Half Day Mombasa Island Tour

The old town of Mombasa is located at the eastern, seaward end of the island. Kilindini and Port Reitz, the modern deep-water harbour and port separates the island from the Kenyan mainland to the south. The old harbour, which is named Port Tudor and guarded by Fort Jesus, and Tudor Creek separate the island from the northern mainland. Modern residential sprawl and industrial areas now occupy the rest of the island. Mombasa is linked to the mainland by the Makupa Causeway to the northwest, by the Nyali Bridge to the east and by the Likoni Ferry to the south. A road and rail bridge also serve the mainland container port near Port Reitz. Port Tudor and Tudor Creek were named by Owen Tudor the Royal Navy captain who first surveyed the area. Has a population of about 1,208,333 people according to the 2019 census.

Depart either at 07:00 hours and start with a visit to the famous Akamba Handicraft Co-operative Society where about one thousand members produce a great variety of very reasonably priced woodcarving and you would see the curving in action to produce curious and fine ornaments which would take hopefully up to one hour then switch to Hindu Temple visit.

A stop at the enormous elephant tusks commissioned in 1956 would follow. They are favourite landmarks in Mombasa, centrally located gigantic elephant tusks. You really can’t say you’ve been to Mombasa until you’ve seen these, whether by foot or as you drive past.

The elephant tusks were initially made of canvas stretching over wooden frames on Kilindini Road but were later re-built out of aluminum and stand strong on Moi Avenue. These tusks are famous because of their history and the many things that they symbolize and represent. They were initially commissioned to commemorate the visit of Princess Margaret (Queen Elizabeth’s sister) in 1956, when Kenya was still part of the British Empire and I share with you photos in this article of how these tusks stood throughout time. The tusks are meant to represent the entrance to the city of Mombasa and were therefore to welcome Princess Margaret for her visit.

From there you would proceed to visit museum Fort Jesus which was build by the Portuguese in the 1593 for the purpose of their defense. It would take about an hour to explore the Fort Jesus fame for East Africa art facts and ancient trade. Further you will tour dhow harbor where you will see very old Arab dhows which operate in East Africa coast islands even today. Proceed to the Arab town with its maze of narrow twisting alleys displaying beautifully curved doors, jewellery, curio shops and anther Hindu temple ending in City market where fruit and vegetables are sold the proceed to the hotel to arrive at around 13:00.