THREE WAYS TO PLAN AND BOOK YOUR SAFARI WITH AFRICANMECCA

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FORT JESUS

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FORT JESUS TOUR EXPERIENCE IN MOMBASA WITH AFRICANMECCA


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Fort Jesus symbolizes not only the history of Mombasa, but also the architectural prowess of the Portuguese in designing and building martial structures that are based on Renaissance era values of proportions and geometrical elements. Giovanni Battista Cairati, an Italian architect and engineer, served as the Chief Architect for the Portuguese in East Africa, and his last assignment to design Fort Jesus became the highlight of his career.

Construction of the fort lasted from 1593 to 1596, and the property, including the moat, covers an area of almost six acres. The original structure was documented by Manuel Godinho de Heredia in 1610 and over time, some design elements were influenced by the many cultures that fought to gain control of the fort, such as African, European, Arab, Ottoman and Persian.

The Portuguese recognized the strategic value of positioning the fort on a coral cliff to protect their trade route with India, as well as their East African interests. From this vantage point, the Portuguese were able to detect approaching ships well before the vessels entered the harbor, an advantage that ultimately led to the fort being under an almost constant state of attack for most of its history, including Omani Arabs from 1696 to 1698.

Eventually, the Portuguese lost control of their prized Fort Jesus until 1728, only to lose it again a year later. In 1837, a type of peace was instilled upon the fort when it became soldier barracks before being used as a prison by the British in 1895. On October 24, 1958, Fort Jesus was placed in the custody of the trustees of the National Museums of Kenya. Wandering the fort grounds is an insightful journey through Mombasa’s history.

The museum opened in 1962 and has become a popular attraction for tourists, students and researchers. Inside the museum, you will find an intriguing collection of archaeological artifacts from the fort, as well as Manda, Ungwana, Gede and other sites, some of which have been donated by private individuals and others that have been recovered from the shipwreck of the San Antonio de Tana that has been at the bottom of the Indian Ocean since 1697. Fort Jesus can be experienced during an AfricanMecca city tour of old town Mombasa.

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BEACH HOLIDAYING IN MOMBASA
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BEACH HOLIDAYING IN MOMBASA

Bury your toes in the soft white sand while watching soothing waves lap the Mombasa shoreline. The aquamarine of the Indian Ocean stretches as far as the eye can see, meeting the blue sky on the horizon.

WHERE TO STAY IN MOMBASA
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WHERE TO STAY IN MOMBASA

The South Coast is where you will find the highest level luxury accommodations, few of which are The Funzi Keys, AfroChic Diani and also Alfajiri Villas where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have stayed.

GUIDE ON MOMBASA
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GUIDE ON MOMBASA

As you walk along the winding streets of Mombasa, you will be captivated by the mixture and acceptance of varied cultures, history and coastal metropolitan flair that is reflected in the people and architecture.

BEST TIME TO VISIT MOMBASA
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BEST TIME TO VISIT MOMBASA

When combined with a wildlife safari, the two dry seasons from July through October and January until February are the best times to visit Mombasa as the sky has few, if any, clouds, and sunshine is abundant.

AFRICANMECCA REVIEWS

What are our Customers saying about us? READ MORE REVIEWSfive star africanmecca safaris reviews

  • I want to let you know we had a wonderful time in Kenya and everything went a planned! We also enjoyed Pinewood Village by the ocean in Mombasa. Thanks so much for all you and your company did for us.
    James Brubaker & Michael Hess - Pennsylvania, United States
  • From the moment we arrived in Mombasa, there were transportation officers there to collect us. Great trip, and AfricanMecca were really organised and gave us all the information. Thanks for everything!
    Mark Cobb - London, United Kingdom
  • Dear Raza, You turned our dream into a reality. Our honeymoon and wedding in Kenya was so much more than we hoped for. We've never in our wildest dreams thought a vacation could be so perfect. We were spoiled...
    Mrs Annemarie Bain - New York, United States
  • My daughter's and my trip that AfricanMecca arranged to South Coast Mombasa, Diani Reef Beach Resort was awesome. We laid on the beach quite a bit, but did manage to take in camel rides and also snorkelling.
    Shirley Smith - Alberta, Canada
  • Jambo Altaf, I want to let you know that both Dorothy and I found our two week trip to Kenya to be an absolutely wonderful experience. Our booking through AfricanMecca for our trip delivered everything we hoped for and more.
    John Lowry - Cheshire, United Kingdom
  • Dear Raza, Just a note to let you know that my daughter and I had a wonderful time in Kenya. In, fact I enjoyed my time in Kenya so much that I changed my plans to spend a few days in London and spent an extra two days in Mombasa.
    Patricia Young - Universal Music Group - California, United States
  • I am writing to let you know that my mother and her friend, Carole, had a very good holiday in Kenya. We were all very happy with all your help in booking the trip. All the arrangements you had made for them went very smoothly.
    Dr Christina Cousens - Moredun Research Institute - Scotland, United Kingdom

EAST AFRICA SAFARI & BEACH BOOKING TRIP IDEA FOR MOMBASA IN EASTERN KENYA

When beach vacationing in Mombasa, we recommend combining your safari to Masai Mara for the wildebeest migration, Amboseli, Samburu or Laikipia - Lewa, Nakuru, Elementaita, and Naivasha - Great Rift Valley Lakes. You can also climb the 2nd highest mountain in Africa: Mount Kenya.

You may optionally extend out to other wilderness areas of Meru, Chyulu Hills or Tsavo East - Tsavo West for an offbeat wildlife tour.

You can end your vacation at the Indian Ocean for a beach vacation and Swahili cultural tour on the exotic spice island of Zanzibar, Lamu, or Watamu.

Best Safari Planning Ideas & Trip Experiences For Kenya

Below are guide references on how to plan each of the below safari experience in Kenya. Alternatively, go to the summary section for a quick overview of each trip planning experience.

1. How To Plan Kenya Safari Trips? (Summary)

2. Wildlife Safari Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

3. Private & Tailor-Made Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

4. Honeymoon Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

5. Family Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

6. Luxury Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

7. Photo Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

8. Cultural Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

9. Primate Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

10. Hike, Trek & Bush Walk Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

11. Birding Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

12. Horseback Riding Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

13. Balloon Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

14. Wedding Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

15. Bush & Beach Safaris Trip Planning Guide For Kenya

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