"A Mombasa Vacation is a Holiday in Paradise"

"A Mombasa vacation is a holiday in paradise," it is often said. And what a tropical paradise Mombasa is!

Even before I visited the coastal city, I knew that it was synonymous with fine beaches, great weather, a kaleidoscope of marine life, a rich history and a range of world class beachfront hotels.

So when I moved to Kenya, I started saving up and looking for a perfect opportunity to visit Mombasa, which is nestled along the Kenyan coast, about 600 km (375 miles) from the capital Nairobi.

That occasion eventually presented itself and my husband and I duly booked a flight from Nairobi. As my husband and I disembarked from the plane at Moi International Airport, I sensed that this escapade was going to be special.

Was it the warm salty sea air and the swaying coconut palms that greeted us and dramatically heralded the start of our first Mombasa vacation? Partly yes. But to sum up the coastal city in these 2 initial impressions hardly does justice to the city or even your holiday.

Since then, we've returned to the coastal city twice. Both times, we drove over from Nairobi as we reckoned we needed a car to check out what Mombasa has to offer. And we couldn't do that if we confined ourselves to our Mombasa hotel grounds.

What follows is therefore a collection of my family's experiences during all these trips.

Attractions

A Mombasa vacation offers a unique opportunity to revel in an incredibly diverse range of attractions. Some of the most gorgeous beaches. A kaleidoscope of marine life. Lovely weather. A vibrant culture. Relics from its ancient history. Profuse wildlife. Great food. These were certainly the sights, sounds and tastes of our Mombasa vacation.

Beaches

Because our hotel was on the North coast beachfront, we were continually serenaded by ocean waters lapping against the shores.

We sunbathed. We built castles (thankfully, not in the air but sand!). We collected sea shells. And lazed on several fine Kenya beaches in upscale Nyali.

We also crossed the Likoni channel and explored the legendary beaches of the South Coast. And boy, aren't they silk-soft and gleaming white!

Sea Creatures and Wildlife

To get a good view of sea life, we rented a glass bottom boat and headed off to the Mombasa Marine Park. There, we feasted our eyes on breathtaking coral gardens, crabs, shells, jelly fish, sea cucumbers, sea stars and sea urchins.

And speaking of sea urchins...

One of them delivered a painful sting to our boatman's sole. He was writhing even though he had been stung countless other times. So remember to give these black spiny prickly-looking creatures a wide berth. Or better still, keep them at bay by wearing water shoes.

We also made a date with the Haller Park also known as the Bamburi Nature Trail. Set on a reclaimed limestone quarry, this wildlife sanctuary is home to an array of animal, reptile, fish, bird, insect and plant species.

Lady luck was with us that day and we were allowed to feed a snake - under close supervision, of course!

The park has also generously provided for walking and cycling tracks so if these are your pastimes, don't let a Mombasa vacation interrupt them.

We also made it a point to visit Mamba Village, a large crocodile farm on the outskirts of the city.

There, for the first time ever, I encountered some carnivorous plants. Apparently these unusual plants obtain most of their nutritional requirements from insects and small animals which they trap and consume. Weird, huh?

The most famous resident of Mamba Village is Big Daddy, a huge polygamous octogenarian crocodile.

The village also offers horse and camel riding though the highlight of our visit was an astonishing scene of crocodiles tussling for chunks of decomposing meat at feeding time.

Those inclined to savor the farm's culinary delights ordered charcoal-grilled crocodile, ostrich or zebra meat. I understand it will be on your mind (and tongue) long after you've left Mamba Village.

Historical Monuments

My first impressions of this tropical paradise were through a post card that "showcased" the Mombasa Tusks. For me at least, these are are quintessential Mombasa symbol.

So I made it a point to walk through the gigantic "elephant tusks" which signal the entrance to the city center.

If you are a conservationist and believe only elephants should wear ivory, take heart. These tusks - built to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth to the town in 1952 - are made of steel not ivory.

Fort Jesus Mombasa was an unforgettable feature of my history classes in secondary school.

So naturally, I was keen to see this historical monument during our Mombasa vacation.

By far Mombasa's most popular standalone tourist attraction, Fort Jesus is an architectural masterpiece of the sixteenth century. It was built by Portuguese and renovated by the Arabs who routed them.

The canons used to ward off enemies, slave prison cells and torture rooms have been preserved intact.

A newer building houses a museum which displays various ancient Portuguese, Arab and African artifacts such as ceramics and jewelry.

Fort Jesus offers an especially satisfying experience for those who want to go back in time and put Mombasa's cosmopolitan culture in perspective. We found that it is worth hiring a guide to take you around the fort.

Located adjacent Fort Jesus, Old Town is a symbol of Mombasa's "melting-pot" status. The ancient buildings there feature ornately carved doors and are a good place to buy antiques and Kenyan souvenirs. Because the streets are quite narrow, it is advisable to explore Old Town on foot.

Food!

No Mombasa vacation, would, of course, be complete without good food.

Although the Mombasa restaurants are probably as countless as the sand grains on the city's beaches, I can only vouch for a handful: Tamarind, Tamarind Dhow and Yul's.

We dined at each of these restaurants. So, I can confidently state that these offer the very best culinary delights in the coastal city.

The Tamarind is way up there in the Premier League of Kenya's restaurants. Its menu is a creative blend of the finest French, Asian and African cuisine.

The Tamarind Dhow is probably Kenya's most thrilling dining experience but also its most expensive. It isn't just the great food that's memorable. Dining afloat an overhauled ocean-going dhow moored in the middle of Indian Ocean is, to say the least, surreal.

Yul's is located right next to the Bamburi Beach Hotel. This seaside restaurant offers fresh colorful salads and scrumptious seafood and charcoal-grilled Angus-steaks (my favorite!).

After our fix of sun, sea, sand, great food, love and laughter, it was time to return to Nairobi. Our holiday piqued our curiosity as to what the other Kenya beaches had to offer and we will explore them all in time.

Bottom line?

A Mombasa vacation promises to be all the above and more!

From my experience, accommodation always plays a huge role in determining the quality of a Mombasa holiday. So peruse through my Mombasa hotel and beach cottage reviews to be sure you choose the right one for your needs and interests.

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