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About Mombasa.
Mombasa is Kenya's
second largest town and its the only sizeable port. It
has a recorded history stretching back nearly 2000
years, and was mentioned in the Periplus of the
Erythraean Sea, a pilot's guide to the Indian Ocean
written by one Diogenes, a Greek living in Egypt, around
the end of the first century A.D. Mombasa was again
mentioned by Ptolemy in the second century but then
remained in relative obscurity, despite the development
of a series of city states by migrant Arabs, until the
adventurers, traders and conquerors visited the town
beginning with Vasco Da Gama in 1498.
The original Arabic name is Mombasa; in Swahili
it is called Kisiwa Cha Mvita (or Mvita for short),
which means "Island of War", due to the many changes in
its ownership. The town is also the headquarters of
Mombasa District which, like most other districts in
Kenya, is named after its chief town.
The coastal city of Mombasa
is one of Africa's major tourist destinations, with some
of the best beaches in the world. Located on Kenya's
Eastern coastline bordering the Indian Ocean, Mombasa
has become popular for its exotic beaches, diverse
marine life, world-class hotels and friendly people. The
city is the centre of the coastal tourism industry.
Tourist Attractions of Mombasa
There are a large number of historical sites in Mombasa.
One of the major tourist attractions of the city is
Fort Jesus, a standing symbol of the country's
ancient past. One can check out the torture rooms,
prison cells and weapons that are displayed in this
fort. You can also visit to the Old Town, where you can
see ancient buildings that are the finest examples of
Arab architecture. Another major historical attraction
of the city are the Gedi Ruins, located in the
northern part of the town. These are the remains of the
ancient town of Gedi, which was built entirely of rocks
and stones.
A major tourist attraction of the city is the Hindu
Temple. Check out the ancient sculptures and
magnificent carvings inside the temple while on your
tour to Mombasa. It is an epitome of the cultural
diversity of Mombasa and hence a popular tourist spot.
The Mombasa Tusks is another most prominent tourist
attraction of this coastal city, symbolizes the entrance
to the heart of the town.
Beauty and Lifestyle of Kenya
Kenya is known for its nature parks and wildlife and
hence one can find a large number of nature parks in
Mombasa. The Mamba Village is another major
Mombasa Tourist attraction. It is basically a crocodile
farm located near Nyali. It is the largest crocodile
farm of the country where one gets to see different
species of crocodiles and learn about their lifestyle
and behavior pattern. The village also has restaurants
and souvenir shops to dine and shop. Besides this,
tourists can visit to the Bamburi Nature Trail.
You can find different kinds of animals, birds, insects
and trees. This trail is a habitat for a large number of
flora and fauna species.
Other Mombasa tourist attractions include the Bombolulu
Workshops, Mwembe Tayari open-air market, Golden Key
Casino and the Mombasa Beaches.
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