Day-1 : Duration: 24h
Begin with pickup at your
Mombasa accommodations, then travel to Fort Jesus, a UNESCO-listed,
16th-century Portuguese fort. Visit a series of exhibits inside the
fort, which is also Mombasa’s oldest museum, following the history of
local people, the Swahili language, and the sultans.
Continue into Mombasa’s old town, where diverse historical architecture
tells the story of the Africans, Arabs, Asians, Portuguese, and British
who have shared the city for hundreds of years. Take in the elephant
trunk monument, a poignant reminder of the now-illegal ivory trade that
flourished in Mombasa. Pass the atmospheric fish market, where local
fishermen display each day’s catch, and take time to sample local dishes
in the market (own expense)—visiting the market with the guide is a
perfect way to learn about Mombasa specialties.
Spend the afternoon in Haller Park, a wildlife sanctuary with a fish
farm and reptile zoo. The park was constructed in a disused cement
quarry, and has been transformed with hundreds of indigenous plants,
casuarina trees, and other vegetation, which now support a thriving
animal population. Try to spot some of the bushpigs, giraffes, elands,
and oryx that live within the park. After visiting the park, return to
your Mombasa hotel, where this private tour concludes.