Historical significance Blue-and-white Architecture
From USD 100 - USD 250
Brilliant Beaches
July - Sep
Jul - Oct
Location: Mombasa is located in southeastern Kenya, along the coast of the Indian Ocean. It lies within Mombasa county.
Size: 113 square miles
History: A former trading port for the Portuguese, in the late 17th century, Mombasa gained fame when it fell under the rule of the Sultan of Oman. Before Nairobi was established as the capital city, Mombasa held the title as the capital of British East Africa, Nairobi taking over the title in 1907. Mombasa is a city known for its “blue-and-white” architecture, cultural significance and outstanding beaches.
Entrance Fees & Permits: N/A
Hours of Operation: N/A
By Road: If visitors who wish to travel by road from Nairobi, the drive will be a long, 303-miles journey that would take just under 8 hours.
By Air: A flight from Nairobi to Mombasa will take approximately 1hr, a flight over 263 miles.
By Train: Visitors who wish to travel by train well known as Madaraka Express from Nairobi to Mombasa, it covers a distance of approximately 293 miles and takes approximately 6 hours to complete the entire journey. You will then be transferred to your particular hotel.
Weather & Climate: July to October is the dry season when the weather is warm and ideal to experience the wonderful beaches of Mombasa. The rainfall presents short rains between November and January, with the long rains falling in April and May.
Avoiding Crowds: Consider travelling just outside the popular months between July and September, with October still being a great time to capture good weather but fewer people on the beach. In late May, the weather is still mild and a good time to explore Mombasa.
Value for Money: With a variety of accommodation options to choose from, you will find that spending time in Mombasa after a Kenyan Safari is definitely valuable. With proximity to the key safari destinations in Kenya, adding Mombasa to an East African itinerary is an excellent option.
Popular Marine Life Sightings: Diving and snorkelling are very popular activities along the Mombasa Coastline and the marine life is vibrant and simply wonderful. Visitors will be able to see jellyfish, starfish, a variety of fish and crabs.
The Aquatic Landscape: Mombasa is a key player in the preservation of coral reefs, with some amazing examples of intact coral reefs. At the Mombasa Marine National Park, you can witness colorful beds of coral and rock provide a picturesque underwater landscape with marine life thriving in existence with this environment.
The east coast of Kenya is a picturesque scene of stunning sand, seaside escapes and small, charming villages, however, it is also a great place to connect to Kenya’s safari scene. Mombasa, known as the “Blue and White” city, embraces a melting pot of cultures including Indian, Arabic and African. Mombasa offers a world of international flavors as well as local traditions which can be experienced in small and cozy restaurants, rural beer houses and beach bars. Visitors tend to flock to this coastal gem post safari as the vibe is relaxed and laid back.
Sights of Mombasa: Mombasa is ideally located for easy access by air from the country’s Capital, Nairobi. It only takes a short one-hour flight to deliver families and friends to this Indian Ocean paradise in one of East Africa’s prime locations. Besides soaking up the sun and enjoying cocktails beside tranquil swimming pools, visitors enjoy many a plethora of other ocean activities. Ranging from deep sea diving to snorkeling around colorful coral reefs and a myriad of action-packed motorized water sports. Exquisite marine parks offer a safari in Mombasa that rivals many worldwide. Pristine aqua waters are home to incredible turtle life, a plethora of fish and magnificent mammals such as bottlenose dolphins. Visitors can enjoy a day at sea at Wasini aboard a Dhow, a wooden boat with sails, with a welcome interruption on land. Drive past mango plantations and palm trees and enjoy lunch in the small village of Shimoni. Guests can take in the natural beauty of Kisite – Mpunguti Park, famously known as the “home of the dolphin” and an impressive number of migratory birds.
Safaris from Mombasa: A key element of visiting Kenya is embarking on an unforgettable safari experience, and starting your safari from Mombasa is ideal. It is conveniently located within a two-hour drive from incredible safari destinations such as Tsavo East & Tsavo West National Parks, wildlife havens that offer incredible wildlife sightings including the famous “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo). The landscape varies between the Tsavo East and Tsavo West with open savannahs, woodlands and baobab trees. A visit to the evergreen Taita Hills National Park, is a two-hour drive from Mombasa. With amazing views of the surrounding hills, it is an excellent alternative to the Tsavo safari options. For something completely different from the savannahs and riverine of the larger national parks, visitors to Shimba Hills National Reserve will be greeted with misty rain forests and beautiful waterfalls. Brilliant bird viewing and commanding views can also be found. For those visitors who want to visit the famous Maasai Mara National Park, connecting from Mombasa is possible via Nairobi. A short connection in Kenya’s capital adds to the adventure.
A safari in Mombasa and surrounding areas offer something for everyone. For those looking for a beach & bush combination, spend time in one of the fine accommodation options such as the Sarove Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa. The perfectly-located Tamarind Village sits a short distance from Bamburi Beach so you can check it out before heading out to one of the nearby safari lodges. Day excursions to nearby Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary are possible from Mombasa, allowing visitors an incredible experience of seeing these gentle giants up close. Perhaps a honeymoon is a reason for conducting a safari from Mombasa, the ideal sea & safari package offering the best water wonder and wildlife. If walking safaris are the focus, doing a safari from Mombasa makes perfect sense. Guests staying at the Sarova Salt Lick Safari Lodge can enjoy guided walks through nature, observing the surrounding flora and fauna and keeping an eye out for wildlife magnificent in the distance. A safari in Mombasa or to the surrounding parks is an ideal opportunity to soak up the sun, culture and wilderness adventure.
