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Kenya Holidays: Kenya Mombassa
Home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the Kenyan coast is lined with white sand beaches, tourist resorts and dotted with Arab and Portuguese forts and the overgrown ruins of old trading port towns and Swahili outposts, which are the remaining relics of the area's fascinating history. The first trader's settlements along the coast developed during the 12th century from Arab origins and the Persian Gulf, leaving behind the language of Kiswahili, which evolved as a means of communication between locals and Arab traders and is still spoken today. In 1498 the Portuguese took control of the whole coastal region, but trade still continued throughout occupation and the towns architecture contains the cultural differences and a rich history within its walls.
The warm waters of the Indian Ocean offer world-class diving and snorkelling opportunities to visitors, with vibrant coral reefs, which are teeming with colourful plant and fish life. On your holidays in Kenya, be sure to experience undisturbed coral reefs in Shimoni, Watamu Bay and Malindi marine parks, which are alive with large and colourful fish, due to a lack of coastal fishing in the those areas.
The centre of activity in the region is Kenya's second largest town, Mombasa. The coastline north of Mombasa is lined with resorts and complexes, which cater mainly to package tourists on Kenya holidays. A wide range of luxury accommodation, fine cuisine and excellent services on some of the most beautiful palm-backed beaches is available alongside the warm and calm waters of the Indian Ocean. The Kenya resort town of Malindi lies further north, within easy access of Watamu Bay and the islands of Lamu Archipelago.
Now part of Kenya's mainstream tourism, the once lush forests of the south coast were remote and inaccessible and known for their slave trade and tropical plantations. With idyllic images of white beaches and azure waters, coral reefs protect sheltered waters for underwater exploration and inspire the areas popularity. With a range of accommodation, including luxury resorts with excellent facilities and less developed getaways, the south coast offers a wide range of Kenya holidays. Diving holidays and deep-sea fishing are ideal for the deep coastal caves of Shimoni, a small fishing village, and further south on the Kenyan coastline.
Kenya is central to the African safari experience and is the 'Land of the Lion King' with a wide variety of wild animals and Big Five opportunities. The country offers a wide range of holidays other than the wildlife, although safaris remain its greatest attraction. Kenya is a place for outdoor living, with luxury beach resorts on white sands, diving holidays on untouched coral reefs, a range of climbing and hiking holidays available in the mountainous regions and rolling savannahs, which are a game viewer’s paradise.
The equatorial location of Kenya offers a hot climate, in addition to fabulous scenery and a variety of tribal cultures to discover on a Kenya holiday. The sacred peaks of Mt Kenya reign over the grassland and thorn tree covered landscapes, which are enclosed in the many parks and reserves. The Great Rift Valley to the west has a sprinkling of lakes and is teeming with a wide range of birdlife and to the east an idyllic beach holiday paradise awaits visitors, with white palm-fringed beaches on untouched coral reefs and a variety of luxury resorts. The Kikuyu farmers and the red-clad Masa cattle herders are the native inhabitants the highlands of the Rift Valley, whereas the coastline is home to the ancient civilisations of Swahili and the rich history of spice trading and fighting can be found in the old coastal port towns.
With a sophisticated tourism structure, Kenya has two major cities controlling the tourism trade. The capital of Nairobi is the safari and hiking hub and is situated on the cool Central Highlands of Kenya, whereas the humid trading port of Mombasa functions as an ideal gateway to luxury holiday resorts and the relaxing tropical beaches in the area. Although tourism has a heavy influence on the area, the people are friendly and visitors can choose to do as little or as much as they like in this fantastic holiday destination.
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