Swahili Architecture Safari in Kenya : Swahili architecture is the most amazing architecture for any tourist who comes to visit Kenya should not miss out visiting on a safari, this is a great term that is used to assign the whole range of the distinctive building traditions to practice along the Eastern and South-Eastern coast of Africa taking influence from African, South Asian and the Islamic traditions, these attract more of the tourists on a safari to Kenya to explore the various Swahili architecture that was set up there, especially during the 6th century AD at Swahili coast were earth and thatch structures, then later the house and other structures were made of the coral stone that explains the element of the Swahili architecture, where the stones were representing the symbol of stability and representation of the seat of trade.
Most of the houses made from the Swahili architecture have got the open balconies that were a dominant feature in Lamu Town, Mombasa and among other Swahili towns, these balconies were supported by the carved wooden brackets enriched with the carvings and motifs also create shade for the streets an entrances below as per Islamic culture.
Swahili architecture meant that all the houses are constructed of coral limestone that was ideal building material that is being light, strong. Then for the construction of roofs, mangroves poles were used another remarkable characteristics of the Swahili architecture.
Kenya has got the attractive streets that are in form of the Swahili architecture these can also be seen on a safari, these can be small and narrow and are divided into two-commercial and residential streets, where the commercial bazaar streets branch off many secondary streets and the residential streets leading to the many sectors of the city, these streets are so attractive in Kenya and they should never missed to be seen on a Kenya safari, because these streets are characteristic urban and amazing features of the stone towns in Zalidar, Lamu old town, Mombasa old town which makes you safari a rewarding one after viewing the architecture that was used and constructed during the long time ago by the Arabs.
The Swahili architecture is a material manifestation of the overlapping, fusion, harmonization of the cultures, the influence of the Swahili architecture is widespread and the architecture do explains to you on your Kenya safari how the Swahili culture adapted to the environment and various groups of the people were found in.
On a safari to Kenya, one enjoys spotting the many stone monuments built by the Swahili that includes the houses, pillar tombs, mosques all the materiality of local coral limestone marks the signature building language of Swahili architecture and it provides a functional response towards both the human needs and the physical environment, the architecture is such amazing in that the various designs on the roofs and windows serve to protect buildings from the crazy monsoon seasons. The most of the distinguished local features of the Swahili architecture is the Swahili doors, the designs and motifs of doorframes can be categorized into two types that is rectangular frames that presents the older Swahili style and then the arched lintels were more prevalent in the later nineteenth century.
On a Kenya safari to the Kenya’s coast you can enjoy and experience by spending a night to greatly feel the Swahili architecture where some of the hotels are renovated in the Swahili buildings, like Lamu, House on the Lamu island, is an elegant lodge with the most spacious rooms that are houses in two Swahili houses, the rooms have got the private terraces to offer the most breathtaking view of the coastline and the Indian ocean which rewards a tourist during a Kenya safari.
