Flight Lyon Mombasa : Airline ticket

Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Fort Jesus has watched over the old port since the end of the 16th century. Pass through its massive gate, roam its bastions and imagine the roads of spices that connected the Kenyan coast to Arabia and India. Outside, lose yourself in the alleys of old Mombasa: wooden balconies, moucharabiehs, finely carved Zanzibari gates, small mosques and blanched houses tell five centuries of exchanges. The shops selling incense, fabrics and jewelry add to the magic of the place, especially at sunset when the facades are turning pink. Finish with a cane juice or a kahawa tungu (spicy coffee) facing the port

To the south and north of the city, a string of beaches stretches between coconut trees and reefs:Diani for its infinite postcard, Nyali for the entertainment, Bamburi for families. The translucent water lends itself to snorkeling at high tide; at low tide, one walks on sandbars that seem suspended over the ocean. The constant trade winds make the spot ideal for kitesurfing and light sailing, while diving clubs offer outings on coral gardens. Between two baths, taste the fragrant pilau and the mahamri (cardamom donut) in a beach hut.

Protected by a vast marine park, the lagoon of Mombasa is home to butterfly fish, eels, occasional turtles and pastel-coloured corals. Outings are done in a dhow (traditional sailboat) or glass-bottomed boat, ideal for observing without getting wet; mask and snorkel reveal the teeming life a few meters from the shore. Local guides explain the tides, seagrass beds and the crucial role of reefs in coastal protection. At the end of the morning, a stop on a sandbank offers you a warm swim and sparkling horizons. An experience to live in the hours of soft light

In Bamburi, an old quarry has been rehabilitated into a true oasis, Haller Park. One strolls there among ponds lined with papyrus, the shade of acacia trees and wildlife easy to approach: giraffes, zebras, antelopes, giant turtles. The site illustrates a successful tropical reforestation; the walk, educational and soothing, is perfectly suitable for families. The late afternoon light is superb for photographing giraffes against the sky of the Indian Ocean. Continue with a grilled fish dinner at the masala in Nyali.

The cuisine of the Kenyan coast is a journey in itself: coconut milk, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, lime and fish of the day. Start with a spice market to smell, name, taste. The seller will teach you how to dose a pilau or a biriyani in Swahilian. At the blue hour, settle on a seafront terrace for a lemon snapper grilled, viazi karai (crispy potatoes) and madafu (fresh coconut). Finish with a ball of tamarind sorbet and a burning chai tea, signature of local hospitality