Places To Visit In Fort Jesus Museum : Fort Jesus also known as Fort Jesus National Monument is a great historical site in Kenya located in Mombasa City on the coast of Kenya, this architecturally impressive structure was designed by Giovanni Battista Cairati and was built by the Portuguese in 1593 – 1596 to protect the port of Mombasa.
The Fort is one of the most outstanding and well preserved examples of 16th Portuguese military fortification and a landmark in the history of this type of construction.
Now, Fort Jesus is open as a museum and it can be visited by travelers to explore it and get to see some of the historical pieces hosted in the Museum. Fort Jesus can be added on your tour to Mombasa and it is a must visit.
Inside Fort Jesus, you can see an exhibit of artifacts discovered from the excavations of Fort Jesus, Manda, Gede ruins and Ungwana.
There are other important places to visit in Fort Jesus Museum you must explore and these include
Water Cistern – There is a water cistern which the Portuguese used to harvest water and 76 feet deep well.
Spot many artifacts – as you take a stroll through the museum, you will spot many artifacts, ceramics and pottery items from the era when Mombasa used to be a major trading center.
A Swahili Center – where the youth of Kenya are trained in Swahili arts and crafts, the training was also given on business management for enabling the youth to learn the skills of self-employment.
The butterfly exhibit – recently started and showcases a live butterfly exhibition allowing visitors to learn more about the biodiversity among butterflies in Mommbasa and their connections to the local communities.
Fort Jesus As A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Fort Jesus was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the fort acquired this status because of multiple reasons such as
- The fort was built during a period when cultural, political and commercial globalization was budding
- The imposing structure of the monument with traces of multiple modifications, showcasing interchange of many cultural values
- The fort has served as a major control point of trade through the Indian Ocean Basin
- The fort is a great example of a unique type of fortification as a result of military innovations between the 15thand 16th century, the layout
Fort Jesus Timings And Entry Fee
Fort Jesus is one of the most visited places in Kenya and is a very popular site among the tourists, the fort is open from 8 am in the morning until 6 pm in the evening.
All visitors have to pay a certain fee to visit the Museum, entry fee at Fort Jesus is 1200 KES for non – resident adults, 600 KES for non-resident child, 400 KES for East African adults, 200 for East African Children, 200 for Kenya Citizen Adults and 100 KES for Kenya Citizen children.
How To Reach Fort Jesus Museum
The best way to reach Fort Jesus Museum is by bus route, there are many bus routes that will lead you to the fort. There are three significant bus stations from where you can border a bus that will take you directly to Fort Jesus, board a bus from Market Bus Stop or Kanisan Bus Stop to reach the museum.
Also, you can use a train to get to the fort. You can board a train from Nairobi Train Station to Mombasa and from there you can easily reach the museum using any public transport.
Fort Jesus is a must visit site on a Kenya safari, this colonial monument exemplifies the history of the Mombasa Town and a period of military innovation. On a Kenya trip, make sure you visit Fort Jesus and to know about the history of the place from a closer perspective.
