Historic Sites in Mombasa

Old Port Mombasa: First Line Of Call

If, from Fort Jesus, you take the Mbarak Hinawy Road to delve into Old Town, you will quickly find yourself in a head-turner alley bustling with antiquities before the street eventually terminates at Mombasa Harbour, long known and referred to as Old Port, contiguous with Government Square just 250 ms from Fort Jesus. It’s a place where you can experience the maritime history and culture of Mombasa, with traditional dhows still sailing in the harbor. Contrariwise, Along Hinawy Road you go past Jubilee Hall, Mombasa Club, Africa Hotel, Mandhry Mosque and small stalls selling all manner of items like fabric, house appliances and food-stuff. Old Town’s streets, and the outlets open for business, change vividly by time of day.

The first impression on arrival at Old Port Mombasa is the fetching beauty of the handful of outmoded traditional sailing dhows with the swift click-clack of their bobbing masts, aging harbour wall and fluid nature of activity axiomatic of what life must been here a century ago. Steeped in seafaring historical eminence as the appropriate place where traders and explorers got their introduction to Mombasa, and Kenya for that matter. Hundreds of such boats swayed trade in East Africa and beyond to as far as Egypt, Oman and Arabia. Dhows, more proper mtepe, are a longstanding heritage along the East African coast and bear their roots in Lamu.

Till the late 1890s Old Port Mombasa was the first-line port of call for Mombasa Island, prior to the construction of the large and modish Kilindini Harbour which became the New Port of Mombasa. Old Port Mombasa witnessed the rise and fall of influence of various enigmatic cultures, including Portuguese, Arabian, Persian, and European. Construction on the premier jetty at Kilindini began in 1896 with the advent of British Empire rule and was chiefly used on completion for receiving and discharging material used in the fabrication of the Uganda Railway (1896-1901). Today Old Port serves as a base for local dhows sailing along Tudor Creek.

Kenya is home to numerous historic sites that showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage, ancient civilizations, colonial history, and struggle for independence. These historic sites offer valuable insights into Kenya’s past and its diverse cultural heritage, making them essential destinations for visitors interested in her history.

Index of Historic Sites Around Kenya

Baringo County - Timboroa Railway Station , Bungoma County - Chetambe Fort , Kilifi County - Prince Henry the Navigator Monument , Vasco da Gama Pillar , Malindi Pillar Tomb , Portuguese Chapel, Malindi Butwani Pier , Kwale County - Shimoni Ruins , Lamu County - Shela Mosque, Lamu Fort , German Post Office, Siyu Fort , Machakos County - Macmillan Castle Sabuk , Fort Machakos , Makueni County - Gurdwara Makindu Sahib , Patterson Ruins Tsavo, Meru County - Kaaga War Memorial , Twin Baobab Trees , Giant Meru Oak, Mombasa County - Fort Jesus, Old Port , Sanaa Gallery , Leven House , Old Law Courts , Kengeleni Bell , Old Railway Station, Mbaraki Pillar , Fort St. Joseph , Kraph Monument , Fort Makupa , Arab Rifle's Monument , Mombasa's Tusks , Ras Serani Light, Mandera County - Fort El Wak , Nandi County - Kaptumo I Kipture Forts , Samiitui Aldai Historic Stone , Nyeri County - Old Ruling Court, Taita Taveta County - Kitchwa Tembo Hill , Salaita Hill , The Sniper Tree , Maktau Railway Station, Mwashoti Hill , Mwakitau Hill , Tana River County - Tana Delta Old Fort , Tharaka Nithi County - The Mutunguruni Tree , Wajir County - Wajir Fort , Ancient Orahey Wells , Orahey Bunkers , The Old Town Wajir

Historic Ruins along the Coast of Kenya - Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River & Lamu

Well-famous for its rich Swahili culture, stunning beaches, and vibrant nightlife – acclaimed as one of the top destinations in Kenya – Mombasa County is home to Mombasa City, Kenya’s second-largest city and a primary port town that has been a key trade center for centuries. Mombasa County is more than just beaches—it’s a cultural melting pot with history, adventure, and guaranteed coastal vibes.

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Explore Destinations Nearby Old Port Mombasa

A Guide to Mombasa County

A Summa Digest of Mombasa

About Mombasa Way Back When

80 Destinations in Mombasa County , arranged as one would visit these - south, north then east - with the aid of in-depth narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:

Arab Rifle's Monument , Buli Monument , Fort Jesus Curio Shop , Camel Joint, Old Town Mombasa , Fort Jesus Museum I World Heritage Site , Mombasa Butterfly House , Santo Antonio de Tanna , Swahili Cultural Center , Sanaa Gallery , Old Port Mombasa , Leven House I Steps , Forodhani Restaurant , The Mandhry Mosque , Burhani Mosque , Tulia Backpackers , Bahdala Mosque , Mazrui Cemetery , Old Law Courts , Treasury Square , Africa Hotel , Kizingo BBQ, St. Joseph's Fort , Ras Serani Lighthouse , Kizingo War Camp , Mombasa Golf Club , Mama Ngina Waterfront Park , Shelly Beach , The Likoni Floating Bridge , Mbaraki Creek, Mombasa Yatch Club , Mbaraki Pillar , The Mombasa Mbaraki Cemetery , The Little Theatre Club , Kilindini Harbour , The Mombasa Memorial Church , The Holy Ghost Catholic Cathedral , Lord Shiva Temple , The Old Mombasa Railway Station , Railways Park , Mombasa African Memorial , Mombasa’s Tusks , Fort Makupa , Kibarani Recreation Park , Akamba Handicraft Shop , Manyimbo War Cemetery , Tudor Water Sports Marina , Nyali Bridge , ACK Emmanuel , The Kengeleni Monument , Bahari Beach Resort , Tamarind Dhow Cruise , Krapf Memorial Heritage Park , Kenyatta Public Beach , Bombolulu Workshop , Haller Park , Mombasa Butterfly Pavilion , Bamburi Rifle Range , Mombasa Go-Kart , Suli Suli Fishing , Nguuni Nature Sanctuary , Mamba Village , Nyali Golf & Country Club , Wild Waters , Nyali Shopping Mall , Mombasa Marine Park I Reserve , Ngomongo Village , Shimo la Tewa Site , The Moorings , La Marina Restaurant

Know More About Mombasa County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - with the aid of a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments

What’s The Lay Of The Land In C.01?

Mombasa County can be split into 3 zones: 1. Coastal plain, covering parts the Island; 2. The hilly areas rising gently from 45 ms to 132 ms asl in the west; and 3. The Indian Ocean and the shoreline.

What’s The Air Like In Mombasa?

May is generally the wettest month, then April and June. Average temperatures are always high, rarely falling below 24 o C across the year.

Know More About Mombasa County…

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