A journey through Mombasa's rich history
In Mombasa, you’ll find influences from all over the world: remnants of British imperialism, influences from India, the Middle East, local culture, and even remnants of Portuguese colonial times. Mombasa’s old town has colonial buildings and historic forts. A well-known landmark is Fort Jesus, which was built in 1593 by order of the King of Portugal. The fort served as Portuguese headquarters but was subsequently used as a military complex, slave house, and prison. Mombasa has a rich history, but also certainly a dark past: Mombasa was a major center for the slave trade. Fort Jesus has now been turned into a museum, and you can take a look inside the old cells and torture chambers. Read more about what to do during your holidays in Mombasa here.
Walking tour Mombasa
To help you get started, we’ve developed a walking route for you to explore the coastal culture and the unique city. Temples, mosques, and colorful shops will fill your street view. Combined with beautifully carved doors and elegantly designed balconies, this creates a unique character. You can taste the convergence of dozens of cultures and influences that the city is rich in at the market in the old center or in the kitchens of these restaurants.
A tropical beach holiday
Mombasa also has the tropical beaches, all-inclusive resorts and palm trees. This is actually where the standard package holiday tourist often lounges by the pool tanning. Nyali beach and Bamburi beach are Mombasa’s popular beaches, with Bamburi Beach being the most peaceful. Of course, we understand that you also want to relax a bit, after all, you are on holiday… The choice for this is vast, as the Kenyan coast is a succession of beautiful beaches!