Mombasa

Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya. It has a major port and an international airport. The city is the centre of the coastal tourism industry. In Kiswahili it is called Kisiwa Cha Mvita, which means "Island of War", due to the many changes in its ownership. The town is also the headquarters of Mombasa District which, like most other districts in Kenya, is named after its chief town.

Related Topics:
City - Kenya - Port - Airport - Kiswahili

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The city has a population of around 900,000 and is located on Mombasa Island, which is separated from the mainland by two creeks; Tudor Creek and Kilindini Harbour. The island is connected to the mainland to the north by a bridge, to the south by ferry and to the west by a causeway along which runs the Uganda Railway. The port serves both Kenya and countries of the interior linking them to the Indian Ocean.

Related Topics:
Mombasa Island - Creek - Bridge - Ferry - Causeway - Uganda Railway - Indian Ocean

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The town is mainly occupied by the Muslim Miji Kenda/Swahili people but over the centuries there have been many immigrants, particularly from the countries of the Middle East and Indian sub-continent. Recent immigrants are peoples from the interior of Kenya brought to the area by opportunities to work in the tourist industry.

Related Topics:
Muslim - Miji Kenda - Swahili - Middle East - Indian sub-continent

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Traditional dress for the Swahili women is a brightly coloured, printed cotton sheet called a kanga, which may have inspirational slogans printed on it, and type of black headdress and veil called a "bui bui". Men wear a type of sarong, which is coloured in bright bands, called a "kikoy".

Related Topics:
Cotton - Kanga - Veil - Sarong

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There are several places to visit in Mombasa, including Fort Jesus, built by the Portuguese, and the Old Town, which is by now in bad need of repair but still shows plenty of examples of the old Arab architecture.

Related Topics:
Fort Jesus - Arab architecture

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