Beach resorts, boutique hotels and comfortable escapes form the menu of accommodations to be found in Mombasa.
| Lodge or Hotel | Distance to Mombasa City |
| Sarova Whitesands Beach & Spa | 6 miles from Mombasa City |
| Voyager Beach Resort | 4.4 miles from Mombasa City |
| Serena Beach Resort & Spa | 8.5 miles from Mombasa City |
| Neptune Beach Resort | 6.8 miles from Mombasa City |
| Severin Sea Lodge | 7 miles from Mombasa City |
| PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort Convention Centre and Spa | 10 miles from Mombasa City |
| Travellers Beach Hotel & Club | 6.3 miles from Mombasa City |
| Nyali sun Africa beach hotel & spa | 3.6 miles from Mombasa City |
| Hotel English point Marina | 2.4 miles from Mombasa City |
Wasini National Park: Discover paradise when visiting Wasini National Park, an island escape lying around 47 miles south of Mombasa. Beaches, nature and seaside bliss, this is a great addition to a visit to Mombasa.
Shimba Hills Game Reserve: Situated 20 miles from Mombasa, this beautiful reserve presents waterfalls, nature walks and grasslands that provide an incredible environment for a variety of wildlife. See elephants at play and witness butterflies and birds take flight in the captivating surroundings on a Shimba Hills National Park Day Trip.
Mombasa Haller Park (Formerly Bamburi Nature Trail): Haller Park is the largest animal sanctuary on the Kenya Coast. The Nature Trail boasts an enormous variety of animals, reptiles, insects, and botanical gardens. On many occasions, visitors are even able to hold or feed reptiles under guided supervision.
Mombasa Fort Jesus: Fort Jesus is Mombasa’s most popular tourist attraction. The 16th century Portuguese first us a monumental piece of architecture that now displays various artifacts from the era in which Mombasa served as a transit point for slave trade and comodoties. The Mueseum interior comprises of torture rooms, prison cells, and weapons such as canons.
Mombasa Old Town: “Old Town” is well known for its ancient buildings, extravagant art designs and curio shops. “Old Town” is best seen when explored by foot with an experienced guide who can educate visitors on the history of the town and its Arab influence.
Mombasa Mamba Villa (Crocodile Farm): Mamba Village is East Africa’s largest crocodile farm. A tour of the farm starts with a movie on the life cycle and behaviour of crocodiles, followed by a comprehensive tour of the rest of the farm, and ends with the highlight of the day: a spectacular scene of bloodthirsty crocodiles fighting for food during feeding time.
Mombasa Bombolulu Workshops: The Bombolulu workshops are located along the north coast of Mombasa. Founded in 1969, Bombolulu Workshops is a Project of the Association for the Physically Disabled in Kenya (APDK). It is a major Tourist attraction which consists of a Cultural Centre with 8 traditional homesteads. The Centre is run by the “Association for the physically disabled” and employs 150-disabled craftsmen/women who produce jewellery, hand printed textiles, wood carvings and leather crafts.
The Elephant Tusks “The Gateway Landmark”: The Elephant “Tusks” are symbolic representations of entrance into the heart of the town. The tusks were built to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth to the town in 1952, as they lay directly on the path from the port to the town.
The Mombasa Hindu Temple: The Hindu temple located on Haile selassie Avenue is one of the many symbols of Mombasa’s cultural diversity. The temple is a popular tourist spot and a tour can be taken inside the temple, with a historical background of the temple given by one of the temple gurus.
The Gedi Ruins: On the North coast of Mombasa towards the town of Malindi lays one of the most prehistoric ruins found in Mombasa, called the Gedi Ruins. These ruins date back from the 15th century, and through careful preservation most of the original foundations can still be seen today. The Gedi Ruins are a designated National Museum by law and the visit is included in our one day Malindi tour excursion program.
Mombasa offers mild temperatures and beautiful days between July and October. To avoid crowds, consider visiting in either November and December or late May and early June.
Hotels & Resorts in the Mombasa coastal region can cost between USD100 to USD250 per person sharing per night.
The best way to get to Mombasa is to take a one-hour flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport.
Mombasa is located on Kenya’s coastline and is close enough to key safari destinations within Kenya to create the ideal safari and beach vacation combination. The beaches are pristine and the city’s history is fascinating.
A myriad of sea life and intact coral is a huge draw to visitors to Mombasa’s coastal regions. See starfish, crab and a variety of fish when diving or snorkeling off Mombasa’s coast.
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It is advisable to book your visit to Mombasa in advance as hotels and resorts could book out quite well in advance.
Transferring from Nairobi by vehicle or plane or adding on a Mombasa beach stay after a safari will provide a few days of idyllic downtime and beach bliss.
Sarova White Sands, PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort Convention Centre & Spa, Voyager Beach Resort and Neptune Beach Resort are popular options when looking at where to stay in Mombasa. Resort and beach escapes located close to the center of historical Mombasa.
Sea Haven restaurant and 10 are popular places for Mombasa visitors to dine at. Consider enjoying a meal at Tamarind, a dhow and restaurant experience in one.
Wasini National Park
Beaches, nature and seaside bliss, this is a great addition to a visit to Mombasa and a coastal nature haven located along Kenya’s eastern coast.
Shimba Hills Game Reserve
Discover the beauty of Shimba Hills, with waterfalls, nature walks and grasslands that provide an incredible environment for a variety of wildlife.
Mombasa Marine National Park & Reserve
Swim, dive, or sunbathe and take in the natural beauty of the protected piece of Kenya’s Great Coral Reef. The coral reefs here are world-class, said to be amongst the best three dive sites in the world. The waters are literally awash with sea urchin, crab, starfish, octopus and more.
