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Classic Buses News & Mail

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Mombasa | City Gallery

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Urban Kenya Cityscapes, skylines and urban photos

Mombasa | City Gallery

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=443418&page=37

 

 

 

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Mombasa

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 IN PICTURES: Mombasa's Blue Room

 

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/-/1248928/2240938/-/ow3qhrz/-/index.html

 

Mombasa’s Blue Room whips up recipes to build a lasting legacy

https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/corporate/enterprise/mombasa-s-blue-room-whips-up-recipes-to-build-a-lasting-legacy--2053776  

On the original island town of Mombasa—long before the exodus of businesses and homes onto the mainland —there was a modest restaurant and ice cream parlour just off Digo road, the main street that runs through the centre of the city.
It had a nondescript name, but it wormed its way into the stomachs of island residents, and today Blue Room is celebrating 64 years in business making it one of the oldest family run establishments in the country.

In 1952, the patriarch of the Karachiwalla family — Mohamedali Jaffer — moved from Pakistan to Zanzibar and thereafter to Kenya. He came in search of a better life in an East Africa where trade was prospering, and started a shop in Mombasa’s Old Town that sold material imported from Pakistan and India.“He used to sell the material to the ships,” said Malik. “My grandfather and my uncle, Kassamali, would go out in a little boat to the big ships and sell material to the sailors and travellers.”

With the money he made from this initial business, Mohamedali Jaffer bought a small piece of land in what was then a port town but without any funds to develop it, the plot lay idle for many years. “My grandfather had the piece of land, and he was still deciding what to do with it when he ran out of money and so put the plot up for sale,” said Malik.

An offer was made on the plot but as fate would have it the buyer never came through with the money. So the Karachiwalla family decided to borrow the money they needed from another source and retain their land asset. A short while later, they decided to build a restaurant. Mohamedali’s friends and acquaintances suggested he should open a restaurant. They painted the building blue to reflect Mombasa’s coastal position, and together with ideas from clients, the name Blue Room was coined.

The family had no prior experience in running an eating establishment, and “It was a big change from selling material to this,” said Malik. But the whole family became involved with the restaurant. Initially, the business was managed by Mohamedali, his wife Sakar Bai and his eldest son Kassamali.

Kassamali was instrumental in building the restaurant and in the early 1960s started the famous “BR” ice cream parlour within the restaurant. The younger son, Shiraz (Malik’s father) was 20 years younger than his brother and still a student at Aga Khan High School, but he helped where he could.

School orders

“My dad used to sell food at the school. He would pick up orders from students, come here at break time and then at lunch time go back and deliver them,” said Malik. The kitchen at Blue Room was initially run by Malik’s grandmother who commercialised her home recipes. Later they involved cooks who taught them how to make other popular coastal dishes.

Today Blue Room has developed a signature menu, which includes coastal classics like biryani and chicken tikka, but they are still best known for their meat pies, samosas and dhal bhajias. Surprising as it may sound even Blue Room’s tea—which many would assume is a beverage that doesn’t require a special recipe —has earned them a following. That and their ice cream, which started in 1962 and saw Blue Room set up an ice cream manufacturing plant and parlour alongside the restaurant.

 

The ice cream is marketed under the Blue Room brand, affectionately termed BR Ice Cream, and from a single parlour now supplies ice cream to locations across the Coast region. The business has however remained small scale. Apart from the original outlet at Haile Selassie, there is only one other Blue Room in Mombasa’s Makupa area on Jomo Kenyatta road and it is a dedicated ice cream parlour.

During the mid 1980s, both of Kasamali’s sons, Karim Sr and Karim Jr joined the business and managed the growth and operations together with their father and uncle Shiraz. Shiraz’s passion for movies fuelled the start of a movie video rental library in the 1980s, one of the first such libraries in the city. It was eventually made redundant by the arrival of inexpensive DVDs and Internet downloads and in 2001 it was transformed into an Internet cafe that is now complemented by free WiFi.

