Mombasa Vacation Attractions – The Beach & Its Ancient Ruins

Posted at February 7, 2010

Mombasa is a magical mixture of ancient and modern with a multi-ethnic background comprising of Africans, Arabs, Asians and European cultures and boasting of being one of Kenya’s favourite tourist destinations along a 480km stretch of the Indian Ocean coastline and is the second largest town in the country.

The ancient Muslim Indian Ocean port of Mombasa, serving Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Zaire makes it the most important platform in the Eastern Africa. The Mombasa Tusks serves as the emblem located at the entrance into the heart of the town built in 1952 to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth.

Mombasa comprises of north coast and south coast beaches. North coast lies between Mombasa and Kilifi and features extensive stretches of heavenly beaches, fringed with palms, screw pines, casuarinas and fragranced with oleanders and frangipani making it one of the most desirable tropical paradises in the world. On offer are lots of touristy sites to visit including historical sites and lots of entertainment spots to guarantee a fulfilled stay.

Reminiscent of the days when Arabs exercised their power and influence is Mombasa’s Old Town evidenced through the culture and more so in the architecture and language which is Kiswahili with lots of phrases derived from various Arabic dialects. The best way to explore the town is on foot with an experienced guide, as the streets are too narrow to accommodate a large number of vehicles. Majority of the population here are of Arab origin whose forefathers once roamed the same streets of the town.

Mamba Village said to be the world’s largest crocodile farm is situated in Nyali. A movie on the life cycle and behaviour of the crocodiles sets of the tour of the farm followed by an all-inclusive tour of the rest of farm culminated by a spectacular scene of blood-thirsty crocodiles fighting for food during feeding time. Also available in this village is the Mamba restaurant serving excellent cuisines with the house specialty being the perfectly grilled crocodile meat and the Mamba Souvenir shop.

Another marvel in this part of the coast is Haller Park, the largest animal sanctuary in Mombasa which is located next to the Bamburi Cement Factory, the Park boasts of an abundant variety of animals, reptiles, insects and botanical gardens. To view them one is expected to walk along a pathway where on occasion you may be allowed to hold or feed a reptile under very close monitoring of a guide.

For those looking to enhance their knowledge educational videos are also shown, with emphasis on the history and continuous improvement of the trail which was previously a barren piece of land an effect brought about by limestone mining but later restored through reforestation and conservation efforts making it a suitable habitat for a numerous species of flora and fauna.

Other features nearby that are worth mentioning include the Kipepeo Aquarium on the sea side of the main Malindi road which displays an astonishing number of Kenya’s tropical fish from the lagoons and reefs which tassel the entire coastline.

Towards Malindi on the North coast of Mombasa lies Gedi ruins, one the most historic ruins found in Mombasa. Gedi was a small town ruled by a rich Sultan and built entirely from rocks and stones, inhabited by a fairly relative number of Swahili people and ruled by a very rich Sultan. These ruins date back from the 15th century, and through careful preservation most of the original foundations can still be seen today and are designated as a National Museum by law.

70km north of Nyali Bridge lies Kilifi Kenya’s oldest metropolis linking the island with the north coast. Found hear is the well known Tamarind restaurant overlooking the old dhow harbor and the Tamarind Dhow, a floating restaurant serving classical seafood accompanied by the sounds of a renowned African band. Beyond the restaurant, the visitor reaches a peninsula known as English Point, marked now by cement silos, which in the last century became the spot for the first colony of liberated slaves established by the English.

There is also a memorial of the eminent missionary Ludwig von Krapf and his wife who arrived here 1844. Agricultural Society of Kenya’s showground a host to the annual shows held every August is also found nearby not to mention an immaculate 18-hole golf course and squash and tennis courts available to visitors from nearby beach hotels.

Other beaches include Kenyatta, Bamburi beaches, Shanzu, a beach from which you can swim at all tides and to the north of it Mtwapa Creek, home to Kenya Marineland where Kenya’s largest aquarium where the wildest of amphibians from the deepest parts of the Indian ocean. All these can be viewed from a glass-sided underground tunnel. 7 kilometers beyond Mtwapa is Kikambala Beach with waters shallow enough at low tide to walk out to the fringing reef.

There are many hotels in Mombasa along this stretch of coast, each with a unique architectural theme and distinct services affording you the right to a variety of choices and ensuring that find exactly what suites your taste and budget.

Most hotels also offer visitors a range of fun activities suitable for all age groups some of which include visits to historic sites, safaris, golfing, tennis, squash, swimming, beach volley ball, snorkeling, windsurfing, deep sea fishing, diving and many others.

A large percentage of the mombasa beach resorts also feature amenities such as own bars and restaurants offering a variety of cuisines ranging from British, Chinese, Indian and Italian delicacies, to a variety of local and traditional Kenyan dishes with the top of the list being seafood options given the sea-side location. The hotels are situated within close proximity to casinos, clubs and other entertainment spots affording you the perfect night life.

South coast is characterized by azure waters of the Indian Ocean, breathtaking coral reefs; white sandy beaches infringed by palm and coconut trees and bordered by a lush green coastal rainforests prolific with birdlife and variety of wildlife including baboons, rare colobus monkeys and leopards. The offshore reefs are alive with coral, countless fish, sea turtles and dolphins.

Both outer and inner reef walls offers a world class diving with spectacular coral gardens and drop offs. A superbly paved highway serves the whole of the south coast, with a tarmac airstrip at Ukunda serving the Diani resort area.

Among places to visit is Shimoni a small fishing village home to a series of deep mysterious coastal caves that stretch from the sea to deep into the jungles with a history of being a refuge for Dhow Sailors, Arab slave traders and explorers. Shimoni is also an excellent centre for big game fishing in the waters of the Pemba Channel with a marine reserve at Kisite-Mpunguti where Kenya’s most outstanding underwater world can be viewed.

Tiwi beach close to Tanzanian border is ideal for those looking for a low key holiday break away from the usual hustle and bustle that is the norm with most beaches; Diani Beach stretching a distance of 10km in length is where you will find most of the hotel and resort on the Kenyan coast with some boasting of being the best in East Africa as they are perfectly nestled in unspoilt beachfront areas of the Jadini forest.

Apart from the hotels, private houses with self catering options are also available for rent especially to those on long stays.

Others include Shela Beach (Likoni) just across from the Mombasa island ferry, Kwale District which comprises of small villages inhabited by the Kamba, Digo and Duruma tribes all with rich cultural back grounds, Galu and Msambweni beach a short distance south of Diani and Shimoni

A tropical climate is found at the Kenyan coast which is characterized by hot and humid temperatures varying between 22° C and 33° C all year round. Just like the rest of the country July and August are the coolest months.

When on vacation in Kenya visiting Mombasa Light clothing is always recommended as it’s mostly warm during the day and even night time. One is however advised to dress modestly as it is a predominantly Muslim area to avoid the risk of offending the locals especially when venturing in to the streets of the town, swim wear so long as one is at the beach or the hotel premises is acceptable.

Both south coast and north coast offer similar activities and entertainment though each with a unique way of presentation as they seek to out do each other in service delivery all in the spirit of competitiveness. Among these are water sports with many hotels having their own water sport centers with the most popular sport being fishing, an all year round activity with the exception of the months of May June and July.

Also available are spectacular golf courses, a selection of restaurants and nightclubs offering world class food and entertainment. Combine all this with the beauty and serenity of the area and you have yourself the most fascinating of places to unwind and wish your troubles away; a breathtakingly beautiful safe haven you might say.