Fort Jesus Museum Mombasa Kenya Day Tour

Fort Jesus Museum Mombasa Kenya Day Tour – Fort Jesus National Museum is a popular cultural attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Mombasa. A visit to the fort provides a fantastic introduction to the history of Mombasa and the wars that took place between the Muslim Arabs and the Christian Europeans for control of the area. The fort is located 490 km (304.5 miles) from Nairobi and is located about 3 km from the Old Town of Mombasa along Nkurumah road on the coastline.  The fortress was built by the Portuguese during the late 16th century to secure the safety of the Portuguese living on the East Coast of Africa. The fort served as a barrack for the Portuguese soldiers and later when the British protectorate was proclaimed, it was converted into a prison. This fort is now a significant historical landmark in Kenya managed by the National Museums Association of Kenya.

Fort Jesus Museum is symbolic of the history of the town of Mombasa and one of the most visited tourist attraction sites in Kenya. The fort is spread across an area of 2.36 hectares and includes a moat and the surrounding areas. The tour of the Museum takes about 1-3 hours to look around depending on your interest and level of fitness and includes excellent tour guides who know every detail of the history of the Portuguese Fort built in 1593.

Fort Jesus Museum provides information on one of Kenya’s historical landmarks – Fort Jesus National Monument which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s an exciting place that will take 1-3 hours to look around depending on your interest and fitness level.

You can see old canons, peer over the battlements and slatted windows, and look around the museum with exciting relics and information. If you have young children, they’ll enjoy running in and out of the ancient rooms and climbing to the top of towers!

Fort Jesus was built in 1593 by the Portuguese and the site was chosen as an entrance to the harbor. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to see great views reminiscent of Pirates of the Caribbean. Designed by an Italian Architect and Engineer, Joao, Batista Cairato, Fort Jesus has had a long turbulent history of hostilities.

After the Portuguese built Fort Jesus, Omani Arabs attacked the Fort in 1696 and after Arab occupation, the Portuguese then made a brief reoccupation 1728 – 1729. After returning back to Arab rule, the Fort was used as barracks for soldiers until 1895, when the Fort was converted into a prison by the British who by this stage had declared Kenya a British protectorate.

Prison cells were built and the barracks (huts) were removed. Finally, just before Kenyan Independence (in 1963), on the 24th October 1958, Fort Jesus has declared a National Park and the Trustees of the Kenya National Parks became responsible for the Fort’s upkeep.

After archaeological excavations, Fort Jesus became a Museum in 1962 and since that time has been an interesting and important landmark in East Africa, drawing many visitors from all around.

Fort Jesus Museum Mombasa Day Tour Price Includes:

 Price per person +  Visit the historical Fort Jesus Museum + All entry fees, service charges, and taxes + Pickup from your hotel in Mombasa – South or North Coast at 0800 hours and drop-off at your hotel. & Professional English-speaking guides. All are experts in African wildlife, culture, and tour guiding, many of whom speak other European languages

Notes

* Open Daily at 0800 Hours -1800 Hours

Fort Jesus Museum Mombasa Sounds & Light Shows

3 Nights each week, the Fort hosts a sound and light show. Guards wearing flowing robes and brandishing flaming torches welcome visitors into the Fort. A choreographed show using lights, sound effects, and actors retell the history of the Fort. The evening includes a candlelit dinner which is served in the Fort’s open courtyard under the stars.

The sound and light show can also be combined with a sunset dhow cruise on Mombasa harbor. For more information about the Sound & Light Show and a dhow, tour contact us at info@africanspicesafaris.com | Whatsapp Number: 0721-242-711

Fort Jesus Museum Mombasa Day Tour Price Excludes:

* Visas
* Laundry
* Meals & Drinks
* Travelers Insurance
* Communication charges
* Tips or gratuity and optional activities
* International airfares and airport taxes
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)

Fort Jesus Museum Guide: A Walk Through The History Of Kenya!

Fort Jesus in Kenya is a fortress built by the Portuguese during the late 16th century in the Old Town of Mombasa. The present-day museum was used as a defensive block and protected the Portuguese on the Eastern Coast of Kenya. The fort served as a barrack for the Portuguese soldiers and later when the British protectorate was proclaimed, it was converted into a prison.

This fort is now a significant historical landmark in Kenya managed by the National Museums Association of Kenya. The museum is also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fort Jesus Museum is symbolic of the history of the town of Mombasa and one of the most visited tourist attraction sites in Kenya.

It is one of the best-preserved evidence of outstanding military fortification during the 16th century. The fort is spread across an area of 2.36 hectares and includes a moat and the surrounding areas. The fort stands on the coastline of Mombasa and speaks of the historical times when the Portuguese used to rule the trading routes of the Indian Ocean.

The location of the fortress was such that, it enabled the soldiers to see any ships that approached the harbor. The fort also tells the story of a quite gruesome past, when the slaves under Portuguese rule were tortured and perished from hunger as well as diseases. During those times, the slaves were shipped to the Persian Gulf and Arabia through the port of Mombasa.

The 16th century was the time when cultural, commercial, and political forces were budding and the Portuguese designed it important to build a fort in the region. Fort Jesus was following Italian architectural styles and you can see significant Renaissance-styled architecture in the fort.

Once the Portuguese started establishing themselves in the Fort, it became a subject of battles. The fort was captured and recaptured many times, changing hands between many rulers including the Omani Arabs from 1698 to 1895, which then went under British control and was then transformed into a prison.

The slaves of the country were held in the torture rooms and cells in the Fort’s prison. The castle also had cannons built to protect it from invaders. Once again when the Portuguese recaptured the fort, it was refurbished many times.

In 1858 the area became a national park and later in 2011, the fort was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is marked as one of the prolific structures belonging to the 16th century.

Fort Jesus is now open as a museum and people can visit the museum to explore the little island and get to see some of the historical structures in Mombasa, including Oman House, which used to be the residence of the Sultan, governor of the East African coast.

Inside Fort Jesus, you can see an exhibit of artifacts discovered from the excavations of Fort Jesus, Manda, Gede ruins, and Ungwana. Other important places you must explore are,

* There is a water cistern, which the Portuguese used to harvest water, and 76 feet deep well. Strolling through the museum, you can also spot many artifacts, ceramics, and pottery items from the era when Mombasa used to be a major trading center.

* There is a Swahili Cultural Center where the youth of Kenyan youth were trained in traditional Swahili arts and crafts, training was also given on business management for enabling the youth to learn the skills of self-employment.

* The butterfly exhibit started recently and showcases a live butterfly exhibition, allowing you to learn more about the biodiversity among butterflies in Mombasa and their connections to the local communities.

Mobile: +254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: info@africanspicesafaris.com
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com