Over the years, Blue Room underwent numerous expansions and renovations and in 1992 the whole site was practically rebuilt making it one of the largest restaurants in the city with a seating capacity of 120 people (it previously catered to only 40 people). While Shiraz Karachiwalla, Malik and Salim’s father, is still involved in the business, today the two brothers now run the show with Salim heading Operations and Malik handling the Finances.

Fourteen years ago, Malik and Salim had moved to Canada. “We wanted to do something on our own over there,” said Malik, and neither he nor his brother were involved in the Blue Room business as children. “My cousins, Karim Sr and Karim Jr, were heavily involved [in the Blue Room business] and were instrumental in running the business until 2009. In 2009 the family mutually decided to part ways in the business.

“At the time things were a little hazy about the future of Kenya and East Africa,” said Malik. “But we decided there was opportunity here and we had faith in the Kenyan growth plan. We made an offer to my uncle and cousins, and they accepted to sell us their shares.”

Sell stake

In 2009, Salim returned to Kenya and Malik followed a year later to support their father and join the family business full-time. The decision from his uncle’s side of the family to sell their stake in the Blue Room business was a fortuitous one. While their return to the family business hasn’t prompted any major changes in the last five years, Malik and Salim have spent time learning about the business from their father and mother, Shiraz and Naz, who are part of the board of directors and who still come to Blue Room every day.

To date, Blue Room continues to operate along the self service model which has worked so well for it in the past. It continues to be open seven days a week from 7am till 10pm. The only recent change has been the move towards an open kitchen concept which encourages interaction between staff and builds confidence about their quality and hygiene standards.

Their menu has gradually expanded from the Swahili and Indian styled snacks that defined it when it began, and now includes American fast food such as oven baked pizzas, burgers, fried chicken, chicken tikka and steak. “The brand is well known for the ice cream and for our tea and bhajias. And this is international. But the local people know us for our chicken tikka, biryani, burgers and pizzas,” said Malik. And with just two outlets and a staff of 60, it continues to be one of the most popular spots on the island and attracts over 1,000 patrons a day.

Its central location and open plan design has also made it popular meeting place for people from all walks of life including corporates and politicians. “The brand is very well known, worldwide. It is unlikely that you would meet anyone who has visited Mombasa and not heard of Blue Room,” said Malik.

And the family centric business model has helped too.

“We are a small family run business. People come to us and we interact with them. There is a face of the family to the restaurant; it is not just a corporate brand.” As Malik and Salim regain their feel for the restaurant business in Kenya, they are confident they can build on the brand capital that Blue Room has amassed in 64 years and have plans to expand the family business.

 

Karachiwalla Family: Mombasa’s Blue Room restaurant whips up recipes to build a lasting legacy

https://ismailimail.blog/2014/06/10/karachiwalla-family-mombasas-blue-room-restaurant-whips-up-recipes-to-build-a-lasting-legacy/

 

This happened on the 18th Feb 1945. Seven lions including four cubs wondered into Mombasa's Makupa area crossing the narrow channel from Changamwe at low tide. They caused panic and were shot by Afzal Khan (holding a 9.3 mm rifle).Also holding a gun is his younger brother Naimullah Khan. Both have passed away. Narrated by Mohamed Ismail

Afzal, yet another Khan from Punjab, whose father was a station master, went one better. He acquired the name of Simba Tatu. In 1945, a pride of three lions ambled across the causeway one early morning and startled the inhabitants in the Makupa area of Mombasa. Afzal Khan shot all three, using only two bullets - one bullet somehow killing two of the big cats. Manmohan Singh, my classmate at Allidina Visram school in Mombasa, takes up the story: "When the news reached the railway Landis, 1 along with other boys ran to the scene still wearing only my cachera (traditional Sikh shorts). There on the ground were the three beasts. Women in the neighbourhood started plucking their whiskers and hair to make amulets and bracelets, and people collected the churbi ("fat) in jars and any other pot they could find, as lion fat is regarded as the ultimate healer of all joint and muscle problems. The pelts went to the brave hunter’’ Satya V Sood

