As Kenya’s second largest city, Mombasa is King of vacationing destinations in Kenya.   The city is popular for a variety of reasons, from its diverse marine life, to the game park safaris, world-class hotels and most importantly, its friendly and hospitable people.
Mombasa’s port is one of the major port on the eastern side of Africa, thus making it the centre of the coastal tourism industry.  Moi International Airport, named after one on Kenya’s presidents, is also a major airport in the country that so often acts as the point of departure or arrival for Kenya/Tanzania flights. The original Swahili name for Mombasa is Kisiwa Cha Mvita, which means “Island of War”.  This name was probably given due to the changes in “ownership” from the Portuguese, Arab and British, with Vasco da Gama being the first known European to have visited Mombasa in 1498.  The foreign influence of the settlers has stayed within Mombasa, and is reflective in the types of cuisine offered in restaurants, with Italian, Chinese, Indian dishes being common delicacies offered.  Although this may be the case, local food is still the first and main choice for both locals and tourists.
Mombasa undoubtedly has one of the best white sandy beaches in Africa. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean cater to all types of tourists with the diverse range of water-sports available for entertainment.  Whether you want to take a nice quiet swim in the cool waters, or if you are looking to do some surfing, Mombasa has everything a coastal city needs to offer.  Mombasa caters to visitors of a diverse nature.  Whether you are here on a family vacation, religious retreat, business conference, romantic getaway or simply to party the nights away, Mombasa is definitely the place to do it. With large beachfront hotels and white sandy beaches filled with an assortment of people of different colour and age.  When coupled with its large selection of beachfront hotels, Mombasa becomes an ideal place for a vacation.
In addition to its beautiful beaches, Mombasa offers a diverse cultural history. The City traces many of its cultural traditions to former Portuguese, Arab and British settlers – all of which have left a lasting influence on the City’s food, architecture, and people. Tours of the town, safaris in game parks, and camping trips can all be included in your vacation plan.
Now, if you are looking for a well rounded exciting night out, Mombasa’s dance clubs, casinos, bowling alleys and cinemas. It is common Kenyan tradition for people to go to the coast during holiday seasons. During the December period, Mombasa is manic with festivities and celebrations.
Fort Jesus is one of the most popular tourist attractions due to what may be described by some as a monumental piece of architecture that was built by the Portuguese in the 16th Century. The Gede Ruins -Dated back to the late 13th century and was abandoned in the early 17th century. The exact reason as to why the town was abandoned is not actually known though it is assumed that the town was plundered and destroyed by unknown invaders in the 17th century.  In 1952, Queen Elizabeth took a visit to Mombasa and for this; the “Tusks” were laid directly on the path from the port to the town. Ivory like it is now is viewed as a high quality commodity. The tusks are quite a sight and are a reflection of the cultural background of this city.  Mombasa’s largest animal sanctuary is called Haller Park. Haller Park boasts animals such as crodiles, snakes and other reptiles, in addition to a wide range of smaller insects that may also be found in the park’s botanical gardens.
With so much to offer, it’s no wonder why Mombasa is one of the leading coastal tourist destinations in the world.