What to See in Fort Jesus : Fort Jesus is a major tourist attraction in Mombasa attracting both local and international tourist. It is located in the biggest coastal town Mombasa Island in the smallest among the Kenya Counties that is Mombasa County. Fort Jesus was designed by Giovanni Batissta Cairati and was built between 1593 and 1596 through the orders of Portuguese ruler King Felipe II of Castille .He also ruled as King Felipe I of Portugal and Algarves as a security point to guard the old port of Mombasa. It is the evidence of the Western powers trying to establish power and influence over the Indian Ocean trade. It is the world’ heritage site and the only Fort maintained by the Portuguese in the Swahili dominated coast of Kenya. The Fort Jesus is 489 kilometres by road distance from Nairobi Kenya’s capital a journey that takes approximately 8 hours via Mombasa road.
Fort Jesus is one of the major tourist attractions in Tourism rich county. The Fort designer Batissta was inspired by architect Pietro Cataneo while the Master builder was Gaspar Rodrigues. Its masonry techniques, building materials and labour is believed to have been provided by the locals the Swahili people.
The Fort is built in a shape of a man from aerial view and is roughly a square, with four bulwark at its corners. The Fort was at least captured and recaptured nine times between 1631 when the Portuguese lost its dominance to Sultan Yusuf bin al-Hassan of Mombasa. In 1895 when the British took over the control of East Africa protectorate , the British took over and converted it into a prison. In the 1632 the Portuguese recaptured it back from the Sultan and refurbished it and built more fortifications adding strength to its walls making the Fort harder to fall. The Fort was under a two year epic siege between 1696 to 1698 subjected by the Omani Arabs. The capture of the Fort marked the end of Portuguese dominance and influence in the coastal town, they later recaptured it briefly between 1728 and 1729 with the help of Swahili city states. In 1741 to 1837,the Fort Jesus fell under the local rulers and it was again captured by Omani and used it as prisons until 1895 when the British took after establishing the East Africa protectorate which later became Colony and Protectorate of Kenya in 1920.This shows a period of struggle for dominance to control the Indian Ocean trade over different groups, What to See in Fort Jesus
Fort Jesus at one point from 1958 was declared to be a National Park and in 2011 it was declared a world Heritage site by UNESCO as one of the most outstanding and preserved 16th century Portuguese military fortifications. Today Fort Jesus is the most visited tourist attractions in Mombasa.
Today Fort Jesus is a perfect example of 16th century Portuguese military architecture. Which have been interchanging between the Oman Arabs and the British each in their attempt to control Mombasa island and its surroundings trade areas. The British used as a prison until 1958 when they converted it into a Historical Monument.
Fort Jesus is a standing landmark building built by the Portuguese with its view from the air looking like a person lying on their back with the head facing towards the ocean, and for that reason it was named Fort Jesus. The height of the wall is 18 Metres. The initial Portuguese height was 15 metres, the Oman Arabs added additional three metres after capturing the Fort.
The Fort Jesus is made up of combination of Arabs ,Portuguese and British additions being the powers that ruled during different period of times. The presence of Portuguese and British is evident by the presence of Cannons. The Portuguese cannons are about 200metres ,the British cannons being 300 metres by range. While the Oman Arabs presence and rule is marked by several Koran quotations in scripted in the wooden door posts and the ceiling beams. There are also other evidence of the five traditional Muslim pillars, these pillars support the meeting hall to the ceiling.
There are several key structures still standing and evident from the Fort to date such as ;Oman House, Which was the house of the Sultan who ruled and governed the East Coast of Africa. The open water cistern made by the Portuguese used for harvesting rain water and the 76 foot deep well sunk and used by the Arabs but they found out that the water was too salty to be used for anything apart from just washing, What to See in Fort Jesus
Fort Jesus is the leading tourist attraction in Mombasa, it is popular among both local and foreign tourist. It is also one of the best tourist destinations in Mombasa kenya suitable for all kind of visitors from family groups ,couples, groups and education trips.
Fort Jesus Entrance fees
The reason why Fort Jesus was built was to secure Portuguese safety living in the East Coast of Africa. It is one of the most visited places in Kenya open everyday except on Sunday from 8 am in the morning a closes at 6pm in the evening. There is payable fee to visit the Museum, Fort Jesus Entry Fee is 1200 KES for non- resident adults, 600 KES for a non-resident child, 400 for East African adults, 200 for East African Children, 200 for Kenya citizen adults and 100 for Kenya citizen children
Climate
The island of Mombasa has tropical wet and dry climate with the most rainy month being April and May. The months that are generally hot and experiences no rain are the months of January and February. The climate change is the major problem with coastal erosion and rising water level affecting the infrastructure of Mombasa.
What to See in Fort Jesus
The most attraction Fort Jesus is its magnificent structure standing facing the ocean. The political supremacies to conquer the Indian Ocean trade by both Portuguese, Oman Arabs and the British occupying the structure during different periods. Inside the Fort Jesus there is Oman House which used to be residence of Sultan the governor of East African coast. There are also evidence of artefacts collected from excavation of Fort Jesus, Manda ,Ungwana and Gede ruins among others.
There is water cistern which the Portuguese use to harvest rain water, 76 feet deep well sunk. There are many artefacts, ceramics and pottery items from the time when Mombasa was a major trading centre and also Swahili Centre and Butterflies exhibition .
How to reach Fort Jesus
Fort Jesus can be accessed by road anytime of the day by boarding a bus .There are several bus route that can lead you to Fort Jesus. The other alternative means is to take a taxi from whichever location you are in to Fort Jesus. The Museum can also be accessed by Standard Gauge Railway train from Nairobi to Mombasa where you connect to the Fort.