 

Blog on Kenya….

http://kenyanjustice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/enjoy-mombasa-nostalgia-old-photoswrite.html

Other interesting links:

This article primarily describes the pioneering hey-day of building sealed highways in East Africa;

http://www.oldcambrians.com/TheRoughRoadHome.pdf

 

HABARI 2010 Newsletter of the Friends of East Africa

http://www.friendsofeastafrica.net/Habari_online_2010/HABARI%202010.pdf

 

East Africa Railaways

https://uk.pinterest.com/njogumsapere/kenya-uganda-railway/

 

Memories

http://www.mccrow.org.uk/eastafrica/JanetDavis/JanetBW1.htm

 

Women’s League

http://www.eawl.org/?_escaped_fragment_=1950s/ca28

 

http://www.eawl.org/#!mombasa/c5mr

 

Mombasa

file:///C:/Users/ebrahim/Downloads/EK_1963-17-1u2-02%20(2).pdf

 

Vintage East Africa photos

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/vintageea/

History of Kitenge and Kanga

Popularity grew around the world in the 1900s.Over the years,  there has been a lot speculation as to where Wax Print came from, especially the Dutch ‘connection’ so we felt that we should shed a little light on this iconic fabric that heavily influences the millecollines brand identity.

In the mid 1800s the Dutch were traveling to the Dutch Indies via the gold and spice trade route that went along the West African Coast. At the time, the tradesmen would try to trade Indonesian Batik (Javanese fabric) but it proved to be too expensive and also complicated to make.  Around this time,  the Dutch were fighting against the indigenous peoples in Java, Indonesia and were notorious for picking up Africans to fight for them. During battle, their clothing would get worn out and tattered so they were replaced by Javanese long lasting wax printed clothing.

One year, on their way back from Indonesia they dropped anchor at one of their bases in modern day Ghana. The Ghanians spotted their fellow country men in these colorful garments.

https://www.millecollines.es/blogs/story/77139459-the-history-of-wax-print-mille-collines-connection

 

Kitenge is an East African cotton fabric printed in various colours and distinctive patterns. It has its origin from Kiswahili kitengele. Kitenge is sometimes worn as sarong by women, or as a baby sling. Some of the African countries where kitenge is worn are Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Sudan. It is an informal and inexpensive fabric with a distinctive border and political slogans.

In Swahili the plural form is ‘vitenge’ while in Tonga it is ‘zitenge’. It forms an important part of the East African culture. Kitenge fabric has a long history and gives the Eastern African region an identity. Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, Kim Kardashian and Solange are some of the celebrities that have been spotted on the red carpet wearing Kitenge designs.

 

http://digest.bellafricana.com/23/

 “An image of ‘African fabric’ isn’t necessarily authentically [and wholly] African” – Yinka Shonibare. African print, popularly known as Ankara, has gained popularity in the global fashion scene since 2010. The material is primarily associated with Africa mainly because of the tribal-like patterns and motifs. Since it’s ascension in global fashion, much talk has focused on whether or not African fabric is authentically African given the fact that the fabric was in fact originally made in Europe.

http://museorigins.net/the-origin-of-ankara/

 

Before analysing these mechanisms I will introduce the ‘Kanga’ and the ‘Kitenge’. The Kanga is a two piece, colourful, factory printed cloth often with some Swahili proverbial wisdom printed on them. It was originally imported into Tanzania from Europe. Later on, India started importing them and since 1975 they are produced in several factories in Kenya and Tanzania. The Kanga is associated with Arab oriented cultural practice coming from the East African Swahili coast. However it’s use has been spread so thoroughly throughout the country that in 1993, in an event sponsored by the Tanzanian Media Women’s association, the Kanga was voted as national dress.

