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蒙巴萨岛
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Mombasa is the largest city on the Kenyan coast and East Africa's largest port.
It stands on an island in a bay that forms an ideal natural harbour for ships and has been an important crossroads for shipping trade between the East African nations since the twelfth century.
In recent years Mombasa has extended to the mainland, to which it is connected by a causeway, a bridge and a ferry service.
The main religion is Islam, although the city also has a large Christian population. The majority of the inhabitants are African, including many who speak Swahili.
However, Mombasa is a veritable melting pot of races and cultures, from British to Omani, Chinese and Indian.
The latter form the largest minority group and are the descendents of the labourers and engineers who worked for the British on the construction of the famous East African Railway that crosses Kenya towards Tanzania and Uganda.
The great diversity of the population is also a direct consequence of the long history of struggle between European and Oriental powers for control over this part of Africa.
The first colonial conflicts date back to the sixteenth century and were between the Portuguese and the Arabs. Subsequently, from the late 1800s until the 1950s, Kenya was ruled by Britain.
Tourism is an important industry, although most visitors stay in the hotels on the beaches north and south of the city.
While Mombasa is a typical modern African city, the rhythm of life is more relaxed than in Nairobi and it enjoys a pleasant tropical climate.
The most interesting part is the noteworthy old town, with its narrow, winding streets, and typical Swahili houses with richly carved doors and jambs and distinctive screened balconies that ensure the privacy of their occupants.
The remains of Fort Jesus, the main tourist attraction, are situated in the middle of this part of the city. The fort was built by the Portuguese in 1593 and is still an imposing building, despite its current state of decay.
Today the fort houses a museum with collections of jewellery, ceramics, various objects and anthropological displays illustrating the coastal tribes.
The streets of the city centre are prevalently residential and generally quiet, while the winding alleys connecting the old town to Digo Road are home to a bustling market selling just about anything, from baobab seeds to cell-phone accessories.
The mosques are also interesting tourist attractions, although entrance is restricted to Muslims.
The sixteenth-century Mandhry and Basheikh Mosques and the modern Memon Mosque are the most picturesque.
Other attractions include the Lord Shiva Temple - a Hindu temple with an interesting sculpture garden - and the Swaminarayan Temple, where visitors can admire brightly coloured paintings of mythological scenes.
Each year in November Mombasa hosts a lively carnival with processions, floats and music. |
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