The Swahili People:
The Swahili are not a ‘tribe’ as such, but the product of centuries of mixed heritage that has combined the strains of assorted African, Persian, Portuguese and Omani people into one harmonious whole. Arab traders, sailing to Kenya from the Persian Gulf, first plied the coast in their dhows around the 7th century. With time, they settled, established dynasties and intermarried with the locals, the result being that Islam came to exert an increasingly strong influence on the people of the coast. In the 15th century the Portuguese, the first of the coastal colonizers, arrived and spent two centuries fighting the Arab settlers and plundering the gold and ivory of Mombasa before being ousted by the Sultans of Oman. Throughout the 18th century rival Omani dynasties fought for ascendancy in the region and establishing a flourishing slave trade until, in 1824, the British ship HMS Leven arrived and, at the request of the people, declared Mombasa a British Protectorate. Thereafter commenced the battle to both abolish slavery and establish a British colony in Kenya.
The end result of so much racial intermingling is a cultural melting pot of coastal people who are loosely termed Swahili and share a common language. And, although the majority are Muslims, the relaxed and colourful Swahili way of life is worlds away from the stricter Islamic practices of the Middle East. Traditional Swahili culture features modestly veiled women, flowing robes, bright colours, henna-painted hands and jangling jewellery. It also offers a treasure trove of literature, art and architecture whilst the Swahili craftsmen excel in the production of ornate sailing dhows, gorgeously carved doors, delicate stonework, brass work and ceramic inlay. As for the Swahili cuisine, it has absorbed the best of a fusion of cultural influences to emerge vibrantly colourful, exuberantly spiced and steeped in coconut, lime, coriander and a profusion of exotic spices.
General:
Currency The Kenyan Shilling (KShs)
Credit cards accepted American Express, MasterCard, Visa and Barclaycard
Time GMT+3. Kenya maintains an almost constant 12 hours of daylight, sun-up and sun-down being at around 06.30 and 18.45 daily and varying only by 30 minutes per year
Climate The coast is always hot with an average daytime temperature of 27-31 degrees centigrade whilst the average daytime temperature in Nairobi is 21-26 degrees centigrade. Temperatures elsewhere depend on altitude. July to August marks the Kenyan winter. Broadly speaking, January-February is dry. March-May is wet. June-September is dry. October-December is wet
Language Kenya’s national language is Kiswahili whilst the official language is English
Electricity/Water Voltage is 240V in rooms, 3 pin square plugs are used but adaptors are available plus shaver sockets at 110V and 240V.
Water purity cannot be guaranteed so we provide mineral water in all our rooms. Our ice is also made with purified water
Visas Are required by most nationals – consult your travel agent for details
Insurance Travel insurance/medical cover is recommended
Health Protection against malaria is essential as the disease is in endemic in Africa. It is vital to take anti-malarial tablets (consult your doctor as to which brand is currently considered the most effective). You should also wear anti-insect sprays/creams in the evening and wear long-sleeved garments and full-length trousers or skirts after dusk. Mosquito nets are provided at the Mombasa Beach Hotel
How to Get There:
The Mombasa Serena Beach Hotel is 20 km north of central Mombasa along the main Mombasa/Malindi highway. The hotel operates a daily shuttle bus into the centre of town and there is a wide selection of taxis available. The nearest international airport is Moi International Airport, Mombasa (27km from the hotel) whilst there is a small local airstrip at nearby Shanzu.
What to Wear/Carry with you:
Because the Serena Beach Hotel offers a relaxed daytime ambiance and features a wide range of activity options, we recommend that you include a selection of beachwear, swimwear and sportswear for daytime wear. As for the evenings, we suggest that a selection of cool, lightweight, casual-to-smart clothing would be appropriate whilst a light wrap or jacket may also be useful on breezy evenings. Finally, due to the fact that malarial mosquitoes are active between dusk and dawn you may like to bring some long sleeved clothing and long trousers or skirts for evening wear. The following items are recommended for inclusion in your travel kit: sun hat, UV sunscreen, sunglasses, cover-up T-shirts, insect repellent and anti-malarial prophylactics.
Taking the Eco Route:
The Serena Group is committed to an escalating eco-policy that embraces sensitivity to the interests of the local population in relation to such matters as: cultural preservation, sustainable habitat and community development. The group also abides by a code of responsible practice in relation to: energy conservation, waste recycling, sewage disposal, air emissions, pesticides, noise reduction and visual pollution. Finally, all Serena Group properties are built to harmonise with the local landscape and to utilise eco-friendly materials, local handicrafts and products. Wherever possible we also aim to enhance the environment via landscaping and indigenous plant material reinforcement.
The Serena Mombasa Beach Hotel Eco Programme:
The hotel was originally built and continues to be maintained using local materials and craftsmen. The interior decor also makes extensive use of local art, crafts and furniture whilst much of the woodwork and raffia-work has been made by the members of the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya. The majority of the hotel staff and the visiting entertainers are drawn from the local community, much of the fresh foodstuffs come from the local markets whilst all the seafood is bought from accredited local suppliers. The hotel also sells locally produced crafts in its boutiques and hosts a weekly ‘Lamu Market’ where local craftspeople can sell their work. The hotel also contributes towards local fund-raising projects and encourages the guests to visit local attractions such as the Bamburi Nature Trail and the Ngomongo Cultural Village .