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20110509_Kanga.pdf

 

 
Attention, those who dare venture into the unknown...
Mombasa, a city of timeless beauty, also harbors a sinister, forgotten past—a place where restless spirits roam and the eerie echoes of lost souls still linger. Tonight, we invite you to join us on a spine-chilling journey into the depths of the supernatural. These haunted locations are not for the faint-hearted. They are shrouded in dark, terrifying tales that will send shivers down your spine. Will you survive the night?
Some of the places we intend to visit, where we can find ghostly legends and paranormal hotspots.
1. The Wailing Widow of Fort Jesus.
A woman’s anguished cries fill the air late at night, her sorrowful wails drifting across the walls of Fort Jesus. Some say she is forever mourning her lost love, while others believe she is searching for those who trespass into her cursed domain.
2. The Restless Merchant of Old Town.
Dressed in ancient robes, a phantom merchant wanders the narrow alleys of Old Town, his spirit forever bound to a deal struck long ago. His face is never seen, only his mournful presence and desperate quest for peace.
3. The Blood-Stained Door of Mwembe Tayari.
A door stained with blood, its origins lost to time, will not allow its marks to be cleansed. The blood seeps through every crack, refusing to let the tragic secrets of a violent family dispute fade into oblivion.
4. The Spirit of the Old Lighthouse at Ras Serani.
A spectral figure is said to appear near the abandoned lighthouse, its presence guiding ships in the dead of night—even after death. Sailors who see it are cursed to encounter an untimely end.
5. The Phantom Bus of Makupa Causeway.
A bus, forever trapped between life and death, speeds through the causeway, carrying passengers who never arrive. Those who claim to have boarded speak of a terrifying crash that never seems to end.
6. The Cursed Jewels of Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach.
These jewels, once lost to the sea, are believed to bring nothing but misfortune to those who unearth them. Several have tried, only to disappear, leaving behind only whispers and shadows.
7. The Ghostly Guard of Mombasa Club.
The spirit of a long-dead guard still prowls the Mombasa Club, his presence felt as the air turns cold. Some say he is seeking retribution for a death that was never avenged.
8. The Screams of Mama Ngina Drive.
A woman’s tortured screams pierce the night from the cliffs of Mama Ngina Drive. Her tragic end haunts the place, and no one who ventures near can escape the oppressive sorrow that clings to the air.
9. The Chained Spirit of Kilindini Harbour.
The sounds of clanking chains echo through Kilindini Harbour during violent storms. A tortured spirit wanders the docks, its chains dragging across the ground as it searches for an escape that will never come.
10. The Faceless Man of a Famous Cement Factory.
A worker, his face forever erased by a tragic accident, roams the Cement Factory. Witnesses claim he silently watches them, his vacant gaze sending chills through the bravest of souls.
11. The Weeping Tree of Jumba la Mtwana.
An ancient tree weeps under the weight of a young girl's spirit. Soft cries can be heard emanating from the hollow of its trunk, and locals believe it holds the soul of a girl lost to tragedy.
12. The Whispering Walls of Gedi Ruins.
Gedi Ruins, once a thriving civilization, now stands haunted by shadowy figures and faint whispers that linger on the wind. Those who visit after dark feel as though they are being watched, followed by unseen eyes.
13. The Lady in White of Likoni Ferry.
A ghostly figure of a woman in a white gown is often seen walking on the water near Likoni Ferry. She vanishes into the mist as quickly as she appears, leaving only an overwhelming sense of dread.
14. The Shadow Children of Treasury Square.
Shadowy figures of children appear in Treasury Square, playing eerily in the moonlight. Their laughter, chilling and unnatural, can be heard as they move among the buildings, their presence unnoticed until it’s too late.
15. The Haunted Staircase of Shanzu.
A staircase leading to nowhere has been the site of numerous ghostly apparitions. Whispers fill the air as spirits appear and vanish, trapping unsuspecting visitors in a web of confusion.
Additional Terrifying Tales:
