Community Rural tourism based on Ecological principals, on the area near Mombasa

Highlights:
This is a nine (9) day tour which takes you to the heart of Eco tourism at the Kenyan coast of Mombasa area. You will be able to meet and interact with the members of various communities near Mombasa and see how they undertake their daily life and how they benefit from tourism. On the other side, you will also witness the ecological transformation within the communities brought about by tourism. You will be staying in the beach hotel of your choice and visit these interesting places on a daily basis as stated:

Day 1: Mombasa City Tour:
After breakfast, you will be driven to the city of Mombasa. The tour gives you chance to learn about the Swahili culture, with a visit to the old town and a local ‘Swahili’ museum. You will visit the sea front and the ferry. The tour presents some of the best highlights of this colorful old city. Your tour will visit the bustling fruit and vegetable market, which has been in operation since colonial old days as you wonder the streets of the old Arab town. You will see the intricate hand carved doors, and balconies hanging over the narrow streets, unchanged for hundreds of years. Protecting the harbour stands Fort Jesus which was built by the Portuguese 400 years ago, to protect their interest in East Africa. See how it went from fort to prison to tourist attractions; walk under the famous Elephant tusks on Moi Avenue, which you probably have seen in those old Africa adventure movies. After the tour, you will be back to your hotel. You may opt for lunch at the tamarind restaurant or on the dhow, dinner and overnight at your hotel in Mombasa

Day 2: Real Africa Eco- Tour (Ngomongo Village):
After breakfast, you will be driven to the Real Africa Eco center from where you will start your tour. The tour takes you to the nearby hinterlands of Mombasa. You get an opportunity to interact directly with the Giriama people, their wine trappers, tinsmiths and other artisans, their local witch doctors etc. before you eventually visit the world famous Ngomongo villages for traditional Africa lunch and tour. You return to your hotel later in the afternoon. Lunch at the Ngomongo villages, Dinner and Overnight at your hotel in Mombasa.

Day 3: Haller Park & Nguuni Nature Sanctuary:
After breakfast, you will be driven to the Haller Park, once a quarry, has today been transformed into a man made paradise and it has the best eco-system within the coastal region. Proceed to Nguuni Nature Sanctuary, lunch at Ngomongo villages. After lunch you will be able to proceed with the tour or alternatively, if you do not want some, you will be taken back to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Mombasa.

Day 4: Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary:
After breakfast, you will be driven to the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary which is today a home of many Elephants that has helped the local community from the destruction caused by these animals in their farms. The local people co-own (and receive dividends) from the sanctuary. Dinner and Overnight at your hotel in Mombasa.

Day 5: Bombolulu Workshop:
After breakfast, you will be driven to the Bombululu curio workshop. This is the Akamba wood carving centre. Here you can purchase a fine hand carved African memento that you would have to pay so dearly for back home. This is a project mainly for the handcrafts people. The industry helps these people with skills to make different handcrafts like jewels and carvings plus clothes. They also run a cultural centre- which you will be able to visit. Lunch will be served at a city restaurant or at your hotel. Proceed with your visit after lunch. After the visit you will be back to the hotel.
Dinner and Overnight at your hotel.

Day 6: Jumba Ruins and Fort Jesus:
After breakfast, you will be driven for the morning visit to Fort Jesus. The ruins are believed to have been a home for Arabs between 13th-15th centuries. They still stand as they were left and they display one of the best historical sites in the coast. Lunch at trekkers’ restaurant which is on the way to Jumba Ruins. Visit one of the local schools before you disembark. Dinner at your hotel in Mombasa.

Day 7: Land and People:
After breakfast you will be driven to kaloleni. This tour takes you to kaloleni where you get a chance to visit places where the first European Christian missionary societies set up their centre. i.e., Rabai mission hospitals run by the Anglican Church and also visit the nearby cultural centre. You later visit Chonyi land where you mix with the local community and see amazingly arranged natural rocks, sisal and banana plantations. Late lunch at Ngomongo and back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Mombasa.

Day 8: Arabuko Sokoke Forest:
After breakfast, you will be driven to the Arabuko Sokoke forest near Watamu which is one of the remaining untouched natural forests in Kenya. It has the biggest bird life. The community around is today involved with one of the best butterfly farming projects within this forest.

Optional; proceed to Gede ruins, lunch in Malindi and visit Vasco da Gama pillar. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Mombasa.

Day 9: Kenyan Jungle Night- (Mamba Village & Dhow): (Farewell night)
This is a night full of Kenyan traditional entertainment, with a complete Maasai B.B.Q dinner around a bonfire. Mamba village hosts Africa’s largest crocodile farm. Your visit will coincide with feeding time at 5.00pm. Spent the evening aboard a traditional Arab Dhow, enjoy music, romance and fine food. As the dhow leisurely cruises in old Mombasa Harbour past peaceful creeks flowing from the island you will dine on a sumptuous seafood meal. Later you can dance under the stars. The black African night, the stars as you have never seen them, music, and the sound of water against the dhow sets the mood for romance. As you cruise you can almost sense bygone time when life went at a much slower pace. Later join and dance to the traditional and modern African beats at the trekker’s entertainment complex. You will also visit the famous Bora Bora night club.
Overnight at your hotel in Mombasa.

Cost:

US$740 Per Person (minimum 2 people)

Cost includes:

• 9 days- transport in one tour van with pop up roof for viewing and photography
• Meals as stated while outside your hotel on safari.
• Entrance fees to various institutions.
• Mineral water while on safari.
• Dhow- hotel transfers

Cost excludes:

• Tips
• Any other expenses of personal nature
• Alcoholic and soft drinks while on safari
• Hotel accommodation and its meals
• Airport transfers.