5 day Mombasa tour

Day 1 Mombasa City Tour Some of the places we shall visit on the Mombasa city tour. Old Mombasa town: This is where ancient buildings, extravagant art designs and curio shops typical of the life of the Arabs can be found. Old Town is best seen when explored by foot with an experienced guide, as the streets are too narrow to accommodate a large number of vehicles. The town’s inhabitants are mostly of Arab origin whose forefathers once roamed the same streets of the town. Fort Jesus: Fort Jesus is monumental piece of architecture that was built in the 16th century by the Portuguese. Within the fort lies a museum that displays various artifacts from the era where Mombasa served as a transit point for the slave trade and commodities. You will also see weapons such as canons. Fort Jesus is Mombasa’s most popular tourist attraction. Its interior comprises of torture rooms and prison cells where slaves were kept in captivity before being traded Gedi ruins: Gedi was a small town built entirely from rocks and stones, which was inhabited by a few thousand Swahili people and ruled by a very rich Sultan. These ruins date back from the 15th century, and through careful preservation most of the original foundations can still be seen today. The ruins are designated as a National Museum by law, and their preservation are a direct reflection of the commitment of the Government to uphold the country's cultural and historical background. Mombasa tusks: Mombasa tusks were built in 1956 to celebrate Princess Margaret's visit to Mombasa town. They are located at the entrance to the city; they are not made of ivory as is sometimes thought, but of aluminium. An interesting thing to note is that the tusks form dual archways on either side of the road creating the shape in entirety of an 'M' for Mombasa or Margaret. Haller park: Haller park is a small zoo that contains different species of reptiles, mammals like giraffes and monkeys. It also contains hippos. Bombolulu Workshops: Bombolulu Workshops was founded in 1969 and is a project of the Association for the Physically Disabled in Kenya (APDK). This center is a popular attraction for tourists and has 150 disabled employees who create jewelry, textiles, wood and leather crafts. It is the largest rehabilitation center in Kenya. Day 2-4 Beach Holiday Water sports at the beach. After your day one in the city and touring around to discover the culture and scenery of the city, you shall proceed to the beach to enjoy a variety of water sports and activities. These would include: snorkelling, scuba diving, diving, dhow cruises, swimming, surfing and relaxing in the sun. Mombasa has a variety of beaches where you will enjoy quiet time, look at the ocean and get a lot of fun. The beaches occur in different areas, ranging from the Northcoast to the Southcoast. Beaches of the North Coast include: English point: Tiny sandy beach at Mkomani with view over the old town. Its a nice place to go but less for swimming than to enjoy the view. Nyali Beaches: nice sandy beaches but due to the close distance to the town the water quality is poor and polluted. Its nice to walk along the shore when when you get tired of the hotel pools. Bamburi Beach: Very nice beach with white sand and palm trees. Water quality is much better than at Nyali beach. Restaurants along the beach invite to sit under palm trees drinking a cold beer while watching people pass by. Du to the closeness to the town the beach is overcrowded on weekends or holidays. Shanzu Beach: Very nice beach with white sand and palm trees. Less crowded than Bamburi beach. Beaches of the South Coast include: Tiwi Beach is a place to visit on Mombasa's South Coast. Quiet beach not spoiled by mass tourism. At low tide, you can swim in a tidal pool where tropical fish are trapped until the next tide comes in. Be careful to avoid the many sea urchins. Though there are relatively few people, there is a small cafe serving food and drinks. Diani Beach is the place to go. A fantastic long white beach with loads of watersports and primates to see. A night at '40 Thieves' beach bar is a great place to hang out with a few tuskers (beers). If you want to see one of the six primate species in South Coast Kenya visit the Colobus Trust, dedicated to primate rescue, research and conservation, for an informative walk and you may spot one of the many wild primates Day 5 Departure Transfer from your Hotel and Departure After breakfast, you will transferred to Moi International Airport for departure.