What Do I Think Of Mombasa, Kenya?

By Author: Amar Shah
Total Articles: 215
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If you are looking for a toss in the ocean, a cool breeze as you have your afternoon siesta, or a rich mixture of cultural diversity and language; then Mombasa, Kenya is where you should be. Up until now, Mombasa one of the oldest towns in, not only the country, but the entire East African coastal region, has proudly retained its rich history since the turn of the last century.

This vibrant town's history dates back to 930 A.D after appearing in Claudius Ptolemy's map of the east coast of Africa, together with the neighbouring towns of Malindi and Lamu. From then on, history has it that Mombasa has been visited on several other occasions by traders from the European countries of Portugal, The United Kingdom and also the Arabs, Persians and the Chinese traders from the Far East. It is said for example that the Arab and Persian traders began frequenting the coast by the end of the eighth century.

As a matter of fact, Mombasa's location on the east coast of Africa having proximity to the Arabian Peninsula is in itself proof that there was intense settlement by the Arabian traders.

The rich diverse culture ...
... that one would be astonished to find in the town has transcended above other cultures in the country as a result of numerous interactions between the local communities that originally inhabited the coastal town, and the foreign traders. The Portuguese, the Arabs, the British and the Indians have all had their fair share of settlement consequently turning it into a melting pot of culture. Swahili which is a hybrid language and widely used, for example came about as a result of the settlement of the Arabs and Portuguese.

Mombasa's great history has been reserved in the museums such as the Fort Jesus, which was built in 1593 by the Portuguese as a fortress during wars is overlooking the Indian Ocean near the Old Harbour. It has been preserved to date and one can be able to connect with the times by having a look at the ancient wares on display, the war artillery used by the Portuguese and the Arabs, since they were in constant war over the centuries. As a matter of fact, the name ‘Mombasa' is derived the Arabic word ‘Manbasa' which means island of war.

Besides that, the Old Town has been left untouched over the years and is a true reflection of the style of architecture which was greatly influenced by Arabic settlement. Dhows which were brought by the Arabic traders are used on the by fishermen and sea fairing traders as the major form of off-shore transport.

One can not leave Mombasa without having a taste of the sumptuous traditional delicacies made by the Swahili women clad in the traditional khanga and buibui and take delight in the haggling process at the Old Kongowea market which has been in existence ever since. Furthermore, you can not make a mistake of leaving this enthralling coastal town without having a deep in the blue Indian Ocean. Garlanded with white, sandy beaches and overwhelming hospitality, Mombasa boasts of being one of the finest relaxation spots on the East African coastline. There are various marine that one can take part in, including snorkelling, marine life watching, deep-sea diving, swimming and beach sun-bathing.