Fort Jesus thumb|Old town scene

Considering Mombasa's action-filled history, surprisingly there are only a handful of sights. The nature and a slew of different activities is what makes Mombasa interesting for visitors. In addition to these, there are a couple of sights within 20-30 km north, west and south of Mombasa. These are listed under #Go next.

thumb|The Tusks thumb|right|The New Dwarikadham temple thumb|Haller Park thumb|Oryx and eland in Haller Park thumb|Mamba Village

Mombasa was a military base during both world wars, and there are two military cemeteries:

Do

thumb|220px|right|Activities on Bamburi's beach: camel rides, diving boat and fishing boat

Buy

thumb|right|Kanga store on Biashara Street thumb|right|Various vyondo

Like in all of Africa, haggling is common in small shops. Especially if you are an obvious foreigner, the initial price is usually higher than what is normally paid for the merchandise. Just make sure you don't ask for prices in English. Use the little Swahili you know so as not to overpay.

The best places for buying souvenirs are the districts of Kinyozi, Mwembe and Tayari which are surrounding Haile Selassie Road and also Biashara Street (Biashara means "commerce" in Swahili). Specialities include: kitenge (vitenge in plural): fabrics decorated with colorful motifs for women to be worn around the waist or tied on the head kanga: similar to kitenge but also decorated with a border running along the sides and a written Swahili proverb. kikoi (vikoi in plural): the "kitenge" for men, sometimes made of wool and usually decorated with strips or tartan batik: originating on Java, batik has been known on the Kenyan coast for centuries. The pieces are cloths are woven by hand but not hand painted. Should not be washed in a washing machine. kiondo or chondo (vyondo in plural): handmade handbag with leather trim often beautifully decorated with beads or shells ndala: hand-made sandals made from leather and old tires (for the soles), these stylish shoes are a great souvenir from Mombasa. Local craftsman use colorful beads and pieces of leather to create a vast variety of shapes and decorations. No two pairs are al…

Eat

Mombasa is a cosmopolitan city with Arabic, Chinese, European and Indian influences, and this can be seen in the local cuisine. Many local dishes include coconut, for instance waly ya tui (basmati rice with coconut milk), kuku wa kupaka (chicken with coconut milk) and mahamri (coconut donuts with cardamom).

Drink

thumb|Mtwapa, Beach Bar thumb|Moon over the Indian Ocean There are quite a number of good bars, pubs and entertainment spots in Mombasa Town and the North Coast. Nightlife is very vibrant in Mombasa and in the village Mtwapa (15km north of Mombasa, called "the village that never sleeps").

Sleep

Hardly a tourist will stay in Mombasa city, but mostly along the beaches of the north or south coast.There is a wide range of accommodation on offer in Mombasa from camping to Backpacker hostels to hotels and villas with all comforts. thumb|right|Nyali beach

Stay healthy

thumb|Don't. Like most other developing countries, tap water is not safe to drink

Consult the safety guidelines for Kenya for general safety suggestions.

The area of Mombasa has about 60 healthcare establishments from hospitals to small clinics. Some of them also have a center for control and prevention of diseases in cooperation with the U.S. governmental agency Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. See also Department of Health - Mombasa County.