Mombasa Tusks
Mombasa Tusks is one of the most prominent landmarks of the Mombasa city of Kenya, also known as Mapemba ya Ndovu or Pembe za Ndovu (Swahili for elephant tusks), form a monument over the Moi Avenue, a major thoroughfare in Mombasa, Kenya. The Mombasa tusks were built in the 1950’s to commemorate visits by the British royal family, the monument originally comprised two wooden structures resembling the tusks, now days there are four aluminum tusks in an M shape. The monument is under the jurisdiction of the National Museums of Kenya which charges for commercially filming them, in addition to the city’s municipal government. At the Mombasa tusks you can spot a number of shops, markets, banks on a safari to Mombasa.
Origin of the Mombasa tusks.
The Mombasa Tusks were originally constructed in the 1952 by the British administration of the Kenya colony, commemorating the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to the city, made of the wood and canvas, they were erected on the road leading to the Queen’s residence at the Mombasa Yachting Club (or simply Mombasa Club) situated next to the Uhuru Gardens. The monument quickly became a local attraction safari, with the companies and the local residents advertising and making announcements by the tusks.
There were originally just two tusks over Moi Avenue, which was then a one-lane road; however, it later expanded to two lanes and a new set of the tusks were built in 1956 by the municipal council. Another reason for the refurnishment was the visit of Princess Margaret to the region that year, a few meters away from the site of the original monument, the four new tusks ( two over each lane) are made of weather-resistant aluminium.The tusks coincidentally from the shape of the letter M, the first letter in the word Mombasa.
On seeing that the Mombasa tusks had become an attraction safari, the municipal council decided to preserve them and in 1956 recast them with aluminum materials which could endure the weather conditions as the permanent symbols to welcome visitors to the Kenyan coastal city. The landmark has now acquired a new look with an addition of a model elephant at the centre of the tusks.
On the other hand, the two original tusks were erected in the honour of Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Kenya city, originally the tusks were made of wood and were erected precisely because it was known that the British Sovereign would pass by that road to go from Mombasa airport to his residence by the sea.
Best time to visit the Mombasa Tusks.
The Mombasa tusks can be visited all-round the year and there is no entry fee to view the majestic metal Mombasa Tusks, that is both the local and international, are however no charges when they visit the tusks which have remained one of the monuments that attracts thousands across the world.
Mombasa is such important in Kenya because it serves as the market for the region’s agricultural products that is sisal, cotton, sugar, kapok, coconuts, fruits, vegetables, and it exports many of these as well as the products of northeastern Tanzanian and Uganda, with which it is connected by a rail not only that Mombasa is such a wonderful tourism safari destination minus the Mombasa Tusks, the city has other attractions that includes the Fort Jesus, Haller park, North coast beaches, Old town, sun coast beaches, Mamba village centre, Mombasa Go-Kart, Bombolulu Workshops and cultural centre and many others.
Where to stay in Mombasa.
Mombasa has got various accommodation facilities for the tourists who come to visit the city, the accommodation facilities are such comfortable and suitable for the guests that are categorized into the Budget, Mid-range and Luxury accommodations such as the Severin sea lodge, PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort and Spa Mombasa, Jumeirah Beachfront, Tamarind Village Hotel Apartments, Sunny Beachfront Studio, Fenns Cozy Apartments Nyali, Femars House, Little Eden Nyali Mombasa, Elegance and Simplicity and many more others.
How to get to Mombasa.
Mombasa can be accessed through using various means of transport from Nairobi capital city to Mombasa through train transport, flight transport and the public transport.
By Train transport.
The standard Gauge Railway, the distance between Nairobi and Mombasa is now reduced from 15 hours to only 4 hours and 30 minutes or four hours. You can now travel from Nairobi to Mombasa or from Mombasa to Nairobi using the New SGR Train through using the Madaraka Express.
By Bus transport.
Bus is the most affordable way to travel between Nairobi and Mombasa is bus, a ticket can cost as little as 7 USD but the journey takes about 9 hours.
By Air/Flight transport.
This is the quickest way to move from Nairobi to Mombasa especially those who are in a rush can opt flying, which will cost around USD 100 and take a little over an hour from Nairobi to Mombasa.
