Abduljabbar Ali Mombasa is a popular tourist destination in Kenya because of its unique features different from other cities.
Don’t get me wrong, Kenya has incredible destinations, many activities to do, and places to see — when everyone plans a trip to Kenya, Mombasa is always on the bucket list.
You may be wondering why many tourists visit Mombasa and spend weeks up to months just roaming from one location to another.
There is something that draws all these people to Mombasa, in this article I will break down everything for you to know why it’s such a popular tourist destination in Kenya.
Every location people choose to explore always has something unique, interesting, and exciting to see and do.
Mombasa contains everything you can think of that a tourist would want to see, learn, and do while exploring.
Without wasting time, let me share with you why Mombasa is one of the top tourist destinations in Kenya.
This is why Mombasa is a popular tourist destination;
1. The stunning beauty of Mombasa Beaches.
Mombasa is along the coastline of the Indian Ocean which contains stunning beaches that make Mombasa to be termed as a coastal paradise.
The beaches in Mombasa are one of the first reasons that make this city a popular tourist destination.
People travel the world to enjoy themselves, create memories, gain experiences, and try new foods.
With the beaches along the coastline of the Indian Ocean, people get to swim, bathe in the beautiful white sands, ride jet skis, and quench their thirst with coconut drinks.
The beaches in Mombasa are very beautiful, clean, and filled with palm trees all over the shore.
It gives Mombasa its beautiful image which in turn the locals decided to take pride in and reflect the stunning beaches to their buildings — by painting their houses within the island blue and white.
The white represents the white sands and the blue represents the blue crystal clear waters in the Indian Ocean.
If it were not for the beaches, Mombasa would have just been like the other unknown cities in Kenya.
The beaches in Mombasa attract different kind of activities that excites the tourists.
Since the beaches are full of Marine life, visitors enjoy snorkeling, collecting shells at the shores, eating seafood, walking and exercising along the shores, kite surfing and so many water sports.
When you consider all these activities, it makes people consider Mombasa as their perfect holiday destination.
For those who are visiting Africa when they think of the countries to visit, Kenya is always mentioned because of Mombasa City and Nairobi.
The postcards from Mombasa always contain images of beautiful beaches.
On the South Coast of Mombasa (Kwale County) one of the top beaches ( Diani Beach) in the world is located there.
In these many beaches that are in Mombasa along the Indian Ocean shore, there are private and public beaches.
The private beaches are mostly linked with resorts, restaurants, and hotels — to access them you have to use these facilities.
These beaches are usually well-kept and better than the public beaches since they are taken care of by the management of the resorts or hotels covering the shore.
But even the public beaches in Mombasa are stunning, clean, safe, and accessible to anyone who wants to chill.
Read also; Is It Safe To Walk In Mombasa, Kenya?
Those who want to interact with the locals, see how the locals live their lives along the shore of the beaches, and how they handle their businesses, prefer to go to these public beaches.
These are some of the top public beaches in Mombasa that tourists visit;
- Mombasa Beach.
- Nyali Beach.
- Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach.
- Pirates Beach.
- Shelly Beach.
- Shanzu Beach.
Read also; 6 Top Public Beaches In Mombasa
2. The rich historical heritage of the coast.
Mombasa is one of the oldest cities in Kenya that has ties with the Portuguese, Indians, and Arabs.
There is so much to learn about the history and development of this city in Kenya.
Mind you, Mombasa is the second biggest city after Nairobi which is the capital city of Kenya.
This tells you that Mombasa City has seen different civilizations and sheltered incredible pieces of monuments that tie to its history.
The trade routes and harbor that were used by the Arabs and Indians made Mombasa a center of business.
A lot of things went on starting from 900 B.C. — the entire history of transition and growth of this city still exists up to date.
The city itself is a history enough that will leave you mesmerized and the Swahili people also have a history you can unravel.
It’s history on top of history. Most aspects that contribute to the uniqueness of the city are also incorporated by history that will blow your mind.
Tourists who are interested in learning the history of Mombasa while exploring the city prefer to visit it and spend some days or weeks seeing the proof of what existed in ancient times to solidify their learning experiences.
The top historical heritage of Mombasa is the Fort Jesus which turns out to be one of the biggest treasures and pride of this city.
Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese starting from 1593 to 1596, this building itself holds history that will leave history nerds occupied by this knowledge.
The fort went through different administrations throughout the year, it was even turned into a prison.
A piece of history like this fascinates the tourists and that is why most of them visit Mombasa to see for themselves.
Fort Jesus is the top tourist attraction in Mombasa because of its historical value and the identity it holds for Mombasa City.
That is just one part of the history that tourists visit Mombasa for.
We also have Mombasa’s old town which is rich in historical heritage that most people are excited to learn about.