16. The Possessed Bell at a Famous Church.
A church bell rings itself in the dead of night, tolling without anyone near to pull the rope. Those who hear it claim to feel an icy chill creeping down their spine.
17. The Black Cat of Tudor.
A black cat, seen only at night, appears to vanish into thin air. Locals whisper that it is no mere cat but a shapeshifter who stalks the shadows.
18. The Ghost Car of Nyali Bridge.
A car speeds past drivers on Nyali Bridge, only to vanish as it nears them. Some say it is a ghostly vehicle, forever racing toward an unknown destination.
19. The Haunted Graveyard at Ganjoni.
In the quiet of the night, glowing orbs float above the Ganjoni cemetery, and whispers rise from the graves. The spirits here refuse to rest, their voices forever calling out to the living.
20. The Dancers of Kizingo.
Every full moon, ghostly dancers appear in Kizingo, their eerie movements synchronized to an ancient rhythm. No one who dares approach them ever returns the same.
21. The Witch’s Cave at Shanzu.
A cave where dark rituals were once performed now serves as the domain of restless spirits. Those who enter report hearing the disembodied voices of witches, calling them to their doom.
22. The Crying Baby of Bombolulu.
A baby’s cries echo through the streets of Bombolulu at night, but when residents investigate, no child is ever found. The sound grows louder with every passing night, calling for something—or someone.
23. The Disappearing Fisherman of Mtwapa.
A fisherman casts his nets in Mtwapa, but as the night deepens, he fades into nothingness. His haunting cry for help is the last sound that lingers before he disappears into the mist.
24. The Witch Tree of Vipingo Ridge.
A cursed tree stands tall, and those who come near hear whispers of dark forces. Anyone who dares to listen will be lost to the spirit that calls from within.
25. The Haunted Market at Kongowea.
Objects fly off shelves, and eerie laughter fills the night air at Kongowea Market. Vendors report shadows moving amongst them—always watching, never letting them forget that they are not alone.
Supernatural Landmarks Await You:
26. The Phantom Horse at Bamburi Beach.
A ghostly horse gallops across the beach, its hooves barely touching the sand before it disappears into the night, its rider lost to history.
27. The Screeching Gate of Miritini.
A gate that never moves emits an unholy screech at night, a sound that reverberates through the bones of those unfortunate enough to hear it.
28. The Burning Ship of Mombasa Port.
A ship consumed by phantom flames appears in the harbor at night, its crew lost to a fire that never occurred.
29. The White Lady of a Famous Beach Resort.
A woman in white appears by the cliffs at the beach resort, gazing out to sea before vanishing into the abyss, leaving nothing but a chill in the air.
30. The Ghostly Sailor at Shelly Beach.
A sailor's spirit roams Shelly Beach, seeking his lost crew. He has been seen many times, always searching, never resting.
31. The Vanishing Vendors of Majengo.
Late at night, vendors sell their goods in Majengo, but as you approach, they vanish, leaving only the echo of their eerie calls.
32. The Shadow Man of Changamwe.
A dark figure follows those who walk alone at night in Changamwe, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light. No one dares to turn and face it.
33. The Dancing Flames at Nguu Tatu Hills.
Ghostly flames move in unison at Nguu Tatu Hills, dancing to an invisible rhythm. Witnesses have tried to follow them—none have returned.
34. The Wailing Dog at Port Reitz.
A dog howls at the moon near Port Reitz every midnight, its mournful cry sending shivers down the spine of anyone within earshot.
35. The Silent Procession at Tudor Creek.
At low tide, a ghostly procession of figures silently walks across the creek, their faces hidden in shadow. Those who witness it never speak of it again.
Modern-Day Haunts...
36. The Abandoned Hospital at Kisauni.
A hospital, left to decay, now echoes with footsteps that belong to no living person. Voices whisper from the walls, their origins unknown.
37. The Lonely Boda Boda Rider of Likoni.
A rider appears on the road at night, picking up passengers—but disappears halfway, leaving only the trail of dust and dread in his wake.
38. The Cursed Photo at Mombasa Railway Museum.
