10 Best Tourist Attractions in Mombasa + Tips Day Trips

Mombasa, kenya's second largest metropolis after nairobi, offers travelers an uncommon flavor of the african tropics steeped in centuries of seafaring records.

This cosmopolitan visitor hub is honestly an island related by means of bridges and ferries to the kenyan coast. Stretching for miles alongside the mainland to the north and south, mombasa's seashore inns preside over palm-studded strands fringed by means of shimmering coral reefs.

Travelers from europe and past flock here to enjoy the various things to do - from dolphin spotting trips on conventional dhows and deep-sea fishing to diving and snorkeling the wrecks and reefs and basking on the solar-splashed seashores.

However inside the metropolis itself, on the bustling island, a world of records and way of life awaits.

Thanks to its legacy as the most important port in east africa, mombasa is a cultural melting pot. British, asian, arabic, omanis, indian, and chinese language immigrants have enriched the metropolis's structure and cuisine, and plenty of mosques and temples grace the city streets.

In the vintage town, where fragrant spices glide from neighborhood markets, you can step again in time and discover the ancient buildings. Beyond the town, flora and fauna parks, villages, and historic ruins round out the wealth of water-primarily based fun.

Top Tourist Attractions in Mombasa

1. Old Town

On the southeast aspect of mombasa island, the old city is paying homage to the days when the portuguese ruled this critical port. The city's population are more often than not of arab, asian, and ecu starting place, and the structure displays their cultures.

Ornately carved doors and balconies embellish the antique buildings that jostle cheek to jowl alongside the slim streets.

Records buffs can without difficulty spend more than one hours here, walking along the atmospheric alleys; snacking at one of the many cafés; and purchasing for antiques, aromatic oils, spices, and souvenirs.

The portuguese-built castle jesus, one among mombasa's top tourist sights, overlooks the harbor here.

2. South Coast Beaches

The coastline south of mombasa is a international of herbal splendor. Turquoise seas lap the sun-bleached beaches, wherein tourists sprawl below rustling hands. Rainforests with considerable flora and fauna and birds skirt this idyllic stretch of coast, and coral reefs defend the swimming areas from offshore swells.

Shelly beach, just south of the likoni ferry, is the nearest beach to mombasa along the south coast. Tiwi seashore, 17 kilometers south of the likoni ferry, is a popular spot for sunbathers and snorkelers.

Diani seashore is the maximum developed region alongside this stretch, but nevertheless offers stunning beachscapes. Eu package deal tourists flock right here to revel in the busy lineup of water sports - from windsurfing, crusing, snorkeling, and diving to water-skiing and parasailing.

3. Mombasa tusks

A well-known landmark in the town, the mombasa tusks have been constructed to commemorate queen elizabeth's go to to mombasa in 1952. Built of aluminum, the tusks mark the entrance to the coronary heart of metropolis where visitors will locate most of the banks, stores, and markets. The intersecting tusks also shape the letter "m" for mombasa.

Deal with: moi road, mombasa

4. Mamba village centre

Mamba village centre in nyali is east africa's biggest crocodile farm. Traffic can find out about the life cycle and conduct of these charming amphibians, and the middle additionally gives horseback using and a botanical lawn with an aquarium.

Orchids and aquatic plant life are the area of expertise, however the gardens additionally show carnivorous species. A highlight for plenty site visitors is looking the crocodiles fight for tasty morsels at some point of feeding time.

Carnivores will love the eating place, which specializes in recreation meat which includes crocodile, ostrich, and zebra.

Cope with: links avenue, nyali

5. Fortress jesus

Built in 1593 to 1596 with the aid of the portuguese, castle jesus is a unesco global background web page and one in all mombasa's top traveller sights. Italian architect cairati designed the structure, that's one of the international's greatest examples of sixteenth-century portuguese army structure.

Built in the shape of a man, the citadel become given the name of jesus as a clean religious reference. The fortress modified fingers 9 instances among 1631 and 1875 earlier than in the end resting with the british. Even though in part ruined, fort jesus houses a museum constructed over the former barracks for the garrison.

Exhibits consist of a widespread collection of ceramics and pottery reflecting the various cultures that traded alongside the coast.

Fortress jesus has many battlements and ruined buildings inside the compound, including omani house, built within the late 18th century, which houses omani rings and displays on swahili lifestyles. The passage of arches become reduce via the coral to offer get entry to to the sea.

Area: ndia kuu‬, mombasa

6. Haller park

Haller park is a hit with animal fanatics. Previously known as bamburi nature trail, this inspirational task began in 1971, whilst dr. René haller transformed the deserted limestone quarries here right into a thriving nature reserve.