The hotel cooperates with the Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee on a rescue and conservation project that aims to protect the nesting and feeding sites of seven species of migratory turtles. The programme protects the turtles from poisoning by toxins or plastics, reduces the incidence of their capture by trawlers and fishing nets, curbs the exploitation of turtle meat, shells oil and eggs and protects the hatching cycle of the baby turtles.
The hotel has also recently set up an ambitious Butterfly Project, which aims to provide breeding areas for over 12 species of endangered forest butterflies. The butterflies are hatched as larvae, emerge into pupa and evolve into fully-fledged butterflies within the carefully constructed confines of the breeding houses, all of which are planted with foliage specific to the breeding and feeding habits of the various species. Once sufficient numbers of each species have been reared, selected groups are released into the hotel grounds where they fulfil a much-needed ecological function, pollinating the flowering plants of the ecosystem and acting as an accurate indicator species as to the health of the coastal biosphere.
Where to go from here:
If you have enjoyed the Serena Experience in Mombasa, you might like to take in some of our other properties. This way you can contrast the sapphire and silver ribbon of the Swahili Coast with the beauty of the savannah lands, the vaulted green of a tropical rainforest or the cosmopolitan bustle of downtown Nairobi. Here are some suggestions that we believe will really complement your beach experience.
Get into Amboseli National Park:
Framed against the glorious backdrop of the ethereally beautiful Mount Kilimanjaro and surrounded by miles of rolling grasslands where vast herds of elephant roam, this traditional yet luxurious lodge is the safari destination of a lifetime.
Go up to Mount Kenya at Mountain Lodge:
A cool, green, misty 3,000 m high on the forested slopes of magnificent Mount Kenya, floats the magical wooden ark of Mountain Lodge. Nestled by a water hole that acts as a magnet to great herds of elephant as well as a fantasia of other creatures, this secretively special lodge also offers fascinating nature trails, well-informed guides and some fabulous forest cuisine.
Get into the Bright City Lights at Nairobi Serena Hotel:
The Nairobi Serena is the proud flagship of the group and offers an elegantly stylish haven in the heart of the capital city. As well as a world-class health club, lush tropical gardens and a selection of state of the art business back up services it is also home to one of Nairobi’s very finest restaurants, The Mandhari.
MOMBASA:
By the 15th century this important port was a thriving, sophisticated city with established trade routes to China, Persia, and India. Today Mombasa continues to be the largest port on the East African coast serving the countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern Zaire, and of course, Kenya. The population is fast approaching half a million with 70% of African descent and a small minority of Asians and Europeans.
Over the centuries Mombasa has struggled with numerous foreign invaders and hostility. The Portuguese, the ferocious Zimba tribe, and the Omanis have all laid claim to Mombasa since the 12th century. By the late 1800s it became the base of exploration for British expeditions to Kenya’s interior. In 1988, the Imperial British East Africa Company set up headquarters in Mombasa. British rule of Mombasa became official in 1895 when they leased a stretch of the coast including the port city from the Sultan of Zanzibar. Officially this coastal strip still belonged to Zanzibar until ceded to a newly independent Kenya in 1963.
The British affirmed Mombasa’s importance as East Africa’s most vital port when they completed a railway in 1901 stretching from Mombasa to Uganda. Today, the city remains one of Africa’s major links to the rest of the world. Built on a 15 sq km island, Mombasa is surrounded by a natural harbor. The mainland coasts north and south of the city boast a proliferation of tourist resorts. Within the city itself, a traveler has numerous opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Fort Jesus is perhaps Mombasa’s biggest attraction as it dominates the harbor entrance. This Portuguese stronghold was built in 1593 to fend off local enemies and Turkish warships. The remains of the fort provide an interesting tour back through history and a small museum features a variety of relics. The Omani House, located in the north-western corner of the fort has fascinating displays on Swahili life and breathtaking views over the old town. Mombasa Old Town features a smattering of styles and traditions common to coastal Swahili villages and late 19th century Indian and British colonial architecture.
Although its history goes back centuries, most of the houses in Old Town are generally no more than 100 years old. Nevertheless, many of these buildings were modeled on ancient Swahili designs and feature intricately carved doors and door frames. The Muslim influence can also be seen in the construction of balconies, their support brackets, and detailed lattice work. This area of Mombasa is well worth exploring walking guides are readily available.
The modern center of Mombasa is the intersection of four major thoroughfares: Moi Avenue, Nyerere Road, Nkrumah Road, and Digo Road. Moi Avenue provides the most interesting opportunity for exploration as it is lined with a double row of souvenir shops and stalls. The city’s most famous land mark is also located here: two pairs of crossed tusks created as a ceremonial arch to commemorate the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. Treasury Square remains the administrative center of Mombasa and features old colonial buildings, the historic town hall, and a charming garden square.
