Alexis LossMombasa, Kenya’s coastal city, offers a rich blend of history, culture, and beachside relaxation. Here’s how to make the most of a three-day visit to this vibrant city.
Day 1: Exploring Mombasa’s Historical Heart
Morning:
We started our day by going to Fort Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 16th century by the Portuguese. It was pouring when we arrived and as we went through the tour. But despite this, it was quite amazing. I was impressed by the exhibits and the fort. Visiting Fort Jesus is a must-see when in Mombasa.
Afterward, our guide took us to the spice markets and food stalls which were a buzz of activity. Everyone wanted us to try their food or treats. We had the opportunity to try a taste of a few things.
Afternoon:
Nearby is the Old Town – a maze of narrow streets lined with Swahili architecture, antique shops, and local markets. We mostly drove around this area because it was raining. For lunch, we went to Swahili Bamburi Kaybee’s food joint which is located in Old Town. There, we had fish coconut rice, biryani and pilau. It’s a delightful culinary experience you can only have in Mombasa.
After lunch, we returned to our beach hotel. We spent time playing and relaxing by the pool and enjoying the amenities of the resort and the warm weather. We had dinner at the resort and relaxed the rest of the evening.
While we had a private guide for the above, I suggest this Viator tour. It will make seeing all of the sites easier if you are visiting Mombasa.
Day 2: Ruins and Snorkeling in Mombasa
Morning:
In the late morning, we went to Jumba la Mtwana Ruins and once there, met our tour guide. Jumba la Mtwana was a village that was deserted around 500 years ago. You are still able to see the ruins of several mosques, a tomb and several houses. The view of the Indian Ocean coastline makes it easy to see why the village was placed in that specific location. Afterward, we were given the option to have a local lunch but instead opted to have lunch at the resort. The history of the ruins adds to the rich experience of being in Mombasa.
Afternoon:
In the afternoon, I was able to convince my son to come with me snorkeling right off the beach where our resort was located. We took a boat out that had a small glass bottom section to see the fish in the water before arriving at a large sandbar.
While there, we were able to get out, enjoy the warm shallow water, and pick up many different types of starfish in a variety of colors. This was my son’s favorite part of the trip. After the sand bar, we went farther out and were given inner tubes to hold onto. We needed these as we snorkeled as the seas were extremely rough.
My son had no interest in this part but at least could look at the fish swimming underneath the boat. We threw bread out to make them come in droves which delighted my son. While Eli may have not enjoyed snorkeling, I absolutely loved it, despite the rough seas!
Day 3: Saying Goodbye to Mombasa
Sadly, this was the day of our departure so we went to the Mombasa airport to take a short flight to Nairobi. From there, we took our long flight to NYC. This was a nice relaxing way to end our Kenyan safari trip! Let us know if we missed anything while here or if you have any other comments! To learn more about our time in Nairobi, another city of Kenya, check out this post!
All the best,
Alexis