Read also; 5 Things To Do In Mombasa Old Town (After Fort Jesus)
This is the oldest town in Mombasa which is within the Fort Jesus area that was inhabited by the Indians and Arabs who performed their trade activities.
Later on, due to intermarriages between the Arabs and the Bantus the Swahili civilization took its toll.
This added another unique community in the heart of Mombasa Island that led to another new culture dominating the coastline of the Indian Ocean.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when I talk about the history of Mombasa — those who are interested in learning about all these find this a reason enough to visit the city.
3. For unforgettable wildlife experience.
Mombasa is a popular tourist destination because it also has incredible animal parks that are cheap and easily accessible to anyone within the city.
Those who want to connect with nature, see and interact with animals while in Mombasa visit these parks.
These are the most visited animal parks in Mombasa;
- Haller Park.
- Mamba Village.
- Nguuni Nature Sanctuary.
- Butterfly house.
Haller Park – Haller Park is located 20 minutes drive out of Mombasa Island which is convenient for the tourist who wants to check out this incredible nature park.
The main reason why tourists visit this park in Mombasa is to interact with the wild animals enjoy their walk around the park and escape from the heat of Mombasa.
Haller Park also attracts tourists by introducing feeding programs that enable the visitors to feed and even touch some of the wild animals like giraffes.
Those who want this kind of experience tend to put Mombasa at the top of their budget list since it’s super interesting.
Imagine feeding giraffes for the first time in your life! An unforgettable experience that you will have once in a lifetime in Mombasa.
The amazing thing is that you don’t have to spend so much money to get this experience thus people find it the best choice especially those who are traveling on a budget.
Read also; 3 Days Mombasa Itinerary On A Budget
Mamba Village – the word ‘Mamba’ means crocodile, thus suggesting this is a crocodile farm in Mombasa.
It’s not just any crocodile farm, it’s the largest crocodile farm in Africa — that had a chance to hold one of the oldest crocodiles that lived over 100 years called Big Daddy but it died.
Up to date when you visit this crocodile farm in Mombasa you will see it’s remained since it was dried up to let people see the proof of the existence of this huge crocodile.
At this crocodile farm in Mombasa, the tourists can learn anything they want to know about these reptiles from the tour guides that are there to serve.
Who would miss such an amazing opportunity to interact with the crocodiles and get to learn more about them at the same time?
Nguuni Nature Sanctuary – is another amazing animal park located in Bamburi Kiembeni in Mombasa that drives tourists to this city.
The nature park offers amazing grounds for tourists to walk around, hang out, and enjoy the sunset with the views of giraffes, ostriches, and oryxes.
It’s one of the beautiful animal parks in Mombasa that leaves so many tourists blown away by the experience and memories they create there.
This is another reason why Mombasa is a popular tourist destination — since the tourists get such an incredible experience they will never get anywhere else at a cheap price.
Butterfly house – as the name suggests this park is all about butterflies. If you want to see the butterflies and learn about them this is the perfect place to visit in Mombasa.
Butterfly House is located in Mombasa’s old town just next to Fort Jesus. After touring the fort some prefer to jump directly to the butterfly house.
It has collections of different butterflies that the tourists can see and learn something about them from the tour guides.
Mombasa has so much more to offer when it comes to connecting with nature.
It’s not just only about the beaches and the history but the aspect of nature is also not left behind — which is why tourists find Mombasa to be one of the cities to visit in Kenya.
4. The vibrant culture of Mombasa.
Tourists visit Mombasa to learn about the vibrant culture of the Swahili People living on the coastline of the Indian Ocean.
The early interaction of the Arabs and Bantus led to intermarriages that brought about a new community in Mombasa called the Swahili.
This new community dominated the coastal side of Mombasa thus bringing about a new picture that changed the view of the entire city.
Since the new community still exists up to date — the tourists are always fascinated by learning about them and understanding their influence on the growth of Mombasa city and its beauty.
Their way of life is a little bit different from other communities all over the world.
The way they dress, eat, their religious aspects, practice their lifestyle and so many things about them are just astonishing to learn about.
Most of the Swahili people within Mombasa live on the island and are highly populated in the old town.
Tourists who are interested in learning about the vibrant culture of the Swahili prefer visiting Mombasa.
Apart from the Swahilis, we also have the Mijikenda ( 9 tribes that occupy the southern part of the coast ) their cultural practices are also one of a kind.
The way they handle themselves and carry out cultural practices is an exotic and stunning thing to learn about.
Their language is also another mystery that most tourists are interested in unraveling since it’s linked with the Swahili.
Such a fascinating chain of history and culture is still linked up to date. Which is just satisfying for anyone interested in venturing into the learning curve about these people.
This is one of the unique factors that attracts lots of tourists to Mombasa.
