
What is Mombasa Famous For?
What is Mombasa Famous For? Mombasa is a great tourist destination in Kenya and the second largest city – coming second to Nairobi City the capital of Kenya, Mombasa is famous mainly for its beaches and history. Mombasa is a top tourist destination for both local and tourists mainly because of its collection of beautiful beaching including the award-winning Diani Beach, Mombasa borders the Indian Ocean.
Beaches in Mombasa
Mombasa’s coastline is divided into two mainly the North Coast and the South Coast which is accessible via a ferry service from the North Coast, there are 4 notable beaches that are quite popular with tourists in the North Coast.
The North Coast of Mombasa
English Point
This is arguably the least popular beach in Mombasa offering spectacular views of the ocean and the Old Town, unfortunately this beach is not popular for swimming. It is also significantly smaller compared to the rest beaches. The beach is more popular for the Hotel English Point.
Bamburi beach
This beach is a bit far from the city, however it has better water quality which attracts a lot of tourist. The down side of Bamburi beach is that it can be overcrowded on weekends and holidays,.
Bamburi Beach has white sand and palm trees giving off the true tropical beach vibe.
Nyali Beaches
The Bamburi Beach is a popular beach and this is due to its close proximity to the city, this beach is ideal for long walks. Due to the closeness to the city, its water quality is not pristine.
Shanzu Beach
This beach offers white sand and palm trees and is less crowded than other beaches on the North coast of Mombasa.
The South Coast of Mombasa
Beaches in the South Coast of Mombasa are more ideal for a vacation as they are less-crowded and are situated further from the Mombasa city ensuring the ocean water is in pristine condition.
Tiwi Beach
Tiwi Beach is one beautiful beach ideal for vacation and it was pristine waters perfect for swimming.
Diani Beach
Diani Beach is the best beach in Kenya and has been named the best beach in Africa for more than once, the beach has some of the truly world-class beach resorts. Diani Beach has white sand and most resorts are situated amidst stunning tropical gardens which are frequented by monkeys.
History of Mombasa
Mombasa is a historical city and it has been around from between the 1st and 15th centuries, Mombasa has seen occupancy by Portuguese, Arab and British settlers. The influence of their cultures can still be seen in modern Mombasa and there are many sites of historical importance and these include
Fort Jesus
Fort Jesus is the most visited tourist attraction in Mombasa, the site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the world’s most well-preserved pieces of 16th Century Portuguese military architecture. The fort was built by the Italian architect Giovanni Battista Cairati by order of King Philip I of Portugal between 1593 and 1596.

Viewed from the air, the forest was designed in the shape of a man, the Fort has had a tumultuous existence having been captured and recaptured severally. The fort is said to exchange hands at least nine time, the fort hosts a number of historical artifacts and structures and some of the notable items include the Oman House which served as the house of the Sultan who governed the East African Coast, Cannons left behind by the British and Portuguese Military among others, What is Mombasa Famous For?
Old Town
The Old Town of Mombasa is situated in the South – East part of Mombasa, visiting the Old Town is like going back in time. The Old Town is occupied by a blend of cultures including local Swahili people, Arabs, Portuguese and British settlers. The buildings reflect architectural influence from all of these cultures and Old Town are a prime exhibit of life and culture from centuries past in Mombasa.
Things To Do in Mombasa
In addition to beaches and historical sites, Mombasa offers lots of activities for tourists and some of the spots of interest to do include
Visit the Haller Park
The Haller Park is an animal sanctuary set on a reclaimed land which was formerly a limestone mine wasteland, the park is a home to several animals including giraffes, zeras, cape buffaloes, waterbucks and hippos. Haller Park is a home to the one-time internet sensation a 130 year-old-tortoise named Mzee (Old man) which adopted a baby hippo.
Mombasa Go-Kart
This pot is ideal for a family outing, one can race around the circuit on go-karts or go off-road on buggies. Mombasa Go-Kart also has a restaurant with computer games and screens for sports viewing, What is Mombasa Famous For?
Visit Mombasa Marine Park
The park is an ideal destination for visitors interested in snorkeling, diving and spotting marine life including Seahorses, eels, stingrays among others. Marine life can be viewed using glass – bottom boats.
Visit Mamba Village
The Mamba Village is the largest crocodile farm in East Africa is a breeding site for crocodiles, the site has a botanical garden, an aquarium and the restaurant that serves tasty game meat including crocodile meat.
Visit Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Center
The center is a one – stop spot for local culture from traditional tribal dances to traditional homesteads inspired by local tribes. The center also has souvenir shops and a restaurant, What is Mombasa Famous For?
Getting To Mombasa
From Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, Mombasa is accessible via road – on a journey of 8 hours’ drive, via a railway on the Madaraka Express (between 4 hours and 30 minutes and 6 hours depending on the train selected). By air it is a flight of about 45 minutes.
