1 Day Mombasa City Tour & Haller Park

The Portuguese took Mombasa and thought it was time to build a fort to guard the harbor. Designed by an Italian Giovanni Battista Cairati and by order of King Philip I of Portugal in (1592) the construction was commenced; two years later Fort Jesus was ready for occupation where two thousand people were to occupied and be defended by the fortress walls. Fort Jesus is a unique example of 16th century military engineering and survives intact to day. Fort Jesus was abandoned between May-August (1632). These crowing battlements were unassailable from seawards and the fort was only conquered from the landward side after a 33-months’ siege, during which time sickness and famine left only 13 survivors, eleven men and two women met their fate and were massacred in the year of (1699). In (1895-1958) as of many fortresses and towers around the globe the fort was also used as a prison.

Pick from your hotel would be from 07:00 and after the visit this museum ‘Fort Jesus’, 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, jeweler, curio shops and Hindu temple. Elephant tusks and Akamba Handicraft Co-operative Society where about one thousand members produce a great variety of very reasonably priced woodcarving.

Lunch, then proceed to the Haller Park which used to be quarries previously excavated by Bamburi cement for cement production. Transformed into a variety of recreational facilities including forest, nature trails and game sanctuaries, crocodile and fish farms. Haller Park is world famous for its Nature Trails which is home to hippopotamus, antelopes, birds, reptiles, snakes, giant tortoises, crocodiles and giraffes. Experience a mini safari break. The Baobab Adventure is eco-tourism at its best, from quarry wasteland to tropical paradise. Watch the feeding of the resident animals at a very close range before driving back to your hotel.
End of the excursion