Mnarani Ruins safari Attraction Kenya are well known as the remains of the two mosques near the Mnarani in Kilifi County Kenya, dating from the 15th century, the mosques are located on a bluff overlooking Kilifi Creek from the southern side, the settlement at the site dates back to the 14th century and the site also contains a number of tombs that is the Mnarani ruins. Mnarani is a Swahili word derived from the Mnara meaning a minaret or pillar and currently the name has grown to engulf the whole of immediate town Mnarani. It is a great Wildlife Kenya safari attraction and destination to the most of the tourists.
Mnarani ruins were first gazetted in March 1929 as the ‘’Ruins of Manrani’’ and later confirmed as the monuments, then following the subsequent legislations over the years (1935 and 1962) currently the Ruins are now known as the ‘’Ruins of an old mosque in Kilifi’’ at the moment the area is a safari place and it’s under the National Museums of Kenya.
The Mnarani used to be the Arab settlement in the 14th century, during that time the traders from Oman used to sail with the monsoon winds from the Persian gulf the Indian Ocean and land on the Kenya coast, in the less than a hundred years their business was flourished and Mnarani settlement become the residence of many of them, like the fishermen and the farmers. The archaeological evidence shows that the site was eventually destroyed by the Galla in the early 17th century this was all about the fighting of the tribes from the north eastern countries raided the ancient Swahili settlement after learning that the Arabs had got their men and women and planned to sell them as slaves overseas.
The preserved ruin is the great mosque, with its finely carved inscription around the prayer niche showing the direction of Mecca with the multiple arches and the inscribed jambs, the inscriptions on the tombs and the mosques here are written in the Persian language that describes the early settlers in Mnarani were the Persians from Oman, though here there is only one tomb not written in Persian it bears the name Shaykh Isa Ibn Shayah Nahafah in Arabic.
Mnarani Ruins is a great safari destination where the travelers on their safari can be able to spot the various six sections of a mosque that is the well where water was fetched and stored in a tank to be used by the prayers, a baraza where sandals were placed before entering the mosque, a worship area for women and men, an imam’s changing room and a pulpit, that is called the ‘’kibla’’ by the Muslims.
At the Mnarani Ruins there is a dried up 75-foot deep well and renant of the coral reefs and the logs that are arranged in the conical shape as this attract the travelers as the ancient Swahilis would get and burn the logs to produce limestone power for construction. The tourists who come on a safari to the Mnarani ruins do enjoy the picnic safari for the nature lovers because there is a clean and nice compound to the activity from.
Mnarani ruins is a great safari, for everyone minus the mosques, the area has got the thick baobab trees which are a great favorite attraction, various visitors from the country and outside the country do travel to the area on a safari, because the area is where the believers pray and offer their sacrifices, the area as well has got the cool breeze blowing from the Indian Ocean and the scenic, beautiful garden, peaceful at the Mnarani ruins make it a wonderful destination both to relax and pray.
Mnarani ruins has a museum and a snake park where the local snake species can be observed, and here there can be presence of a local guide to take you around the ruins and also the guide provides you’re the most interesting facts about their histories, it is a good place with the historic Swahili and Arabic scenery, also note here is the site’s large baobab tree and a reptile farm that is included in the entrance fee and supports the snakes, monitor lizards, and many other creatures, Prepare and make your safari to the Mnarani Ruins or Museum and discover more of the family-friendly attractions.
National Museums of Kenya preserves the history and cultural heritage of the site, the mysteries of 104 steps, the 104 steps that were architecture designed to offer easy and mystic to the offices of the Mnarani ruins, the steps were designed in the format that one will always remember the site and its such wide range of the products and the uniqueness.
Mnarani ruins has got 8 species of the mangroves found in the region, many species can be found here in the region, and these species have developed a scenic canopy along the kilifi creek and provides a suitable habitat for a number of the un-identified species of crabs some of the species to be found of the mangrove includes the Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriuop tagal, Mnarani ruins provides the escape zone for the population of the crabs found here.
Entry fees at the Mnarani Ruins.
The Mnarani Ruins are above the old ferry crossing, they charge Ksh 500 each person to enter and that included the guide. The Mnarani is open to the public every day of the year from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
