Coast Province
Historical Sites
As the gateway to Kenya by the sea mombasa is rich in History from the time of the Portuguese, the Arabs, the British with a large impact in this region leaving historical sites. The likes of the Vasco da gama pillar, Fort Jesus,Old town,Old port, Shimoni,Wasini Island, Lamu, Nature Trail to mention afew. When site seeing there are places of interest you may visit if you have a day to spare. They include a dhow trip into the Tudor Creek and a visit to the floating market at the Jahazi Jetty, a tour of the Mombasa Old Town, the Fort Jesus etc. Some Restaurants in the Coast Province.
Fort Jesus: This is a historical monument built
by the Portuguese when they first invaded East Africa. In this place, many battles were fought
by the Portuguese and Arabs for supremacy
and the Fort was the first line of protection.
Later the British used it as a prison.
[Onthe Side The Fort Jesus Mombasa]
It is Mombasa’s most popular tourist attraction. The fort, located along the coastline near the Old Town, is a monumental piece of architecture that was built in the 16th century by the Portuguese. The fort has a museum that displays various artefacts from the era where Mombasa served as a transit point for the slave trade and commodities, and which enjoyed regular visits by seafarers and the like. Its interior comprises of torture rooms and prison cells where slaves were kept in captivity before being traded. Weapons such as canons, which were used to defend the fort from invading foreigners as well as rioting locals, can be seen both inside and outside of the fort. The fort opens its gates for viewing in the morning and closes at dusk.
Old Port in the Old Town: This is the original
port in Mombasa. Coastal trade was mostly carried out by sailing dhows that utilized the seasonal winds. It is possible to watch the arrival and departure of old dhows which continue with the tradition of trade servicing the islands off the coast. A walk around theold town with its narrow streets and old houses is worth taking even though a lot of redevelopment is in progress.
Gede Ruins: These extensive ruins of a 13th century Swahili settlement indicate Gede was once a flourishing town with a good size Islamic population.
On the North coast of Mombasa Watamu towards the town of Malindi lays one the most pre-historic ruins found in Mombasa, called the Gedi Ruins. Gedi was a small town built entirely from rocks and stones, which was inhabited by a few thousand Swahili people and ruled by a very rich Sultan. Through careful preservation most of the original foundations can still be seen today.
A well-informed and educated 
guide gives
a tour of the ruins. The ruins are designated, as a National Museum by law, and their preservation are a direct reflection of the commitment of the Government to uphold
the country's cultural and historical background.
[Onthe Side The Gede Ruins]
