Eccentric Settlers in Mombasa
Memorial Heritage Park: Johann Ludwig Krapf
Located about 2 km south of Kongowea Market along Links Road and Cement Road, the Krapf Memorial Heritage Park memorializes Johann Ludwig Krapf, the German explorer and missionary under Church Missionary Society (CMS). He made pioneer-steps forward, by overcoming many challenges, to venture to the hinterland to present and advance modern Christianity in Kenya. The obelisk in beautiful gardens celebrates the singly achievement of one of the most eccentric missioners in Kenya. In March of 1844, with the approval of Sultan Seyyid Said, the chief Arab ruler who was known in Europe as the Imam of Muscat, Krapf set off.
Krapf at once plunged with characteristic ardour into the study of the Kiswahili, of which there was neither grammar nor dictionary; and on June 8 that same year, a day he always considered one of the most important in his life, he embarked on a tentative translation of the Book of Genesis, with the help of the Cadi of Mombasa. Scarcely had he begun, however, when, he was attacked by fever, and on the 5th his wife took it still more severely. So, the very next day Mrs. Krapf’s confinement took place; and by July 9 her imminent sudden death was apparent: She called the Mohammedan attendants round her, and earnestly besought them to believe in Christ the Son of God, in whom, in that hour of anguish, and in the prospect of immediate separation from husband and infant, she could rest with perfect peace.
Krapf was lying close by prostrate with fever, and when she breathed her last, it was only by a great effort that he was able to rise and satisfy himself that she was really dead. Afterwards he followed the beloved remains to the grave, in which they were laid in the presence of the Governor, the Cadi, and other leading locals of the place. A day later, the motherless infant succumbed also to the fever; and, wrote Krapf: “I was obliged by the climate to conduct this second victim of the king of terrors to the grave of my beloved Rosine as soon as possible”. As he wrote in a private letter, “wept for many days.” He buried his family on the mainland, unaware that close to that solitary grave would rise a great missionary station.
The iconic ACK Emmanuel Church is built within a few hundred yards of the white tombstone that marks the spot where Mrs. Krapf and her new-born infant were buried. Later, Krapf moved to the higher area of Rabai, on the coastal hills, where he started a station. It is here that Johann L. Krapf finally translated the English to Swahili Dictionary and later Arabic and Roman scriptures to Swahili. He studied several African languages, drafting dictionaries and translating scriptures. As a passionate explorer, Krapf made history as the foremost European to sight the snowcapped Mount Kenya atop Yatta Plateau on his maiden journey to Ukambani.
1900 marked the arrival and influence of various settlers, notably of the British and Indians, attracted by fertile agricultural lands and untapped market for trade. These settlers and individuals, some famous as local eccentrics, left lasting legacies in Kenya’s history, contributing to its cultural, economic, and political development. The legacies of the eccentrics are still much-talked about today.
Index of Eccentric Settlers in Kenya
Kiambu County - William Northrup McMillan, Kilifi County - Johann Ludwig Krapf, Mombasa County - Allidina Visram, Makueni County - Peter Cameron Scott, Machakos County - Frank O'Brien Wilson, Meru County - Edward B. Horne, Muranga County - John Bayes, Nakuru County - Lord Maurice Egerton, Lord Delamere, Diana Delamere, Alan Root, Galbraith Lowry Egerton Cole, Lady Eleanor Balfour, Nairobi County - Karen Blixen, Lord Erroll, Alice de Janzé, Derek Erskine, Nyandarua County - Geoffrey Buxton, John W. Etherington, Robert F. Carnegie, Nyeri County - Major Eric Sherbrooke Walker, Robert Baden-Powell, William Holden, Samburu County - Rhodia Mann, Taita Taveta County - Ewart Grogan, Denys Finch Hatton, Tana River County - George G. Adamson
outlook
Well-famous for its rich Swahili culture, stunning beaches, and vibrant nightlife – acclaimed as one of the top destinations in Kenya – Mombasa County is home to Mombasa City, Kenya’s second-largest city and a primary port town that has been a key trade center for centuries. Mombasa County is more than just beaches—it’s a cultural melting pot with history, adventure, and guaranteed jambos.
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Explore Destinations Nearby Krapf Memorial Heritage Park
A Guide to Mombasa County
A Summa Digest of Mombasa
About Mombasa Way Back When
80 Destinations in Mombasa County, arranged as one would visit these - south, north then east - with the aid of in-depth narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Arab Rifle's Monument, Buli Monument, Fort Jesus Curio Shop, Camel Joint, Old Town Mombasa, Fort Jesus Museum I World Heritage Site, Mombasa Butterfly House, Santo Antonio de Tanna, Swahili Cultural Center, Sanaa Gallery, Old Port Mombasa, Leven House I Steps, Forodhani Restaurant, The Mandhry Mosque, Burhani Mosque, Tulia Backpackers, Bahdala Mosque, Mazrui Cemetery, Old Law Courts, Treasury Square, Africa Hotel, Kizingo BBQ, St. Joseph's Fort, Ras Serani Lighthouse, Kizingo War Camp, Mombasa Golf Club, Mama Ngina Waterfront Park, Shelly Beach, The Likoni Floating Bridge, Mbaraki Creek, Mombasa Yatch Club, Mbaraki Pillar, The Mombasa Mbaraki Cemetery, The Little Theatre Club, Kilindini Harbour, The Mombasa Memorial Church, The Holy Ghost Catholic Cathedral, Lord Shiva Temple, The Old Mombasa Railway Station, Railways Park, Mombasa African Memorial, Mombasa’s Tusks, Fort Makupa, Kibarani Recreation Park, Akamba Handicraft Shop, Manyimbo War Cemetery, Tudor Water Sports Marina, Nyali Bridge, ACK Emmanuel, The Kengeleni Monument, Bahari Beach Resort, Tamarind Dhow Cruise, Krapf Memorial Heritage Park, Kenyatta Public Beach, Bombolulu Workshop, Haller Park, Mombasa Butterfly Pavilion, Bamburi Rifle Range, Mombasa Go-Kart, Suli Suli Fishing, Nguuni Nature Sanctuary, Mamba Village, Nyali Golf & Country Club, Wild Waters, Nyali Shopping Mall, Mombasa Marine Park I Reserve, Ngomongo Village, Shimo la Tewa Site, The Moorings, La Marina Restaurant
Know More About Mombasa County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - with the aid of a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Mombasa County can be split into 3 zones: 1. Coastal plain, covering parts the Island; 2. The hilly areas rising gently from 45 ms to 132 ms asl in the west; and 3. The Indian Ocean, creeks and the shoreline.
Mombasa County is generally warm and humid. A tropical wet and dry climate influenced by warm sea breezes year-round. May is generally the wettest month, then April and June. March is the hottest, peaking at 33oC, with average temperatures across the year rarely falling below 24oC; July and August.
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