Mama Ngina Waterfront Mombasa : Mama Ngina Waterfront Park, formerly known as “Mama Ngina Drive Park,” is a 26-acre waterfront area that has recently been transformed into a contemporary public leisure area with a number of extra amenities. It became Kenya’s first beachfront with a garden.
After the successful implementation of the Mombasa County government’s plans in collaboration with the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism to give the landmark facility a new facelift, Mama Ngina Drive Park was renovated and reopened to the public in October 2019. The region was formerly a bay area for observing that rose from a modest cliff overlooking the Likoni channel and served as a spot for relaxing resting, running, cycling, and walking.
Mama Ngina Waterfront Park is the perfect destination to visit if you’re in the coastal area and close to Mombasa Island. It doesn’t require any advance planning or arrangements because the Sh460 million refurbished Park was built with the general public in mind. Unlike Nairobi, Mombasa is developing into a great metropolis where everything operate according to predetermined criteria. An systematic system is evident in the way PSVs, taxis and private transportation are coordinated to pick up customers at the SGR Mombasa terminal. New parks and recreational areas have thrived alongside the revitalised ones, adding important tourism destinations for both domestic and foreign tourists. Without a doubt, Mama Ngina Waterfront is the greatest of them all. There is a big parking lot outside if you’re driving. Within the park, visiting vehicles are not permitted.
The park’s entrance is near the Likoni channel crossing, where there is a jetty built especially for the water taxis and a live boat museum. The majority of the buildings are made of coral stone, lime plaster in the Swahili style, precast concrete screens and frames, covered in hardwood, and timber with Mangalore roofing tiles. The once-sleeping Mama Ngina enormous park has been changed via park regeneration, which has also helped to preserve Swahili coastal culture and tradition.
The waterfront park has changed from its original design of a watching bay area carved out of a little rising cliff facing the Likoni channel to one that includes a cultural facility, a fully constructed natural amphitheatre, a sun-drenched 2.1km-long promenade, and a place for food vendors.
Guardrails are strategically placed along the coastline, a few metres above the crashing waves, to divide and provide a protective safety guard from the cliff face. A secure vantage point is provided by the guardrails. A few tourists ignore the cautionary notices and risk their safety by going beyond or sitting on the rails. Walking along the well-paved, palm-lined pedestrian lanes, which provide the ideal atmosphere for exercising, is a breath-taking experience that occasionally will make you gasp for air.
This location is perfect for leisurely strolls, runs, and adventures with friends, family, or alone. I am at a loss for words to describe the remarkable elements, some of which are mounted and put in well chosen locations to explain significant historical events of this more than 400-year Swahili centre.
The Mama Ngina Waterfront Park was gazetted in 2005 to conserve it by the National Museums of Kenya, the guardians of the archaeological and heritage monuments. The park eventually lost its lushness, though, and coastal leaders pleaded with the former President Uhuru Kenyatta to revive it.
Currently, the 26-acre park is well-known for being a unique location where visitors may unwind and observe the top-tier ships sailing past as they enter and exit the Mombasa port. The Mombasa Golf Club, which opened in 1911 and faces the Likoni crossing canal, is located in the park and is the oldest golf course in Kenya. The rich history of Mombasa town may be found in Mama Ngina Waterfront Park, which goes back to the fifteenth century.
While many tourists perceive the park as a place where people picnic and unwind, others go there to conduct research and engage with the past. Ancient archaeological artefacts can be found beneath the park, and archaeologists believe they can teach us a lot about how Mombasa, a port city, developed.
According to the archaeological evidence, Mama Ngina Park served as the city of Mombasa’s foundation. The undiscovered history of Mombasa Island, according to historians, is located at the farthest point of the Park’s area, behind the Coast Police Headquarters. It is a tale about the ruins of St. John’s ACK, thought to be the first church ever erected in Mombasa by the Portuguese.
