TRAVEL GUIDE - MOMBASA, KENYA

Mombasa lies on the tropical Kenyan coast and is a charming city with a rich history stretching all the way back to the 12th century. It's the perfect place from which to explore the safari areas in the vicinity like Tsavo National Park : there are many interesting things to travel and see, beaches to relax on and fantastic nature reserves to visit.

There is a vibrant mixture of cultures, architecture and entertainment - travellers paradise. At the Shimba Hills National Reserve, reasonably close travel dstance from Mombasa, you will encounter a lovely forest setting with elephant, leopard and the rare, sable antelope. That is the nearest Mombasa safari.

Towards the south, there are a number of beaches and resort hotels. The beaches are white and sandy with coral reefs to delight scuba divers. On the pleasant Shimoni Island and Wasini islands there is authentic Swahili culture and a protected marine reserve, definitely worth to travel to.

North of Mombasa there are the beaches of Nyali, Bamburi, Shanzu, Kikambala and Vipingo that are all well-worth a visit. It is here that you will find the exotic town of Kilifi, home to artists and adventurers from all over the world.

Other spotlight of mombasa travel is The Lamu Archipelago is a beautiful string of six islands in the Indian Ocean close to Kenya's northern coast. The six islands that make up the Lamu Archipelago are namely: Lamu, Manda, Pate, Kiwayu and Manda Toto.

The largest islands are Pate, Manda and Lamu, and Lamu Town is the largest settlement on the archipelago.

The Lamu Archipelago is world known for its archaeological and historical sites, like Manda Town and Shanga on Pate Island. Excavations at these historic and travel sites have unearthed new aspects of old Swahili history and culture.

The Chinese fleet of explorer Zheng He is supposed to have harboured at the Lamu Archipelago, and perhaps even to have lost a ship in the ocean nearby.

Othe tourist attraction in this region definitely worth visiting is the renowned Zanzibar, Tanzania.