Fort Jesus Kenya’s Historical Land mark- Kenya Safari News

Malindi National Park- Kenya Best Marine Protected Area To Visit On Your Kenya Safari Tour Adventure-Kenya Safari News

November 28, 2019

Sites to visit in Mombasa while on a Kenya safari.

December 19, 2019

Published by Promotions Department on December 13, 2019

Lets kick off these series by exploring Kenya’s Mombasa historical site of fort Jesus.

Fort Jesus is located along 04^o03’46”S 39^o40’47”E in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa on an island also known as Mombasa. Built between 1593 to 1596, by the Portuguese by the orders of King Philip I of Portugal, fort Jesus is a testimony to the first European trial to rule east Africa as a way of controlling the newly discovered Indian ocean trade route between Europe and Asia.

This fort was designed by an Italian architect Cairato, while the master builder was Gaspar Rodrigues. The fort was Cairato’s last overseas work. Although the design of Fort Jesus is an example of Renaissance, the masonry techniques, building materials and labour are believed to have been provided by the local Swahili people The fort was built in the shape of a man (viewed from the air) and is roughly square, with four bulwarks at its corners. The fort is considered a masterpiece of late Renaissance military fortification.

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Fort Jesus was captured and recaptured at least nine times between 1631, when the Portuguese lost it to the Sultan Yusuf ibn al- Hassan of Mombasa, and 1895 when it fell under British rule and was converted into a prison. After the Portuguese recaptured it from the Sultan in 1632, they refurbished it and built more fortifications, subsequently making it harder for the fort to fall. The fort was subject to an epic two-year siege from 1696-98 by the Omani Arabs, led by Saif bin Sultan. The capture of the fort marked the end of Portuguese presence on the coast, although they briefly captured and re-occupied it between 1728 and 1729 with the help of the Swahili city states. The fort fell under local rule from 1741 to 1837, when it was again captured by the Omanis and used as a barracks, before its occupation by the British in 1895, after the declaration of the Protectorate of Kenya.

Fort Jesus was declared a national park in 1958, and in 2011, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and highlighted as one of the most outstanding and well-preserved examples of 16th-century Portuguese military fortifications. The fort is Mombasa’s most visited tourist attraction.

You can easily visit Fort Jesus after or before your traditional Kenya wildlife safaris adventure since this fort is located about 15km or a 40-minute drive from the Moi international airport hence making it a great destination for an epic day tour adventure in Kenya.

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A typical safari in Kenya takes on a voyage to numerous Kenya safari tour destinations which include destinations that are worth considering for an epic Africa wildlife tour adventure include Masai Mara National Reserve, Nairobi National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Tsavo East National Park, Aberdares National Park and Amboseli National ParkSimilarly you can enjoy a similar Africa holiday experience when you a Tanzania wildlife safari to other tropical savanna national parks in Tanzania such as Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Park and Serengeti National Park.

Serengeti National Park, however, holds a special place in the hearts of hardcore Africa wildlife safaris goers because a Tanzania safari tour here comes with a possibility of catching glimpses of the great wildebeest migration and if the timing of your tour in Africa adventure is in sync with the occurrence of this natural wonder where millions of wildebeests and other animals embark on a journey of a lifetime from the southern ends of Tanzania’s Serengeti national park all the way into Masai Mara in southern Kenya, you will be in position to watch a spectacle unfold right before your eyes as these seemingly careless wildebeests plunge themselves one after the other as if someone is chasing after them into the Grumeti river which is filled with thousands of hungry Nile crocodiles that are awaiting to devour and feast on these crossing animals.

East Africa being country of extensive savanna grassland plains, you still enjoy a similar Africa safari tour adventures when you make a Uganda safari to any of Uganda wildlife safari destinations such as Lake Mburo National Park Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park Murchison Falls National Park Uganda This Uganda safari tour experience gives you an enchanted opportunity to enjoy thrilling encounters with several of the 5 big Africa game which include lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, African bush elephants and rhinos as well as a variety of other wild mammals.

Since Uganda is one of the highly revered Africa birding safari destination, a Uganda bird watching safari to any of these parks gives chance to catch glimpses of several of the 1070 bird species that roam the skies of this beautiful pearl of Africa. What makes safari in Uganda more enticing to many Africa safaris tours makers is the possibility of enjoying an gorilla safari adventure in Uganda since Uganda is home to these remarkable gentle giants.

Many Africa Wildlife Safari goers who visit Uganda usually ensure to make to have a Uganda gorilla safari in Uganda experience as they visit Mgahinga gorilla National park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A gorilla safari Uganda to any of these puts you in the right place to have a fascinating encounter with any of the 19 gorilla families are found here.

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However , Gorilla trekking isn’t only done in Uganda but also in Congo and Rwanda. A Rwanda gorilla safari takes you to Volcanoes National Park which is home to 10 gorilla families that have been habituated to give you a fantastic Rwanda gorilla tour experience. A Congo gorilla safari experience, on the other hand, takes you either Virunga National Park where you have a chance to encounter Mountain gorillas as this park is home to 8 gorilla families or Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo where you will be in for a thrilling moment with the eastern lowland gorillas

If you fancy an encounter with these majestic animals, on your next Africa safari adventure feel free to checkout our page Kenya safaris tour website which gives you a wide range of Kenya safari package options basing on the numbers of days of interest and destinations to be visited. These include short Kenya wildlife safaris and long Kenya safaris. Besides Kenya wildlife safaris, we offer other Africa safari adventures such as gorilla safaris adventures that place in Uganda, Congo and Rwanda, you can decide to extend your Kenya wildlife safari to any of these gorilla destinations for a gorilla experience. Uganda gorilla safaris are carried out in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which habituate over 400 gorillas.

During your Uganda gorilla tour expect to encounter one of the 19 gorilla families that are found in this country. After a magical gorilla tour in Uganda, you can always visit Lake Bunyonyi Uganda and enjoy the stunning views of this magical lake. A visit to Lake Bunyonyi gives you an opportunity to experience a boat ride on Africa’s second deepest lake Rwanda gorilla tours are carried out in volcanoes national park, volcanoes is home to over 10 gorilla families that have been habituated to give you an ultimate gorilla safari in Rwanda experience.

As of today Rwanda is positioning itself as a luxury Africa gorilla tour destination of choice as it has done so much in establishing luxury facilities especially lodges to cater for the needs of luxury tourists in a bid to lure more luxury or high profile personalities to visit Rwanda for a luxurious gorilla trekking in Rwanda experience.

Congo is another gorilla destination of choice Gorilla trekking in Congo, on the other hand, occurs in Virunga National park or Kahuzi Biega National Park. What is so special about Congo gorilla tours is the possibility of encountering 2 unique gorilla species. If you decide to visit Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo during your Congo gorilla safari, then expect to meet the eastern lowland gorillas while, if you decide to go to Virunga National Park then an encounter with the majestic mountain gorillas is eminent.