One Day Mombasa City Tour

You will be picked from your hotel at around 8.00 am and drive to Mombasa, a distance of 30 kms from Diani arriving at around 8.30am. Visit the Akamba hand craft (where you will learn about the wood carvings). Akamba hand craft is one of the largest wood carvings industry and market in Kenya. There after, visit the Indian temple where you will learn about the Hinduism and Lord Swaminarayan and Lord Rama. You will also have the chance to see the elephant tusks which are found along Moi Avenue built in 1952 in the memory of King George of England during the British colonial period. During this time Queen Elizabeth was in Kenya where she became the Queen of England after the death of King George.

Visit the Fort Jesus which was built by the Portuguese in 1593 by architecture from Goa. It later became the government prison during the British colonial period in 1947. Fort Jesus was named fort because the Portuguese were Christians and they sailed with the flag of Jesus. It was built mainly for protection and to control the harbor of Mombasa. There arose war between the Arabs and the Portuguese from 1593 - 1729 where many of them died due to starvation and yellow fever.

You will also explore the old town where you will walk along the narrow streets and visit the old harbor where you will see the old Arabic boats and one of the oldest mahindry mosque found near the old harbor. Proceed to the market where you will learn about the food spices, foods and vegetables. Meet different traders buying and selling different types of goods. Proceed for lunch at the centre of Mombasa city or by request, at Tamarind restaurant which is built on the shores of the Indian Ocean on the northern coast.

After lunch, visit the Haller park where you may feed the giraffes, see the crocodiles and hippos feeding. This is private sanctuary owned and managed by Dr. Haller. The landscape is attractive covered by casuarinas, bamboos and eucalyptus trees. The animals are harmless and feel as if in paradise because they have enough food and water. It’s a home to buffalos, eland antelopes, giraffes, water bucks, oryx, snakes, crocodiles, hippos, tortoise and different types of birds’ species. Mombasa is an island covering an area of 20km2 and the second largest city in Kenya after Nairobi. It has a bridge to the north side (North coast), the ferry to the south (south coast) which ferries people to and from Mombasa city and to the west Causeway. Mombasa also has the largest and the most busy sea port in east and central Africa. Drive back to the Hotel at around 5.00 pm.