The first foreign influence probably came with the arrival of the Portuguese, when Vasco de Gama and his cohorts sailed up in 1498. They were just exploring the possibilities; the real invasion happened seven years later, and over the next century, a wave of Portuguese attacks left thousands dead. The city came under Omani Arab rule in the 17th century. By 1840, the British controlled Mombasa. Only in 1963 did it finally gain autonomy.

Kenya's main seaport (and the capital of the Coast Province), Mombasa's Kilindi port is East Africa's most advanced. Ship trade is nothing new to the city; it has long served as a gateway to East Africa, hosting vessels from around the world. Sadly, among those docking most frequently during the 18th and 19th centuries were the slave traders.

Among the brutal landmarks that recall that ugly era are local caves, once infamous as storage pits (often death pits) for captured Africans before they were shipped overseas.

Another, somewhat horrifying (at least to conservationists) landmark is the famous Mombasa gateway arch on Moi Avenue made of giant elephant tusks. Less disturbing attractions include Fort Jesus Museum (at the fort built by the Portuguese in 1593), with exhibits on Swahili culture and history; the fabric shops selling the dramatic clothes of the coast; and the old mosques that dot Mombasa, including the 1570 Mandhry Mosque, with its picturesque minaret, and the Bashkeih Mosque , said to date back to 1300.

In the heart of the town is where most hospitals, businesses, banks, shops and markets are situated. Hence almost all services such as health advice, financial services, or any kind of shopping, are all provided for in the city. Being a small town, Mombasa does not have a subway system. However one can easily get around using the local bus service; or for a “truly Kenyan experience” a ride in a “Matatu”- which is quite a unique adventure. With the introduction of the noizy TUK TUK, one can now explore the city in a unique and cheap way.