Search Geography Explorer

Search countries, cities, rivers, lakes, deserts, oceans, islands and more

Fun facts about Mombasa

5 facts - tap any card to flip it and learn more.

Discover more facts
Mombasa Island
city

Mwana Mkisi, a queen from the pre-Islamic era, founded Kongowea, the original urban settlement on Mombasa Island.

Mombasa
Kenya
Tap to learn more
city

Mombasa

Kenya

Country
Kenya
Population
1.2M
Coordinates
-4.04, 39.67
259th most populous city in the world

Mombasa is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital status in 1907. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. Buildings in the Central Business District are blue and white, representing the Indian Ocean.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Leo Hempstone · CC0

Fact 1 permalink
Mombasa Island
city

Mombasa's oldest extant stone mosque, Mnara, was built around 1300.

Mombasa
Kenya
Tap to learn more
city

Mombasa

Kenya

Country
Kenya
Population
1.2M
Coordinates
-4.04, 39.67
259th most populous city in the world

Mombasa is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital status in 1907. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. Buildings in the Central Business District are blue and white, representing the Indian Ocean.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Leo Hempstone · CC0

Fact 2 permalink
Mombasa Island
city

Mombasa has a cosmopolitan population, with the Swahili people and Mijikenda predominant.

Mombasa
Kenya
Tap to learn more
city

Mombasa

Kenya

Country
Kenya
Population
1.2M
Coordinates
-4.04, 39.67
259th most populous city in the world

Mombasa is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital status in 1907. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. Buildings in the Central Business District are blue and white, representing the Indian Ocean.

From the “Demography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Leo Hempstone · CC0

Fact 3 permalink
Mombasa Island
city

Kilindini Harbour, the most important seaport in East Africa, is located in Mombasa.

Mombasa
Kenya
Tap to learn more
city

Mombasa

Kenya

Country
Kenya
Population
1.2M
Coordinates
-4.04, 39.67
259th most populous city in the world

Mombasa is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital status in 1907. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. Buildings in the Central Business District are blue and white, representing the Indian Ocean.

From the “Economy” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Leo Hempstone · CC0

Fact 4 permalink
Mombasa Island
city

Mombasa is home to one of the largest open-air markets in the African Great Lakes, located in Kongowea.

Mombasa
Kenya
Tap to learn more
city

Mombasa

Kenya

Country
Kenya
Population
1.2M
Coordinates
-4.04, 39.67
259th most populous city in the world

Mombasa is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital status in 1907. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. Buildings in the Central Business District are blue and white, representing the Indian Ocean.

From the “Suburbs” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Leo Hempstone · CC0

Fact 5 permalink