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| Major Attractions |
| Fort Jesus Museum |
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Now an active museum and research center, this former fort is an excellent example of 16th century Portuguese architecture. Nkrumah Rd in the old town, the fort was built in the 17th century to defend the position for Portugal, didn’t work though and you will find much of interest on a walk around the site, including a well set out museum containing artifacts from the battles over the fort.
Attraction type: Museum; Historic site; Monument |
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| Old Town |
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While you are in the area have a leisurely stroll around the town and you will notice the interesting architecture and predominantly Muslim influence on the buildings. Some of the places of interest to visit are Leven House (The old customs building), The old law courts and the Ndia Kuu (Great Way) one of Mombasa’s original old roads.
Attraction type: Neighborhood; Historic village |
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| Kizingo |
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This district lies on the southern side of the island by the lighthouse. Many large colonial style buildings line the streets and a trip to Fort St Joseph which can be reached via a path through the Mombasa Golf Club. The fort was also built by the Portuguese and is in good condition. |
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| Mombasa Mosques |
| Attraction type: Religious site; Architectural building; Neighborhood |
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| Coast Beaches |
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The coastline of Mombasa is a world of enthralling history and natural beauty. The coast is lined with pristine palm fringed beaches, and the calm inviting waters of the Indian Ocean. The beaches are broken by the wide mouth of Kilifi Creek, whose azure waters are a popular port of call on the international yachting circuit.
The beaches found within the region are home to a wide range of World Class resorts with fine cuisine and services. The peaceful beach havens of Mtwapa and Takaungu offer an ideal escape from the outside world, with endless deserted beaches.The offshore reefs are alive with coral, myriad fish, sea turtles and dolphins. Both outer and inner reef walls offer world class diving with spectacular coral gardens and drop offs. |
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| Historic Sites in Coastal Kenya |
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| Jumba la Mtwana |
Located approximately 20 kilometres north of Mombasa on Kenya's northern mainland, this site represents the remains of a 13th century Swahili settlement.
Abandoned about a hundred years after its foundation, Jumba can still boast magnificent standing remains of domestic houses, mosques and tombs. The domestic houses are rich in carved niches and arched doors, forming part of the decorative motifs. Its name literally means "large house of the slave".
A stroll through the ancient ruins provide a sense of what life must have been like over 600 years ago, when it was a home of Swahili fishermen, craftsmen and merchants who traded precious products from the African interior with their maritime trading partners from India and Arabia. Excavations at the site, the most recent being in 1991, have revealed numerous artifacts including decorated local pottery and shell beads, imported Chinese and Islamic ceramics, and glass beads. Located on a beautiful stretch of sandy beach, among giant boabab trees and rich foliage, Jumba is a popular venue for residents and tourists alike.
Facilities: Small site museum, ticket office, cold sodas, shower and toilet facilities, beach. |
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| North Coast Beaches |
The coastline North of Mombasa is a world of enthralling history and natural beauty. The coast is lined with pristine palm fringed beaches, and the calm inviting waters of the Indian Ocean. The beaches are broken by the wide mouth of Kilifi Creek, whose azure waters are a popular port of call on the international yachting circuit.
The beaches of Nyali, Vipingo, Kikambala and Shanzu are home to a wide range of World Class resorts with fine cuisine and services. The peaceful beach havens of Mtwapa and Takaungu offer an ideal escape from the outside world, with endless deserted beaches.
The offshore reefs are alive with coral, myriad fish, sea turtles and dolphins. Both outer and inner reef walls offer world class diving with spectacular coral gardens and drop offs. |
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| Mnarani |
| The ruins of the Swahili settlement of Mnarani are located on the south bank of the Kilifi Creek on Kenya's north coast. Among the ruins are a magnificient Pillar Tomb, which was recently dismantled and carefully reconstructed to avoid potential collapse. |
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| Siyu Fort |
| Siyu Fort is located in Siyu, one of the Swahili settlements in the Lamu archipelago. The town dates back to at least the 15th century. The present village of Siyu is still known for its well-established leather craft, including sandals, belts and stools. It became famous in the late 19th century, when it resisted Omani domination, culminating in the building of the Fort as an effort by the Omani Arabs to subdue the residents of Siyu. |
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| Takwa |
The ruins of Takwa are located on Manda Island, a 30 minute boat ride from Lamu town.
Takwa ruins are the remains of a thriving 15th and 16th century Swahili trading town before it was abandoned in the 17th century. It is not only important because of its period of occupation but also because of its dense settlement and its relatively well preserved remains.
The unique Friday Mosque with a large pillar a top the qibla wall is among the most notable features. This pillar is believed to symbolize the burial of a Sheikh below the wall. The position of the site at the narrowest location on the whole island, was most probably a strategy. Takwa's position/location with shallow waters must have been of considerable importance especially during its peak, when many of the sails that came into view were likely to be hostile. Therefore access to the site must have been primarily from the shallow channel which could only admit vessels of shallow draft.
Takwa's eventual abandonment in the 17th century was possibly due to salination of the once fresh water and fighting between Takwa and Pate people. These ruins were gazetted as a National Monument in 1982.
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