Dr. Haller extended the mineral content of the soil, planted trees, added a fish farm, and created a flora and fauna park in which every animal has a feature within the flourishing surroundings. Flora and fauna observed here includes giraffes, cape buffalo, zebras, waterbucks, and hippos.

The park was additionally home to a well-known interspecies couple that became an internet sensation after the a hundred thirty-yr-antique tortoise, mzee, followed owen, an orphaned hippo.

Birds are also ample within the park. Extra than one hundred sixty species were brought to the vicinity which includes weaver birds, cranes, pelicans, and storks.

Strolling and cycling paths wind through the groves of casuarina, and a reptile park, palm garden, and crocodile pens are other sights. A highlight is the giraffe feeding, however make certain to test the times earlier than touring. Nature trails result in a butterfly pavilion.

About a fifteen-minute drive from haller park, nguuni wildlife sanctuary, with giraffes, ostriches, eland, oryx, and many species of birds, gives extra flora and fauna-viewing possibilities. It's also one of the most popular picnic websites in mombasa.

Address: mombasa malindi road, mombasa

7. Mombasa marine National park

One of the busiest of kenya's offshore reserves, mombasa marine national park protects mangroves, seagrass beds, sandy seashores, and coral reef. Diving and snorkeling are famous sports - mainly north of mombasa, from mtwapa creek south to the entrance of likoni.

Seahorses, stingrays, and eels are some of the marine creatures inhabiting the reserve, and the mv dania is a popular ruin dive right here.

Those wishing to remain dry can view the numerous marine lifestyles from a glass-backside boat. The famous beaches of nyali, bamburi, and shanzu all provide get admission to to the marine park.

8. North coast beaches

The coastline north of mombasa is a bit livelier than the south coast, and the motels are towards the airport and mombasa city. Palm-covered beaches, crystal clear waters, coral reefs, and a large quantity of water sports, inns, and amusement venues provide plenty of vacationer action.

Mombasa marine national park fringes the coast right here, with multi-hued coral gardens, drop offs, and kenya's first-class destroy diving at the mv dania. Travelling north from mombasa, nyali seaside is the first stop.

Shops and motels line the seashore here. Farther north, bamburi seashore and shanzu seaside also are vacationer hubs with a extensive range of lodging, from luxury inns to seashore bungalows.

9. bombolulu workshops and cultural centre

Bombolulu workshops is a assignment of the association for the physically disabled in kenya with 4 sheltered workshops, a cultural center, and restaurant. At the cultural center, traffic can enjoy tribal dance performances and explore conventional homesteads found throughout kenya. Guests also can go to the workshops and buy the handcrafted souvenirs, which consist of rings, textiles, wood carving, and leather-based crafts. Proceeds help sustain the middle's paintings. After journeying the grounds, guests can forestall with the aid of the restaurant to sample kenyan-stimulated cuisine.

Deal with: workshop road, bombolulu

10. mombasa go-kart

Mombasa pass-kart is successful with speedsters and youngsters of all ages. Zoom around the clean concrete song in cross-karts, bounce round on the off-street buggies, or learn how to dig in a bobcat excavator.

After all of the exhilaration, site visitors can experience a snack at the own family-friendly eating place with computer video games, a large playground, and a large screen displaying carrying occasions. The move-kart tune is floodlit at night time.

Region: bamburi beach, mombasa

Where to Stay in Mombasa for Sightseeing

For first-time site visitors to mombasa, the exceptional area to stay is along the northern seashores: nyali, mombasa, bamburi, and shanzu. From right here, visitors can snorkel the coral reefs of mombasa marine countrywide park, which fringes this stretch of coast.

 The haller park nature reserve is close by, and mombasa's vintage metropolis, with fortress jesus, is a quick drive away. Right here are some highly-rated accommodations in these regions:

• Luxury inns: on lovely bamburi beach, sarova whitesands seaside motel & spa, with four swimming swimming pools, tennis courts, and a padi dive middle, is a famous luxury choice. For a peaceful beachfront escape further north on shanzu seaside, the whitewashed serena seashore hotel & spa suits the invoice, with unique family rooms and a unfastened breakfast. Offering remarkable fee on mombasa beach, north of nyali beach, voyager seashore inn capabilities more than one pools, water sports, and a youngsters club. All-inclusive applications are available.
• Mid-range hotels: on bamburi seashore, severin sea hotel gives brilliant value. Its thatched bungalows and two lovely swimming pools peek out from palm-studded gardens. Additionally cost-packed is the nearby visitors seashore hotel & club, with heat and pleasant service. Constructed into coral cliffs alongside nyali beach, the rooms of bahari seaside inn treat visitors to gorgeous perspectives with wide glass doorways that slide open to balconies or terraces.
• Price range hotels: overlooking tudor creek, first-rate western plus creekside resort, with swahili accents, sits almost equidistant from nyali seashore and castle jesus, a handy location for those who want get admission to to each points of interest. Boasting a sweeping bamburi beachfront region, kenya bay seaside hotel gives first-rate value, and the close by kahama hotel has vibrant spacious rooms a couple of minutes' stroll from the white-sand shores.

