The holidays are here! This presents yet another great opportunity to make fond memories with our loved ones and also gives us the chance to spend and enjoy some quality time with our families, friends, and relatives.
However, it’s not quite easy to figure out the best places to visit and spend time with our loved ones. This article writes about Mombasa and tows along the most outstanding and fascinating places to visit in Mombasa; be it a lounge on the white sandy beaches, dine-in state-of-the-art hotels, deep sea diving, or even exploring the old streets of Mombasa.
Down below this article is a compiled and comprehensive list of ideal Holiday Destinations you should tour in Mombasa County to enjoy all the fun:
1. Mamba village center
Located in Nyali, Mombasa County the center is home to the largest crocodile farm in East Africa, with over 10, 000 species of crocodiles on the farm. For those who are intrigued about learning the life, cycle, and behaviors of Africa’s famous reptiles or just want to have a glimpse of how they look, then Mamba village is no doubt the place to be.
The center also is home to ostriches and turtles and besides watching the crocodiles, one can also venture into other organized activities such as horse riding, camel riding, camping, nature walks, and visiting the botanical gardens. Finish the day with style by visiting a nearby restaurant for tasty game meat (crocodiles, ostrich, and zebra).
2. Mombasa Marine National Park
Located between Mtwapa and Tudor creeks, the park is home to a wide range of marine species such as crabs, corals, turtles, starfish, sea urchins, and stonefish. In the park, there’s a large glass boat where visitors are allowed to watch sea creatures if they decide not to swim. The park is also an ideal place to engage in snorkeling, diving, water skiing, sunbathing, and windsurfing.
3. Fort Jesus Museum
Being declared a UNESCO site in the year 2011 and built by the Portuguese between the year 1593 to 1596, Fort Jesus is no doubt amongst the best places to visit in Mombasa. The fort is an ideal place to learn and understand the history of Mombasa town the different cultures and communities that traded along the Kenyan Coast and also witness some of Kenya’s archaeological artifacts. Other than the museum there are also quite a huge number of ruined structures within the fort, the notable one being the Omani house that features Omani jewelry and early Swahili cultural artifacts. The best time to visit the park is usually from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.
4. Game Drive at Tsavo East National Park
One of the largest national parks in the country, Tsavo East National Park located close to 300 km north of Mombasa offers you the opportunity to go on a full-day safari trip. Usually, the park is divided into two: Tsavo East and Tsavo West. However, most tours in Mombasa will likely organize visiting the Tsavo East where one will have the chance to see big cats like lions, cheetahs, and even leopards on a lucky day. You will also see plenty of elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, hippos, and more.
5. Visit Diani Beach
Technically Diani Beach is not in Mombasa but it’s not too far either. Unlike other beaches in Mombasa, Diani Beach offers a much more serene, less crowded, and more relaxing beach experience that you can go for. Just an hour away and by either uber or bolt you will have arrived at the place. For good accommodation in Diani Beach, I highly vouch you look for a beachfront resort where you will have a direct view of the beach at any time of the day.
6. Stroll around Haller Park
If you are looking to escape the busty and bustling city of Mombasa and enjoy the serene environment of a park, then Haller Park is the best place for you. The park started as a quarry wasteland but later was transformed into a recreational park for exploration as well as a sanctuary for animals like Hippos, elands, oryx, giraffes, tortoises, and more. The park is quite big and you can spend an hour or 2 just strolling around. You can choose to follow the signs put in place to guide you through the park or opt for a guide to walk you through the park. It’s usually open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. The park’s entrance fee is 800 Kenyan shillings per person. I highly recommend you visit the park during feeding time at 3 p.m. every day to witness live action from these animals as they feed
7. Mombasa Tusks
You wouldn’t want to miss out on these famous and most visited monumental structures in Mombasa.
The monuments were built to commemorate a special visit by Queen Elizabeth in 1952. Locally they are referred to as “Pembe za Ndovu” – meaning two tusks in the Swahili language. The tusks are built at the entrance of the city to form the letter M to symbolize Mombasa County.
It’s a good place to take nice photos and enjoy shopping at the nearby shopping centers and malls.
8. A walk in Mombasa Old Town
Mombasa has a long ancient history dating back to 900 AD making it the oldest city in Kenya. The town gives an insight into how things were run during the Portuguese era on the island. It is in this town where you will be able to see crisscrossing ancient streets full of the old stunning and magnificent yellow buildings that used to house the incredibly mixed population of Mombasa. The town also gives a glimpse of not only Portuguese architecture but also European, Arab, and Asian structures such as mosques and houses.
9. Mandhry Mosque
One of the oldest mosques in the city and among the best places you should not miss. It portrays the Swahili architecture that is a mixture of the elegant Arabic style with rounded geometric patterns from Africa. It’s one of the most iconic structures in the city and shows that Swahili architecture was an indigenous product of Africa.
10. Kipepeo Butterfly House
Kipepeo means butterfly. It’s a facility in a forest near the entrance of Gede ruins whereby the communities living by were offered the chance to breed unique and different species of butterflies at the Arabuko Sokoke forest. For butterflies lovers, this place is highly recommendable as you get the opportunity to view different species of butterflies.
Conclusion
Finally, Mombasa can be visited year-round but the best times are usually during the low season as high season prices seem to hike and can be quite expensive for an individual to visit during such times. The best time to visit Mombasa is between June and August when there’s the least rainfall, cooler temperature, and not too crowded. It is also a great period to do a game drive on a safari if you are planning to visit places like Tsavo East National Park when you are in Mombasa.
So I highly recommend you make a trip during the suggested periods to enjoy the full experience of the Kenyan coast.