A photo that moves from place to place overnight. No one knows how it does, but the air grows heavier around it, as if something—or someone—wants to be found.
39. The Bleeding Rock of Mikindani.
A rock that bleeds red liquid at certain times, said to be the result of a horrific event that left its mark on the land forever.
40. The Screaming Well at Kiembeni.
A well in Kiembeni that screams when someone attempts to draw water at night. No one has ever dared try it twice.
Other haunted locations in Mombasa and surrounding areas, each known for ghostly apparitions and paranormal activity:
1. Wasini Island: Known for its stunning scenery, Wasini is also wrapped in ghostly legends. Locals believe the spirits of sailors who perished along ancient trade routes haunt its shores.
2. Lamu Island: Lamu Island is culturally significant with tales of hauntings. Its narrow streets and historic sites are reportedly visited by vengeful spirits tied to its ancient past.
3. Pate Island: Part of the Lamu Archipelago, Pate Island is rich in historical lore. Its long trading history has left behind stories of spirits and mysterious sounds, with frequent reports of ghostly figures linked to ancient civilizations.
4. Taveta Island: Located within Mombasa Marine Park, Taveta Island is shrouded in mystery. The waters around it, marked by shipwrecks, are believed to host the restless spirits of lost sailors.
5. Pirates Beach: Pirates Beach in Mombasa is steeped in local legends about the ghosts of pirates who once roamed the Kenyan coast. Visitors report eerie experiences, such as ghostly figures walking along the shoreline or strange sounds like the creaking of ships and clinking of chains.
6. The Ghost of Mombasa Old Town: The Old Town is believed to be haunted by spirits from the past, especially in the narrow alleys and abandoned buildings. Locals report seeing figures in traditional attire walking the streets at night.
7. The Haunted Mombasa Railway Station: Built in 1896, the Mombasa Railway Station is said to be haunted by the ghosts of workers who died during construction. Strange noises, such as hammering, can be heard after dark.
8. The Screaming Woman of Old Town: Locals speak of a woman who died in childbirth in Old Town and whose ghost now roams the area, wailing in sorrow.
9. Fort Jesus: This historic fort, built in the 16th century, is said to be haunted by the spirits of soldiers who died during battles. Visitors often report hearing footsteps, the clanging of chains, and whispers echoing through the fort’s walls.
10. The Phantom Bus of Mombasa Road: Travelers on Mombasa Road often encounter a phantom bus, an old, dilapidated vehicle that appears out of nowhere, only to vanish once someone tries to board.
11. The Haunted Lighthouse of Mombasa: The Mombasa Lighthouse is haunted by the ghost of a keeper who died mysteriously. Some claim to see his figure standing at the top, watching ships sail by.
12. The Lost Souls of Mombasa Island: The island is home to spirits that wander at night, including the spirits of former slaves and sailors lost at sea.
13. The Cursed House of Tudor: A dilapidated house in the Tudor area is believed to be cursed. Those who enter the house report strange noises, objects moving on their own, and a feeling of dread.
14. The Haunted Mombasa Beach: The beach is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who drowned in ancient shipwrecks. Visitors at night claim to hear splashing sounds and see figures in the water.
15. The Ghostly Monk of Mombasa: A monk who lived in Mombasa centuries ago is said to still haunt the region. His apparition is sometimes seen walking along the beach or through the narrow streets of Old Town.
16. The Mombasa Town Cemetery: The old cemetery is haunted by the spirits of the deceased. People who pass by at night claim to hear the sounds of crying children and some see glowing lights in the cemetery.
17. The Mysterious Tree of Mombasa: A large tree in Mombasa is believed to be haunted by the spirits of those who were hanged from it during colonial times.
18. The Haunted Old Market: The Old Market in Mombasa, where slaves were once traded, is said to be haunted by the souls of those who perished.
19. The Ghost of the Kenyan National Archives: The Kenyan National Archives is said to be haunted by the ghost of a former curator who died mysteriously.
