Mombasa is the oldest and second largest city in Kenya and is built on an
island covering an area of about 295 sq Km. The city was the centre of trade
in the 11th Century and has retained its status as the
leading trading centre in the East Africa region.
Mombasa's culture is strongly influenced by Arabic
culture which is so more evident in the food, the
dress and the architecture. Today it is a melting pot
of different cultures, races and religions.
The history of Mombasa goes back some 2000 years
and has largely been influenced at the beginning by
Arab traders and migrants followed by the first recorded
visit by Vasco Da Gama in 1848. The city has
been successively governed by the Portuguese,
Omani Arabs, Zanzibar, Great Britain up to the early
part of the 20th Century.
History
Mombasa has a very rich history, it being one of the oldest towns in the region.
Mombasa Island is linked to the mainland to the West
by the Makupa Causeway, to the North by the Nyali
Bridge and to the South by the Likoni Ferry.
Location & Highlights
