The Mnarani Ruins entrance fee is a gift for Mnarani Tower, and the intriguing surroundings are a sight to behold.
Coined from Mnara, meaning Tower, this historic site has a tall tower and is a vantage viewing point of the endless Indian Ocean.
The famous octagonal Tower that is the hallmark of this ancient site and town gives this location its name a deeply religious significance.
A Gate Pass To A Beautiful History At The Mnarani Ruins
The ruins at Mnarani in Kilifi comprise the fascinating 14the century archaeological site.
It is gazetted as a national monument. Here, one can stroll around the relics of the dilapidated remains of two ancient mosques.
Around the site is an exuberant mangrove forest with trees older than 500 years.
The forest patch hosts beautiful birds, insects, and a thriving crab colony. The trees are a source of medicine and mark the location as a sacred cultural site.
Mnarani is a viewpoint with mysterious 104 steps leading to it from Kilifi Creek overlooking the Ocean.
Fishermen’s dhows dot the sandy beach, and the waters are reminiscent of the hospitable local community’s daily goings-on and rich culture.
A gigantic baobab tree, now about 900 years old, still stands at the special spot for worship where the community performed religious rituals.
When Was The Mnarani Ruins Established?
Although the site appears to have existed from around the 15th century to the 17th century, no one knows what led to its desertion.
However, the Mnarani settlement was constantly a target of the Galla or Oromo community, who conducted retaliatory attacks on it.
The hostility arose from accusations that the Oman Arabs residing in Mnarani at the time used to capture and sell the Wagalla as slaves.
The National Museums of Kenya lists and manages Mnarani Ruins as one of its gazetted national monuments.
The artifacts discovered there show that Arabs, Persians, and Portuguese occupied the settlement.
Besides the Tower, the location has the remarkably preserved Great Mosque. There are tombs there with Persian or ancient Arabic inscriptions.
Under the Mnara, the Tower lays the burial site of Shaykh Isa Shayah, who founded the town.
There is a smaller dilapidated mosque. A dried-up well and small piles of coral reefs and wood demonstrate how they burnt them to produce cement powder for construction.
Mnarani Ruins Entry Ticket Fee
The serene and clean grounds and the cool breezes from the Indian Ocean make the Mnarani Ruins a prime picnic site.
Visitors can stroll around the ruins and into the adjoining forest with a guide.
The museum also runs a snake park and rescue centre.
Mnarani Ruins Entrance Fees
- Kshs 500 per person
The entrance fee includes the stipend for the guide.
Mnarani Ruins Contacts
Contact the Curator on phone number +2547339977215.
Planning a Tour to Mnarani Ruins
Mnarani Ruins opens daily from 7.00 am and closes at 6.00 pm.
It is located above the old abandoned ferry closing at Kilifi and about 200 m from the Kilifi Bridge.
The location is on Malindi Road in Mombasa, opposite the Mnarani Club.
If driving from Malindi or Mombasa, the ruins are 100 m beyond the Kilifi Bridge past the Mnarani junction.
Conclusion
Visiting The Ruins of Mnarani is a treat on the Mnarani Ruins entrance fees. It is an educative, relaxing and refreshing centre for all who visit.
The ruins preserve a history marked by the meeting point of local and foreign civilizations, trade disputes, and Muslim and Mijikenda worship.