If this is something that you are also fascinated to learn about then you should consider visiting Mombasa.
Read also; What Is The Best Month To Visit Mombasa?
5. Mombasa’s uniqueness and its authenticity.
Mombasa is one of the oldest cities in Kenya that still holds its originality — the modernity hasn’t taken its toll widely on the architectural design.
When you visit Mombasa town don’t expect to see tall skyscrapers like the ones you will see in Nairobi (the capital city of Kenya).
You may be surprised by this fact but this city is one of the simplest ones you will ever come across in Kenya.
The people of Mombasa take pride in their authenticity thus they made a vow to protect their image.
The city center of Mombasa still holds the oldest buildings that give Mombasa a unique look that takes you back in time.
If you talk about time traveling coming to reality — Mombasa City offers you that experience.
The design of its buildings is just captivating and unlike anything you will see from different cities away from the coastal region.
With these amazing features still standing within the city, the tourists are just excited to visit Mombasa and see for themselves how incredible this city holds up.
The city vibe is different that you will come across Kenya while exploring.
Mombasa people are unique when it comes to how they handle their businesses, their lifestyle, and cultural practices.
The locals know how to live a slow life and focus on most aspects that are interesting to them.
There is this feeling of peace and tranquillity that you will only get in this incredible city due to its serene environment and how people live their lives.
Tourists who are interested in changing their scenes and experiencing something different prefer to visit Mombasa.
6. The different atmosphere the city offers.
Mombasa is a city that fits every tourist’s needs because it offers different atmospheres for different kinds of travelers.
You can get both calm and chaotic experiences within a single city.
One minute you can be walking in a chaotic crowd of people and another one you are in a calm and peaceful environment enjoying the sunset along the shores of the Indian Ocean.
If you want to switch from one environment to another within the city is possible for you.
It’s such a treasure being in one destination but being able to shift the environments whenever you feel like is marvelous.
Those who want the chaos of the city since they feed and benefit from it prefer living in the city center.
Those who want quiet, clean, and fresh air tend to move to Shanzu and Vipingo, or some move to the South Coast (Kwale County).
Read also; 7 Best Areas To Stay In Mombasa
Tourists who are aware of this always prefer putting Mombasa on their bucket list thus making it a popular tourist destination.
7. It’s one of the cheapest cities to travel to.
Another reason why Mombasa is a popular tourist destination is that it’s one of the cheapest cities to travel to In Kenya.
Tourists who are traveling on a budget and want to get a piece of luxury prefer visiting Mombasa.
Apart from just traveling and exploring the city some tourists decide to move to Mombasa Kenya because of how affordable it is.
Read also; What Makes Mombasa A Cheaper Place To Live [5 Major Things]
If you can find paradise and enjoy it to the fullest even when you are on a tight budget, would you consider leaving it for another one that is more expensive than that?
The amount of money one may spend traveling around Nairobi Kenya is going to be 15% to 20% more than the money one will spend in Mombasa.
It’s not that Mombasa doesn’t have luxurious resorts and accommodations, you can get every kind of hotel you are thinking of within the city.
Tourists love that they can still have luxury within their means when it’s a different thing in their countries.
With a budget of $300, you can explore Mombasa City to the fullest and get every kind of adventure you may think of.
You can’t say the same when you travel to other cities in Kenya.
What makes Mombasa one of the cheapest cities to travel to are the cheap activities, cheap meals, and accommodations.
When tourists are traveling around a destination the only things they care about are the activities they can do, things they can see, and where they can sleep.
Read also; 8 Affordable Places To Visit In Mombasa Kenya
You can do a lot of activities in Mombasa and enjoy your day even without spending anything if you don’t want to.
There are free hang-out places within the city where you can have fun and enjoy your day without breaking your bank account.
Read also; 8 Best Hang Out Places In Mombasa (6 Free + 2 Pay)
Moving around Mombasa is also very cheap thus reducing the expenditures for the tourists who enjoy jumping from one location to another in search of adventure.
8. Top Swahili dishes are in Mombasa.
If you are a food lover you are going to love your visit to Mombasa.
You won’t get enough of the Swahili dishes you will try in Mombasa — which are some of the amazing dishes you will have in Kenya.
The Mombasa local cuisine is what most foodies travel to Mombasa to experience.
The Swahili People are experts in preparing delicious dishes that rank at the top when we talk about the best dishes in Kenya.
You will taste the best biryani and pilau in Mombasa because it’s where people own the recipe of these meals and they know their way around the kitchen.
If you are into spiced Swahili dishes, Mombasa doesn’t leave you left out when it comes to that.
Since Mombasa is just along the coastline of the Indian Ocean, it’s a home of seafood that you won’t get enough of.
The style of how these dishes are prepared, the spices and ingredients used just give the food a delicious unique taste that will blow your mind.
