First stop was Uhuru Gardens. This is famous for the sculpture of two gigantic elephant horns made of metal. It is an important site as it is regarded Kenya’s birthplace. This is where the first Kenyan flag was first raised on the 12th December 1963 symbolising the country’s independence. It’s certainly very striking and a great spot for photographs.
Our next destination was the Likoni Ferry. Mombasa is situated on North island and to get to South Island there are regular ferries. Although there are small charges for cars and lorries – passengers travel for free. The actual journey only lasts a few minutes as the distance is a grand total of 500 metres. There is a strict no photographs rule because there is a large Muslim population in the area. It was the first time that almost all our staff had been on a boat so there was a lot of excitement and a lot of fearful clinging to each other. Noisim kept her eyes clenched firmly shut for the entire journey. You could feel the relief when we returned t terra firma. For some, it was definitely one of those experiences that you enjoy talking about later rather than actually doing it!
Fort Jesus is one of the most famous Mombasa sights. It is a 16th century fort, built by the Portuguese and taken over by Oman, to protect trade routes around Africa. The architecture is fabulous and it has stood the test of time. There is also a wee museum with weapons and jewellery of the various occupants through the centuries. Interestingly, there is a full skeleton of a humpback whale in the courtyard which amazes the Osiligi staff.
Finally, we wander through the Old Town and get a real sense of Mombasa in years gone by. It is reminiscent of Zanzibar with its narrow winding streets and ornate doors. It is noisy, busy, smelly and bustling, as all of life is played out around us. This is the home of the large Muslim population of the city.
Mombasa is an interesting city – well worth a visit – even if like me you only have time for a whistle stop tour.
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