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Old photos of Mombasa

57 photographs of Mombasa, from 1900 to 2025 — each pinned to the exact place it was taken.

Have an old photo of Mombasa? A family album, a postcard, a print from the attic. Pin it to the map and it becomes part of the record.
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What the photos show

The 57 photographs of Mombasa on PlaceWas span 7 decades, from 1900 to 2025. 31 of them were taken before 1980; the other 26 are recent views of the same streets and landmarks.5 spots were photographed more than once, so you can compare the same street, square or building across the years.57 of the photos carry a written caption explaining what is in the frame. Every picture is pinned to the place it was taken, so the map below shows where the photographers stood.

Pick a decade to filter the photos below and the map above. Open full map ↗

Places in Mombasa through time

Spots photographed more than once — compare the same place across the years.

Jules Leclercq- Aux sources du Vasco-de-Gama à Mombasa, Mombasa — photos through time
Jules Leclercq- Aux sources du Vasco-de-Gama à Mombasa 31 photos · 1900–1936
Old House, Mombasa — photos through time
Old House 3 photos · 2016–2025
Old Kilindini Road, Mombasa — photos through time
Old Kilindini Road 2 photos · 2025
Mandhry Mosque, Mombasa — photos through time
Mandhry Mosque 2 photos · 2025
White House (Mombasa), Mombasa — photos through time
White House (Mombasa) 2 photos · 2025

Stories from Mombasa

What contributors wrote about these photographs.

EU: Mešita v domorodé čtvrti v Mombase (1926), Mombasa, 1926
EU: Mešita v domorodé čtvrti v Mombase (1926) 1926 This 1926 photograph, captioned in Czech as "mosque in the native quarter," shows a mosque in Mombasa's old town. The Kenyan coastal city's historic quarter developed under centuries of Swahili and Arab cultural…
EU: Mosque in the indigenous district of Mombasa (1927), Mombasa, 1927
EU: Mosque in the indigenous district of Mombasa (1927) 1927 A mosque in Mombasa's indigenous district, photographed in 1927, reflecting the long-established Muslim Swahili community of the coastal town, whose Islamic heritage traces back many centuries along the East African…
Mombasa,Kenya, Mombasa, 2005
Mombasa,Kenya 2005 This 2005 photograph shows a view of Mombasa, Kenya's second-largest city and a major port on the Indian Ocean coast. Mombasa's Old Town reflects centuries of Swahili, Arab, and colonial influence along the East African…
Mombasa - Moschea, Mombasa, 2014
Mombasa - Moschea 2014 A mosque in Mombasa, Kenya, photographed in 2014. Mombasa's Old Town reflects centuries of Swahili, Arab, and Indian Ocean trade influence, and the city has long been a center of Islamic life on the Kenyan coast.
Tuk Tuk taxis by Fort Jesus in Mombasa, Mombasa, 2020
Tuk Tuk taxis by Fort Jesus in Mombasa 2020 Tuk-tuks wait near Fort Jesus in Mombasa, Kenya, in this 2020 photograph. The fortress was built between 1593 and 1596 under the Spanish and Portuguese crown to guard the Old Port of Mombasa, and today the three-wheeled…
Mombasa tusks, Mombasa, 2025
Mombasa tusks 2025 The Mombasa Tusks are a pair of giant aluminum arches shaped like elephant tusks, erected over Moi Avenue in 1952 to mark a royal visit and still a well-known landmark of the city. This 2025 image shows the structure…
Old Town, Mombasa, Kenya, Mombasa, 2025
Old Town, Mombasa, Kenya 2025 Mombasa's Old Town is known for its narrow streets and buildings blending Swahili, Arab, Portuguese, and Indian architectural influences, a legacy of the city's long history as an Indian Ocean trading port. Photographed…
Mackinnon Market, Mombasa, 2025
Mackinnon Market 2025 Mackinnon Market is a longstanding produce market in Mombasa's old town, named after the Scottish businessman William Mackinnon, whose shipping and trading interests helped shape the coastal city during the colonial era.
1900s · 4 photos
1910s · 1 photo
1920s · 15 photos
1930s · 11 photos
2000s · 1 photo
2010s · 10 photos
2020s · 15 photos · showing 12, all 15 on the map ↗