Ali Barbour’s Cave Photos

About Ali Barbour’s Cave

Ali Barbour’s Cave, located about 30km south of Mombasa, is a massive underground chamber believed to be between 120,000 and 180,000 years old. As tourists descend into the cave, soft candlelights warmly greet them, creating a magical atmosphere. The cave, situated 200 meters back from the high water mark, comprises a series of interlocking chambers up to 10 meters below ground level, part of a vast cave complex that extends miles inland.

Within this ancient cave, Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant provides a truly unique dining experience. The entire place is beautifully adorned with candles, offering an enchanting setting for a romantic atmosphere. Natural holes in the cave’s roof allow diners to gaze up at the sky, adding to the overall charm.

Remarkably, the cave’s original features have been preserved, maintaining the authenticity of its discovery. The only modifications made were to the chambers housing the kitchen and lavatories for practical purposes. The restaurant has seamlessly incorporated stone alongside furniture, fittings, and lighting, preserving the natural holes in the roof crust, which are open to the sky and covered during bad weather.

Ali Barbour’s Cave owes its origin to subterranean solutions beneath the water table, later breached and modified by dramatic changes in sea level, tidal wave action, and the engulfment of surface streams. This historic cave provides a fascinating glimpse into the past, offering both a unique dining experience and a connection to the geological and cultural history of the region.