KENYA COAST:
Tracing the line down the Kenyan coast through Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa, Shimoni - the names spring from the map like locations from 1001 Arabian nights. Which is no coincidence: legend has it that Sinbad the Sailor actually landed in Mombasa on his voyage to immortality in the world's favourite anthology. Ever since Ptolemy first recorded the thriving trade in gold and ivory here in 150 AD, Mombasa has been famous as the commercial hub of eastern and central Africa. The city boasts some of the most powerful history on the continent: from the striking remains of the violent wars that saw its rule swing wildly between Arabs and Portuguese during the 15th and 16th centuries, to the ignominious slave trade that drove many of its fortunes in the 19th, to the arrival of the British and their "Lunatic' railway line, which would seal the city's fate as the "Gateway to Africa"
ATTRACTIONS:
The most evocative of Mombasa's many monuments lies at its heart: the hulking bastion of Fort Jesus, built in the 1590's. The 50-foot ramparts house a fascinating maritime museum and echoes of a bloody history, including a siege in which 2,500 people were barricaded inside the fort for nearly three years. The narrow lanes of nearby Mombasa Old Town hark back to gilded architectural era, with intricate latticed balconies, exquisitely carved "Lamu doors", and a host of old mosques dating back as far as 1570. Further north in Malindi, visitors can see a pillar erected by the Sultan of Malindi at the spot where Portuguese explorer, Vasco Da Gama, came ashore in 1498.
Just south of Malindi are the eerie ruins of Gedi, a 15th century Swahili town which was strangely abandoned sometime in the 16th century, whether through invasion or simply a lack of water - no one will ever know. However, Gedi was clearly a prosperous settlement, with a sultan's palace, several mosques and a series of grand coral houses. On the outskirts of Mombasa, is the village of Rabai, where East Africa's first missionaries, Krapf and Rebmann, built a church in 1846 (now a museum) before making their name as the first Europeans to see the 'equatorial snows' of Mount Kilimanjaro and Kenya - a claim that famously met with compete scepticism in the learned corridors of Europe.
Kenya's complex cultures are made simple at Ngomongo Villages, 15 km north of Mombasa, where 10 tribal 'homesteads' form a uniquely miniature exposition in which 10 couples live out their traditional livelihoods: The Taitas cultivating, the Kambas carving, the Maasai herding, the tiny El Molo - "the worlds smallest tribe" - fishing on a miniature Lake Turkana.
Inland from the beaches, nature lovers can find another kind of wilderness, particularly in the stunning Arabuko Sokoke Forest, outside Watamu, where the remnants of a once mighty rainforest that stretched from Somalia to Mozambique provides a protected 40 square kilometre habitat to six globally threatened birds, and an innovative butterfly breeding project is helping to reverse local antipathy towards the forest. As knowledge of the area's precious natural heritage gets out, several worthy conservation initiatives have sprung up, including the Watamu Turtle Watch, which pays local fishermen for rescuing sea turtles caught in their nets.
Perhaps the most impressive natural attraction on the Kenyan coast is the Bamburi Nature Trail, recently rechristened Haller Park after the visionary founder. Located just north of Mombasa, this incredible piece of reclaimed land contains deep forest buzzing with bird, insect, reptile and mammal life - most introduced, some uninvited - on what was once a barren cement quarry. As well as beautiful walks and cycle tracks, the park offers an intriguing insight into the science of this rich and complex ecosystem, in which every tiny plant and creature play a vital part. It also produced 40 tons of fish a year, exports crocodile skins, raises butterflies, and harvests impressive quantities of timber, fruit and organic vegetables.
On the south coast, there are also bountiful natural attractions, including the Shimba Hills National Reserve, where you can see elephant and rare Sable Antelope a stone's throw from the sea, the refuge for beautiful black-and-white Colobus Monkeys at Dian's Colobus Cottage, and the offshore coral gardens of Shimoni, which offers some of the finest snorkelling on the African Coast.
SHOPPING:
All the coastal centres - Mombasa, Malindi, Diani - have great souvenir shops and marketplaces, from Mombasa's bustling Makupa Market and the Akamba Carvers' Cooperative to the fantastic Bombolulu Workshops, just north of the city, where 150 disabled craftsmen and women produce beautiful carvings, textiles, leather goods, and arguably the ultimate "eco-gifts' - sculptures and jewellery made from recycled tins and bottle tops. At the big beaches are a variety of 'beach boys' selling their goods, including beautiful kiloi wraparounds that have become the rage in Ibiza and San Tropez.
ENTERTAINMENT:
The Kenyan coast is a party-lover's paradise, and there is no way to do justice to the huge variety of excellent bars, clubs and restaurants in such a short space. Most of the bigger hotels have lively discos, the best known of which are probably Rhythms at Whitesands and Breakers at Bamburi Beach. For a quieter, classier evening out, try the exquisite seafood @ Nyali's Tamarind Restaurant, or board the Nawalikher - the famous 'Tamarind Dhow" - for Kenya's ultimate maritime dining experience.
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