20. The Ghostly Girl of the Mombasa General Hospital: The Mombasa General Hospital is rumored to be haunted by a young girl who died there under tragic circumstances.
21. The Spirit of the Shimba Hills: The Shimba Hills are said to be haunted by the spirits of ancient warriors. Locals claim to hear the sounds of war drums and see ghostly figures moving through the trees at night.
22. The Mombasa Night Market Phantoms: The night market is said to be haunted by phantoms of traders who died under mysterious circumstances.
23. The Vanishing Man of Moi Avenue: Locals speak of a man who appears along Moi Avenue at night, asking for directions, and then vanishes when people stop to help.
24. The Haunted House of Mombasa Town: An old house near Mombasa Town is said to be haunted by the spirits of a family that was murdered in a brutal attack.
25. The Cursed Plantation of Shanzu: A plantation in Shanzu, once owned by a plantation master who died mysteriously, is said to be haunted.
26. The Bloody Room of a famous Mombasa Hotel: A hotel in Mombasa CBD is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman murdered in one of its rooms.
27. The Lost Souls of Mombasa Port: The Mombasa Port is haunted by the spirits of sailors lost at sea. People claim to hear the sound of ship horns and see shadowy figures walking along the docks at night.
28. The Haunted Hotel in Diani: A hotel in Diani Beach, built on land once occupied by a burial site, is said to be haunted by spirits of the dead.
29. The Phantom Fishermen of Mtwapa Creek: Mtwapa Creek is haunted by the ghosts of fishermen who died in a tragic boat accident.
30. The Crying Woman of Mombasa Town: A woman who lost her child is said to wander Mombasa Town, crying for her lost child.
31. The Specter of Fort Jesus’s Lighthouse: The lighthouse at Fort Jesus is haunted by the ghost of a long-dead lighthouse keeper.
32. The Ghostly Soldier at the Mombasa Navy Base: The Mombasa Navy Base is haunted by the ghost of a soldier who died during World War II.
33. The Mysterious Cave of Tiwi: A cave in Tiwi is believed to be haunted by spirits. Those who venture into the cave report feeling a heavy presence and hearing strange whispers.
34. The Phantom Parrot of Mombasa Island: A brightly colored parrot, believed to be the ghost of a sailor, haunts Mombasa Island.
35. The Wailing Spirits of Fort Mombasa: Fort Mombasa is haunted by the spirits of soldiers who died defending it. People hear wailing cries and see figures in military uniform walking the grounds.
36. The Haunted Tombs of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest: Deep in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest are ancient tombs believed to be haunted by the spirits of those buried there.
37. The Restless Souls of Mombasa’s Slave Trade: The area around Mombasa’s old slave market is said to be haunted by the spirits of slaves who perished.
38. The Ghostly Sailor of Mombasa’s Waterfront: The spirits of sailors who perished in shipwrecks haunt Mombasa’s waterfront.
39. The Whispering Shadows of Old Mombasa: Old Mombasa is full of haunted alleys and corners, where the shadows are said to whisper secrets of long-forgotten times.
40. The Spirits of the Mombasa Garrison: The Mombasa Garrison, once a British military stronghold, is said to be haunted by the spirits of soldiers who died in battle.
41. The Phantom Rider of Kilindini Road: Kilindini Road is haunted by the ghost of a rider who died in a tragic accident. Drivers often see a ghostly figure on horseback riding alongside their vehicles.
42. The Ghost of a famous Mombasa Maternity Hospital: The famous Mombasa Maternity Hospital is haunted by the spirit of a mother who died during childbirth.
43. The Haunted Ruins of Rabai: The ruins of Rabai, an ancient coastal settlement, are believed to be haunted by the spirits of its former inhabitants.
44. The Haunted Lobby of a Famous Hotel: A famous Mombasa hotel is said to have a haunted lobby, where guests report seeing a figure in Victorian-era clothing walking through the lobby.
These chilling tales are deeply rooted in the islands’ complex histories, shaped by African, Arab, Portuguese, and British influences, offering a unique blend of cultural intrigue and supernatural mystery.
The list is long..
Are you brave enough to face the spirits that linger in these dark corners of Mombasa? Or will you be another soul lost to the shadows? Reach out... if you dare.