Half-day excursion in Mombasa

Mombasa is Kenya’s second largest city, and a half-day tour of the city is almost a must when in these parts.

In the Middle Ages, the monsoon wind brought the dhow ships from the Persian Gulf via Mombasa to India – and back again. The ships were carrying gold, incense, ivory, spices, turtle shells – and slaves. Naturally, the city’s strategic position as a trading port made it extremely attractive, and over the years, it has been under Arab, Portuguese and Turkish rule – at one time the city was even under Zanzibar – which belonged to Oman!

Today’s excursion takes you back to the time when the Arabs, the Portuguese and the Turks sought control of the trade routes on the East African coast.

The old town offers maze-like, narrow streets. A visit to the city’s market provides a nice glimpse into the everyday life of the locals. Like most old trading cities in the world, Mombasa is also a cultural melting pot, and at the market you will find all manner of spices. You will also visit the elephant tusks, which are Mombasa’s city gate, and you will see the Akamba factory where they do wood carving.

Fort Jesus from 1593 is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is thought to be one of the oldest European buildings on the African East Coast. The fort was commissioned by the Portuguese King Phillip I, the architect was Italian, and a fun little fact is that, seen from above, the fort is actually shaped like a person. How many times has the fort been conquered – and by whom? Well, you’ll just have to wait to hear about that on the tour…

This excursion can be booked and paid for through our partner in Mombasa.