About Mombasa

Mombasa, the oldest & second largest city in Kenya, also known as the Blue and White city is a coastal city in South East of Kenya along the Indian Ocean with coral reefs, architectural wonders and magnificent white sand beaches. Mombasa is one of Kenya's most popular tourist destinations appealing to travellers in search of sun, sand and surf while its Arab, Indian and colonial European heritage offers a wide variety of experiences.

Mombasa has a population of about 1.3 million people with a diverse blend of Indian, African and Arabic cultures. The Swahili, Mijikenda and Kenyan Arabs are the most predominant communities among the Akamba, Luo, Luhya and many more. The vast majority of the locals speak Swahili and English to a smaller extent. The major religions practiced are Islam, Christianity and Hinduism as well. The food in Mombasa is a culinary culmination of all the cultures in the city. Different nations at different times came, conquered and cooked introducing new flavours and produce to the indigenous cuisine. During an afternoon/evening spent roaming the streets, you'll notice the mass of markets brimming with aromas from local produce like “Viazi Karai” (crunchy potato nuggets), “Mishaki”(skewered meat) and so much more. Different hotels also offer great delicacies and luscious international cuisines.

Being a coastal town, Mombasa is characterised by a flat topography and has a warm tropical climate. The amount of rainfall depends essentially on the season. From November to February, the weather is relatively dry as it is dominated by the North East monsoon winds. March to May are often rainy months as the winds blow in an east to south-easterly direction bringing in streams of maritime air from the Indian Ocean. In June, July and August, the South East Monsoon sets in and the weather becomes more stable with cooler temperatures. Between September and November, there are more chances of rain with late November onwards being relatively dry.

Mombasa offers tourists a chance to experience its exotic paradise where everyone is welcomed and absorbed into the beautiful coastal city without having to break an arm and a leg. The city has a number of beautiful hotels ranging from beach front luxury to comfortable budget hotels where tourists can enjoy various beach activities like snorkelling, water sports, boat cruises, trips to different beaches like Diani, Watamu to mention but a few. However, it is not only limited to beach activities as tourists can engage in other fun filled escapades like the Mombasa Go-Kart, the Spice Market, Haller Park, Fort Jesus, the Mamba Village Centre and so on.