On a cliff at the Mama Ngina Waterfront, the structure is still standing unaltered. Despite being bombarded by weather for four centuries, it has endured. The St. Joseph fortification and another unidentified structure that has withstood the test of time are located next to the ruins of the ACK church. Additionally, there are caves and underground passages that were utilised by Arabs during the slave trade era.
Before the slaves were sold overseas, they were held in the caves. The tunnels and caves were used by the Portuguese as underground bunkers after their conquest to launch their assaults on the Arabs and indigenous. Today, criminal elements use these areas as shrines and occasionally as hiding spots.
Activities to do at Mama Ngina Waterfront
Picnic area
There are dedicated picnic sites in the park where you may unwind and eat a meal with loved ones. You have the option of bringing your own refreshments or buying them from neighbouring food vendors. Family outings have always been popular at the Mama Ngina Waterfront, where local small-scale vendors sell seaside foods every day of the year. It is well-known for its fried cassava, which is served with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of hot masala, its freshly fried cassava crisps, referred to as Kachiri in the local dialect, a variety of fried potatoes, pastries, sweet and savoury treats, chicken and fish snacks, and the renowned Mkate wa mayai (a pan-fried snack with a thin dough crust filled with minced meat, onion rings, and eggs).
There is an unending variety of food available, and madafu, which is fresh coconut water from immature coconuts rather than juice, is always available to wash it all down. There’s no need to worry because these delights are offered all year long.
Take a Boat ride
From the park’s jetty, you can take a boat excursion to explore the Indian Ocean. In addition to shorter journeys along the shore, boat companies also provide longer journeys to adjacent islands like Fort Jesus or Mombasa Marine National Park.
Cultural shows
Concerts, live shows, and cultural events are periodically held in the park. Watch for any scheduled events because they offer a chance to take in the local music, dance, and entertainment
Leisure walks and strolls
In the fresh sea breeze and away from the heat of Mombasa Island, the park is a perfect location to unwind and simply rest. The park offers a panoramic view of the Indian Ocean, enabling visitors to observe ships arriving and departing from Mombasa Port and stopping at Kilindini Harbour. At low tide, it is also possible to descend the bluff and explore the water. The park also gives visitors the chance to view native flora and fauna, such as the uncommon and endangered grey heron bird and the 400-year-old baobab tree.
Fountain
At the park’s spectacular water feature, you may unwind while listening to the tranquil sound of running water. It offers a peaceful location to relax and get away from the bustle of the city.
Kilindini Cultural Center
A crucial resource for narrating the history of Swahili culture is the Kilindini Cultural Centre. Visitors can watch videos and listen to audio to learn more about the history of Mombasa via its exhibition galleries and screening rooms. The centre incorporates modern touches while retaining Swahili architecture and style. The elaborate and beautiful carving details present in the Old Town, such the elaborate white plaster finishing, Swahili-carved wooden doors, and window shutters, are captured in and preserved there.
Pigeon towers
The Mombasa Golf Club and the cultural centre are nearby, while the pigeon towers are situated at the northernmost point of Mama Ngina Waterfront Park. As a representation of traditional Swahili architecture and the legacy of the city’s first settlers, these pigeon towers play a significant role in the historical and cultural significance of Mombasa. Pigeon droppings were used as a free natural fertiliser for crops, and the towers provided a means for the inhabitants to gather them. The pigeon towers are now a well-liked destination for visitors to the Kilindini Waterfront. While admiring the towers’ unique architecture, visitors can learn from local tour guides about their cultural and historical significance. Additionally, the towers make a beautiful backdrop for photographs, especially around dusk.
Amphitheatre
The Roman-inspired design of the amphitheatre, which is carved out of the northern cliff face, is stunning. A total of 3,000 people can sit there. There can now be comfortably held shows, concerts, and cultural events.
Mama Ngina Waterfront Opening hours
Everyday from 6:00 am to 6:30 pm, the park is accessible. Along with a police station, properly placed security lighting, and public restrooms, the park is well-lit.