The surprising thing is that these incredible Swahili dishes I am talking about won’t break your bank account.
The foods are cheap and if you are eating like a local while traveling, you won’t spend more than $10 a day.
The same Swahili dishes you will try in Mombasa without spending so much money on, it’s going to cost you double the money you will spend eating them in another city away from the coast region.
Apart from the Swahili dishes, we have snacks and street foods that will leave your taste buds blown into pieces.
If you get to Mombasa you should try shawarma, bajia, viazi karai, vitumbua, mitai, kashata, labania, and halwa — these are some of the best street foods you find in the city.
Tourists visit Mombasa to enjoy these incredible foods, learn how they are incorporated into the culture, and attend classes just to know how to prepare them.
9. It’s the home of amusement and joy.
You will hear people using the phrase ‘Mombasa Raha’ when they are talking about Mombasa.
‘Raha’ is a Swahili word that refers to the fun, joy, and amusement that Mombasa City offers to locals and visitors.
When it comes to enjoyment and fun, this city doesn’t leave behind anything at all.
If you want to spend all your days in Mombasa parting and enjoying like you are never going to do it again — this city has you covered.
Mombasa offers every kind of pleasure to every kind of person and that is why it holds different kinds of people all over the world.
People leave their hometown to move to Mombasa just to experience the zeal of this fun everyone is talking about.
Most of them get stuck in Mombasa because of the pleasure they get from this city.
We have those who are trapped by the beautiful men and women, drinking and parting, and beaches and destinations.
It’s always fun in Mombasa to the extent that most locals send their kids to study far away from the city so they to focus on their education.
This fun and joy that exists in Mombasa is one of the reasons why so many people far away from the coast consider the locals lazy because they are all about partying.
Just imagine if the locals are even affected by the fun and amusement that the city has to offer, ask yourself how will it badly capture the tourists.
Some tourists travel to Mombasa just to make friends and find their soul mates.
If you take a moment and watch content online you will find out that most tourists come to Mombasa alone and they go back to their home towns with partners.
Mombasa has so many incredible bars and lounges that contribute to its great nightlife and capture the hearts of so many tourists.
You can have it all in Mombasa — this is why it is a popular tourist destination in Kenya.
10. The tropical climate in Mombasa.
The tropical climate in Mombasa Kenya is another reason why this city is a popular tourist destination.
Mombasa is hot and humid almost the entire year except in April and May when the city experiences the longest periods of rain.
Even during the rainy days in Mombasa, the temperatures are still tolerable — the lowest temperatures are 23°C on average while the highest are 31 °C on average.
This is the perfect weather for people who are searching for summer throughout the year.
The tourists who escape the winters from their countries and want the summer vibes — beaches and palm trees all run to Mombasa.
It’s not surprising that some of the peak seasons are associated with the lower temperatures in the northern and southern hemispheres.
Though sometimes the city is too hot, tourists still enjoy chilling under the umbrellas at the beach and drinking coconut water.
This is the pride and treasure of Mombasa City that draws a lot of tourists to this destination.
11. To learn the Swahili language.
People visit Mombasa to learn the Swahili language — it’s easier to learn the language when you immerse yourself in the community.
People visit Mombasa to familiarize themselves with the language by spending more time with the locals.
The locals in Mombasa mostly speak Swahili apart from English.
The dialect of Swahili spoken in Mombasa is kimvita — the tourists who want to extensively learn this dialect travel to Mombasa.
The national language of the Republic of Kenya is Swahili and English, but the coast of Kenya is where Swahili is fluently spoken.
Remember, we have the Swahili community living along the coastline of the Indian Ocean, they contribute to the growth of the Swahili language.
The other cities away from the coast don’t know Swahili and most of them are mesmerized hearing someone from the coast speaking.
I have seen how intrigued people are just hearing me speaking fluent Swahili in Eldoret and Nairobi.
This tells you that Mombasa is one of the best cities to learn Swahili. Tourists who are interested in diving deep into this language travel to Mombasa.
Lastly…
Mombasa is a popular tourist destination because of the amazing features it offers to visitors.
There are a lot of things to learn, things to do and see while exploring the city.
It’s a coastal paradise that is filled with beautiful beaches, historical heritage, and a cultural Kaleidoscope.
The feel of the Island is different from the rest part of Mombasa thus giving people a chance to experience different sides of the city.
Mombasa is a beautiful city that is filled with so many incredible things to do and see, the locals are welcoming and the food is worth trying.
It’s an active city that is growing as time goes by. In a few years, things won’t be the same in this city.
History will be completely overwhelmed by the modernity that is slowly creeping in every day.
One thing about Mombasa will remain — its people and culture will always stick in the hearts of the locals and their coming generations.
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