MOMBASA ISLAND

Mombasa is Kenya's second largest town and its the only sizeable port. It has a recorded history stretching back nearly 2000 years. Mombasa town itself is a mystical mixture of ancient and modern with a cosmopolitan population blending Africa, Arabia, Asia and Europe. The people who live in this old but vibrant gateway to Kenya and Africa now number almost 600,000. Fringing the dhow harbor is the old town, a maze of narrow streets and pedestrian lanes with quaint shuttered houses and open fronted shops; the smell of spices is always present. Dominating the entrance to the dhow harbor is Fort Jesus, which is open to visitors and which houses an interesting museum displaying antiquities from the length of the Kenya coast.

From Mombasa, it is possible to make short excursions to many of the beach resorts or alternatively to seek the cool air of the Shimba Hills or enjoy the superb concentrations of wildlife at Tsavo East. There are several interesting archaeological sites nearby especially Jumba la Mtwana the Slave master's house - a well-maintained ruin with one of four mosques although virtually intact slipping imperceptibly into the ocean. There is also a deep sea fishing center, for water skiers and snorkelers. The world famous rehabilitation project, Haller Park at the Bamburi Cement Factory, certainly merits a visit. With its contrasting cultures and its easy pace, Mombasa is a town appreciated by most tourists, not necessarily as a final holiday destination but as a place to savor during a coast visit and beach vacation getaway.