DESTINATION MOMBASA AND WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT THIS PARADISE IN THE SUN
DESTINATION MOMBASA AND WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT THIS PARADISE IN THE SUN.
Fort Jesus is considered a masterpiece of late-Renaissance military fortification
Mombasa is one of East Africa's most multicultural ports. Its centre is Mombasa Island, where people from a plethora of cultures live side by side – eating different foods, listening to different music and praying to different gods.
This mixed culture exists due to centuries of power swings and international trading. It thrives in the island’s Old Town, where a hectic cluster of markets selling spices, souvenirs and street food lead to a time-worn architectural centrepiece, Fort Jesus. This UNESCO-listed citadel has changed hands at least nine times since the 16th century, from Portuguese sailors to Omani soldiers and British colonisers. Inside, you’ll find traces of these separate regimes, from Portuguese graffiti and British cannons, to Arabic inscriptions and Swahili embellishments.
Mombasa is also known for its white sand beaches. Head to Bamburi Beach, north of the centre, for palm trees and restaurants selling cold Tusker beers, or venture south to Tiwi Beach where you can paddle in fish-filled rock pools at low tide.
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