Tips Day Trips

Shimba hills National reserve

Shimba hills countrywide reserve, about 33 kilometers south of mombasa, offers a peaceful getaway from the hubbub of the busy seaside resorts. Woodlands, waterfalls, lily-crowned ponds, savanna, and rainforest offer a domestic for a rich range of vegetation and animals.

A number of the uncommon plants are endangered species of cycads and orchids. The park additionally protects one of the highest concentrations of elephants in kenya, at the side of leopards, sable antelope, and abundant birdlife.

Guided wooded area walks are to be had, and visitors can cool off in the swimming hollow and picnic region on the scenic sheldrick falls on the machenmwana river.

Gede ruins

Nestled in lush rainforest, gedi was one of the historic arab cities along the east african coast, and became in all likelihood rebuilt inside the fifteenth and 16th centuries. Nowadays, you could tour the ruins where the outstanding mosque, the palace, coral-stone homes, and pillar tombs had been unearthed.

The homes in gedi show a conventional swahili style, and a few have historical drawings on their plaster partitions. Ming chinese porcelain and glass as well as glazed earthenware from persia imply change links and a taste for luxurious through people who prospered here. Those gadgets as well as spanish scissors and swahili cultural artifacts are on show in the on-website museum.

Arabuko-sokoke National  forest

The arabuko-sokoke forest is east africa's largest last indigenous coastal woodland. The wooded area plays host to plenty of uncommon species such as birds, butterflies, amphibians, and vegetation.

More than 260 species of birds are discovered right here, which include numerous threatened species consisting of the spotted ground thrush and clarke's weaver. Rare mammals that name the arabuko-sokoke forest home are the golden-rumped elephant shrew, hairy-tailed mongoose, and ader's duiker. The forest is a favorite picnic spot for residents and traffic.

Wasini island

Normally reached by way of dhow, wasini island is a famous day experience from mombasa. Dolphins regularly cruise these waters, and passengers can stop to snorkel and dive the coral reefs along the manner.

The island itself is tiny - best five rectangular kilometers. Sightseeing possibilities encompass touring wasini village, on foot around the coastal scrub in which historical swahili ruins lie, exploring the exposed coral gardens, and dining on sparkling seafood.

The village of shimoni is the launching factor for wasini island excursions and changed into as soon as the headquarters of the imperial british east africa agency. Right here, site visitors can discover the shimoni caves, thought to maintain slaves earlier than their cargo to arabia.

Kisite-mpunguti marine national park

South of wasini island, kisite-mpunguti marine country wide park is a popular spot for snorkeling, diving, and dolphin recognizing - typically from the decks of a conventional dhow. The park encompasses 4 small islands surrounded by means of fish-wealthy coral reef.

Dolphins frolic in the shimoni channel, and humpback whales swim those waters between august and october. Different marine existence includes moray eels, angelfish, grouper, snappers, and inexperienced sea turtles. Deep-sea fishing is incredible south to the pemba channel.

Watamu

Approximately 112 kilometers from mombasa, watamu is a swahili fishing village that has blossomed into a small seaside motel and offers amazing snorkeling and diving. The coast is broken into 3 coves divided with the aid of rocky headlands.

Offshore from watamu is the southern part of the malindi marine country wide reserve. The forests of the arabuko sokoke forest reserve and the swahili ruins of gede also are close by. Extra than six hundred species of fish are found in the marine reserve, and whale sharks and manta rays are seasonal visitors to the reef.

Watamu is likewise a important turtle breeding place with green and hawksbill turtles as the number one species. Glass-bottomed boats delivery visitors to the reefs and offer a window to the kaleidoscopic global of coral and fish.

For tourists looking for something apart from snorkeling and diving, watamu gives windsurfing, enjoyable on the seaside, dolphin-looking trips, and thriving rock swimming pools.

Kilifi 

Kilifi is a small beach hotel at the banks of kilifi creek wherein yachts bob about inside the breeze. One of the top traveler attractions right here are the mnarani ruins, an historic swahili coastal settlement courting returned to the early 14th century. A large baobab tree many of the ruins is rumored to be the largest at the kenyan coast.

Kalifi is also domestic to a top-notch golfing membership. At one time, kilifi could simplest be reached by means of ferry however in latest years a bridge changed into constructed to make it extra reachable

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