From Wikitravel

Mombasa is Kenya's second largest city and a sea port.

[edit] Understand

Mombasa is Kenya's second largest city and also East Africa's oldest settlement. Roman and Egyptian adventure literature seems to suggest that the city is over 2500 years old. The Portuguese, Omani Arabs and British each had their share of occupation in Mombasa with the Portuguese being the first.

Vasco Da Gama, was the first notable Portuguese explorer to land on Mombasa's shores. He had a two tier objective which was to spread the christian faith and to open up trading doors for the Portuguese.They mainly traded in goods such as spices, cotton, coffee and slaves. Fort Jesus, a main tourist attraction in Mombasa was built as a result of their trading efforts. This Fort was used for protection against hostile locals, as a prison for slaves and goods storage. The Portuguese dominated trade in Mombasa for about two hundred years. The powerful Omani Arabs brought an end to their dominance.

Lack of unity amongst the Omani Arabs resulted in their short lived dominance on the Kenyan coast. Primarily, the Mazrui Family and the Busaidi Family, the later having been in power then, began to attack each other and involved the British.

The relationship between the Omani and the British crumbled following their differing stands on slave trade. Slave trade wa a booming business at the time for the Omani's and the British were totally against it.[1]

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Several flights a day to Nairobi plus a lot of charter flights from Europe, mainly Italy and the UK.

You could also take a local flight to Mombasa from other parts of Kenya. Fly 540 and Kenya Airways are very reliable[2]

[edit] By train

Three times a week night train to Nairobi. From Nairobi to Mombasa on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. First Class sleeper ca 45 dollar incl dinner and breakfast. Mind your valuables at night. Close all the windows!! When this trains stops in the bush (and this happened many times) thieves tried to stolen all your valuables through an open window or try to force it! Sometimes they use drugs to hold you on sleep!

[edit] By car

From Nairobi to Mombasa takes about 7 hours. Road is good, no problem to drive an ordinary 2 wheel drive car, but there are a few sections outside the cities that are very poor; driving 10 km can take 50 minutes.

[edit] By bus

From Nairobi to Mombasa, it cost about Kshs. 1000.

[edit] By boat

[edit] Get around

By taxi from center: to south beaches ; ca 30-35 dollar. To airport:10-12 dollar Matatu (minibus) in city Ksh 50 (0,65)

Travel by the local bus-taxis (Matatus) if you've got the guts for it -they're mini-buses that they shove full of people (literally). They're cheap (ask someone at the hotel what the going rate is) don't let them scam you. They are all over and in huge numbers, and they're licensed (stickers on the windshields). Taxis don't have taxi-signs on the roof, but license papers stuck to the windshields.

[edit][add listing] See

• Fort Jesus (old slave port structure built by the potugese, very beautiful!)
• The Ocean

[edit][add listing] Do

• Old town. Very nice atmosphere

• Diani Beach is the place to head to. 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 primates species in South Coast Kenya visit the colobus trust for an informative walk to spot one of the many wild primates.

• Colobus Trust nature walks and conservation volunteering, [3].

• Tiwi Beach is the best place to visit. Quiet beach not spoiled by mass tourism.

Take the Likona ferry to the south by taxi (ca $30,00) from Mombaca city center.

[edit] Learn

[edit] Work

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

Trekkers restaurant on the north coast shanzu, in ngomongo vlilages. good food, good music, great place. www.trekkersmsa.com

[edit] Splurge

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Pirates is the place to be. It always kicks any day of the week.
• Tusker beer

• Don't drink "freshly squeezed" fruit juice -it may be several weeks old, and will give you diarrhea.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Favourite hotel is Bahari She She Beach, a little paradise. Another great resort, Bold textSun n' Sands Beach Resort".

[edit] Budget

Glory Bed and Breakfast on Haile Selassie Road...500 kenyan shillings for a single with shared facilities

[edit] Mid-range

• Royal Castle Hotel, Moi Avenue. Double room from 45-60 dollars

• Manson Hotel, Off Moi Avenue, Mobile: +254 (0)722 610 615. Double Fan Ksh 2700/-

[edit] Splurge

• Manson Hotel

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay safe

Don't expect to be able to wander alone in the streets. People do, but you'll get bothered by boys selling souvenirs, drugs or prostitutes.

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!