Mombasa Attractions
Old Town: This is the part of Mombasa that is reminiscent of the days when the Arabs exerted a heavy influence on the town and its culture, and especially in the architecture and language. It is well known for its ancient buildings, extravagant art designs and curio shops that sell antique and popular Kenyan souvenirs. The town’s inhabitants are mostly of Arab origin whose forefathers once roamed the same streets of the town. Old Town is best seen when explored by foot with an experienced guide, as the streets are too narrow to accommodate a large number of vehicles.
Fort Jesus: Located just a few steps away from where Old Town ‘starts’ the fort is Mombasa’s most popular tourist attraction. It is a monumental piece of architecture built in the 16th century by the Portuguese. The museum displays various artifacts from the era where Mombasa served as a transit point for the slave trade and commodities, and which enjoyed regular visits by seafarers and the like. Its interior comprises of torture rooms and prison cells where slaves were kept in captivity before being traded. Weapons such as canons, which were used to defend the fort from invading foreigners as well as rioting locals, can be seen both inside and outside of the fort.
Mombasa Tusks: The tusks were built to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth to the town in 1952. They lay directly on the path from the port to the town as symbolic representations of the entrance into the heart of the town. Ivory was considered to be an exquisite commodity during the time, and in essence the tusks were meant to embrace the Queen and the British Empire into the town and within its social structure. Coincidentally the tusks also spell the letter "M" for Mombasa.
The Hindu Temple: It is one of the many symbols of Mombasa's cultural diversity. The temple is a popular tourist spot with a historical background of the temple. A tour, given by one of the temple gurus, can be taken inside the temple. Extravagant idols and stone carvings of the various religious beliefs are displayed within the temple and on its walls.
Mamba Village: This is East Africa’s largest crocodile farm situated in Nyali. A tour of the farm starts with a movie on the life cycle and behavior of crocodiles, then a comprehensive tour of the rest of farm, and ends with the highlight of the day: a spectacular scene of blood-thirsty crocodiles during feeding time. Excellent cuisine is available at the Mamba Restaurant, and the house specialty is superbly grilled crocodile meat.
Bamburi Nature Trail: Was previously a barren piece of land that had been stripped of its resources through limestone mining, and was redeveloped through reforestation and conservation efforts. It is now the largest animal sanctuary in Mombasa. It is now a habitat for a large number of flora and fauna species and boasts an enormous variety of animals, reptiles, insects and botanical gardens. Walking along the trail is the ideal way to look at the various animals. On many occasions holding or feeding a reptile is allowed under close supervision of a guide.
Bombolulu Workshops: Founded in 1969, Bombolulu Workshops is a Project of the Association for the Physically Disabled in Kenya (APDK). It is a major tourist attraction consisting of a Cultural Centre with eight traditional homesteads. The Centre is run by the "Association for the physically disabled" and employs 150-disabled craftsmen/women who produce jewellery, handprinted textiles, woodcarvings and leather crafts. Bombolulu Workshops have grown to be one of the biggest rehabilitation centers in Kenya.
Gedi Ruins: The most pre-historic ruins found in Mombasa and date back from the 15th century. Gedi was a small town built entirely from rocks and stones, which was inhabited by a few thousand Swahili people and ruled by a very rich Sultan. Through careful preservation most of the original foundations can still be seen today. The ruins are designated as a National Museum by law.
