Mombasa is a diverse and bustling city of 1.2 million people on the Indian Coast of Kenya. This is the first photo essay in a two-part series that illustrates how I experienced traveling in Mombasa.
Mombasa, Kenya Photo Essay
I readily stipulate that I speak from ignorance, but Mombasa was not what I was excepting. I thought, wrongly and rather foolishly, that Mombasa would feel similar to a large city in South Africa. I’m not even sure on what basis I made that assumption, but it was wrong: if anything Mombasa reminded me of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania (except for Old Town, which reminded me of Stone Town in Zanzibar).
Despite China’s Belt and Road Initiative which has poured millions of dollars into Kenyan infrastructure, the roads were simply atrocious, even in the heart of Mombasa. I suppose that stuck with me because we traveled for many hours and I found myself in the rear of a Toyota Land Cruiser being bounced up and down.
Of course, there was more to Mombasa and the surrounding region than bumpy roads. There was commerce and religion and life…and all of it was a sight to behold, which this photo essay hopefully demonstrates.
I will publish a separate photo essay for Mombassa’s Old Town tomorrow. I have separated Old Town because it is a unique enclave and I took so many photographs there that I believe it merits a separate post.
Finally, what does not come through in the photos above is the many lovely people I met. I experienced great warmth and hospitality from so many during my brief stay and I was deeply grateful for the experience.
Were you simply expecting it to seem more developed? Your pictures make it seem, to me like Lilongwe. Bustling, but quieter than say Kampala.
I was.
I looked through this a second time, and I think I understand your surprise. Life certainly doesn’t look bad here; not at all, but if Kenya is serious about becoming a developed country by 2050, as they say they are, they probably have their work cut out.