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Three days In my favourite city( Mombasa Kenya)

Ask this member a question. Bruce596 Regular visitor
19 Jun 2006
4.5 of 5 stars based on 23 votes
Mombasa is Kenya's second largest city located on the tropical shores of the Indian Ocean cooled by a sea breeze with miles of white sandy beaches fringed by coconut palms. Mombasa is an ideal place to relax and spend a few days after the adventures on an African Safari. This list describes how I would spend three days in my favourite city.
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1. Day 1 Morning
http://www.serenahotels.com/kenya/mombasa/home.asp
After a late breakfast the morning would be spent just relaxing around the pool of the Serena Beach hotel recovering from the hectic days spent on safari. The hotel is located on the shore of the Indian Ocean and is built to resemble a traditional Swahili village with narrow streets, court yards and tropical gardens. Now fully recovered it is time for some lunch in preparation for the afternoon's activities.
2. Day 1 Afternoon
http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/whatson/June2002/hallerpar...
The Haller Park is a complex of nature trails and wild life sanctuaries built on an old disused quarry once belonging to a cement factory. A guide will accompany you on your tour of the park describing the plants and animals you encounter on your walk. The highlight of the tour is being able to feed the giraffes which come from the surrounding sanctuary to a specially built raised platform at 3pm every day. Also you are able to watch the hippos at feeding time and enjoy a cool drink in the parks cafe whilst watching the crocodiles in the pool below you.
3. Day 1 Evening
The evening starts back at the hotel with a Sundowner on the terrace enjoying the refreshing breeze coming off the Ocean whilst watching the sun set. Then its off for dinner in the Fountain restaurant which specialises in Swahili influenced meals flavoured with coconut ,tamarind and lime. After dinner a quick drink whilst being entertained by a group of Maasai Warriors performing traditional dances and songs before departing for an early night ready for the next day.
4. Day 2 Morning
The morning starts with breakfast at the hotel and then taking a taxi tour of the city. Taxis are by far the safest form of transport and your driver will act as a guide as well as waiting for you whilst you visit an attraction. It is always wise to agree a fare with the driver for the day before commencing your journey.

The first stop is Fort Jesus which was built by the Portuguese in 1593 to rule over the costal region and changed hands many times with the fort being laid siege to on at least nine occasions before finally passing into the hands of the British. The fort has a museum with items displayed from the many cultures that traded along the coast. A guide will escort you on your tour of the fort for a small fee.

After Fort Jesus it is a visit to the Old Town which is only a short walk away. The old town has many buildings with carved doors and window frames which are characteristic of East African costal architecture. Take a walk to the old port where you can watch the traditional sailing dhows being loaded and unloaded with nothing more than human muscle power.

Time for a spot of lunch at the Fontanella steakhouse and Beer Garden which is located just off Moi Avenue which serves a mean steak along with an Ice cold Tusker beer.
5. Day 2 Afternoon
http://www.apdkbombolulu.com/EN/
After Lunch it's off to the Bombolulu Workshops with is a charity for people with polio who are employed in the workshops who otherwise would be left to beg on the street just to survive.
The workshop has a verity of activates ranging from wood carving, textile printing and a jewellery factory using recycled drinks cans and bottle tops. A guide will take you on a tour of the workshop and explain the processes that are involved in the different workshops. The workshop has a bar and restaurant where you can stop for a drink whilst being entertained by traditional tribal dancers.

Then a quick drive to the Mamba Crocodile Village where you can view thousands of crocodiles of various ages. Feeding time is 5pm which is a mass frenzy as lumps of raw meat are thrown to the hungry crocs. The village also has a botanical garden along with a reptile and snake park and offers horse riding as well as a restaurant with a menu consisting of a particular kind of dish whose ingredients is readily available from the park. (tastes like chicken).
6. Day 2 Evening
http://www.tamarind.co.ke/mombasa/index.php
For dinner we would go to the Tamarind Restaurant in Nyali. This is one of the top restaurants in Kenya and is located on a Creek which faces Mombasa Island. Food is served on a terrace which is covered with brightly coloured bougainvillea. The food and service are out of this world along with prices to match. It specialises in seafood with the crab and lobster definitely worth ordering. After dinner you can visit the casino above the restaurant and try and win back some of the cost of your meal.
7. Day 3 Morning
http://www.ngomongo.com/
This morning starts with a visit to Ngomongo Villages which are constructed on another disused Quarry only a 10 min drive from the hotel. The villages have reconstructions of several traditional Kenyan villages showcasing several tribes and their homes. Each homestead has members of a particular tribe who will tell you of the tribal way of life and customs. There are several activities to try your hand at from pounding corn, hunting with a bow and arrow and even taking a raft ride across Lake Victoria.
You will be entertained with tribal dances and have a chance to buy some souvenirs from the gift shop.
8. Day 3 Afternoon
The final afternoon its bags packed and off to the airport with a stop en route to the Akamba woodcarving centre which is a stones throw from the airport. The centre is a co-operative of wood carvers who make their products on site. The carvings are sold in the centres shop which gives the carver a percentage of the price paid for the object. The place has hundreds of carvers who you can watch carving all sorts of objects ranging from wild animals to fruit bowls a great place to purchase a last minute souvenir.

Then its off to the airport for the flight back home and dreaming of the next time I can spend another 3 days in my favourite city.