Filter Options

Your Safari

Where To
Start Date
Start Date
2 Adults
Age at the end of the tour
Travelers

Tour Length

Rates in USD $ Change Currency

Per person, excl. international flights

Comfort Level

Private or Shared Tour

Safari Type

Operator Rating

Specialized Tours

+ Show more

Other Tour Features

Filter by Operator

Filter by Accommodation

Operators From

+ Show more

Day Trips From Mombasa - Compare 12 Tours

4.6/5  –  1,721 Kenya Reviews

Mombasa is both a destination in its own right and the starting point for many wonderful adventures. For a break from city life, there’s a whole coastline waiting to be explored, as well as an excellent selection of safari parks where you can look for animals not far inland from the city. All of this means that you’re spoiled for choice, so make sure that you plan carefully to ensure that you really make the most of your day. Mombasa’s tour operators are experienced at organizing everything from city tours to beach excursions or day safaris, so shop around and find the right package for you.

Selected filters:
Clear All Filters
1-12 of 12 Rankings are based on performance, relevance and payment. Learn more

5 Questions About Day Trips From Mombasa

 
 

5 Questions About Day Trips From Mombasa

Answered by Anthony Ham

Which parks can I visit on a day trip from Mombasa?

“There are three main possibilities when it comes to visiting parks on a day trip from Mombasa: Tsavo East National Park, Shimba Hills National Reserve and Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary. Tsavo East is a world-class safari park, and it can be reached in two hours by road from Mombasa. It’s easily the best choice when it comes to wildlife, but it does mean that you’ll spend four hours of your day traveling to and from the park. Shimba Hills and Mwaluganje are considerably closer, but how long it takes to get to either of these may depend on how quickly you’re able to cross on the Likoni Ferry close to Mombasa. Once you’re there, both have good wildlife, though Shimba Hills has a wider range of animals.”

1

Is it worth doing a day trip from Mombasa?

“Yes, a day trip from Mombasa is definitely worth it. It would always be nice to have longer to spend on safari, but it’s better to have one day on safari than no days at all. The main downside of a 1-day safari from Mombasa is that you’ll spend a considerable amount of time traveling to and from the park you’re visiting. At the same time, this enables you to see more of the country, and will help you get a more rounded experience of the country and its people. If you leave early and return late, you can still spend a number of hours – perhaps even up to eight hours – inside the park looking for animals.”

2

What wildlife can I see on such a day trip?

“If you’re visiting Tsavo East, you can expect to see lots of elephants (with some covered in the famous red dust of Tsavo), as well as giraffe, zebra and buffalo. Tsavo East is also excellent for seeing lions and cheetahs, although you’ll have to be very lucky to see one or both of these on a day trip. The lions of Tsavo are renowned for having scruffy manes, so hopefully you’ll see a Tsavo male while you’re there. If you visit Shimba Hills, you’ll be looking for elephant, giraffe, buffalo and the much-sought-after Roosevelt’s sable antelope. Shimba Hills is also a good place to see monkeys and other primates, among them yellow baboon, blue monkey, vervet monkey and Angola colobus. In Mwaluganje, which is relatively cheap when compared to the other excursions and parks, elephants are the main attraction.”

3

Is it possible to go on a marine safari from Mombasa?

“Yes, in fact a marine safari may well be the best use of your time on a day trip from Mombasa. Lots of Mombasa tour operators can take you out onto the water for a day of diving or (more affordable) snorkeling. The advantage of this kind of safari is that it generally takes place much closer to Mombasa. This means that you’ll be spending less time on the road and more time looking for animals. The marine life all along Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline is spectacular, and going out to look for the fish and other marine life can often be combined with a trip aboard a traditional dhow sailboat, with a picnic lunch on board. On some of these excursions, you’ll dive off the back of the boat and down to reefs filled with life.”

4

What is the best time of year for a trip from Mombasa?

“Mombasa is a good place to visit at any time of the year, although its tropical location along the East African seaboard means that rains are possible year-round. For most of the year, this may just mean an afternoon thunderstorm, which is easy to plan your day around. Monsoonal rains, which tend to be heavier and last longer, are more likely in April and May. These are also the months with the highest humidity, which means that conditions can become a little uncomfortable. July to October are usually the driest months.”

5

Kenya Reviews

4.6/5 1,721 Reviews
Expert
Nana Luckham  –  
United Kingdom UK

Nana is a travel writer and author of multiple guidebooks, including the Lonely Planet guides to Africa, Zambia & Malawi and South Africa.

From Game-Packed Hot Spots to Little-Known Wilderness
5/5

Kenya’s stunning landscapes include rainforest, beaches, deserts and mountains, but it’s the first-class wildlife watching that keeps so many visitors flocking back. Not only is it one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five,...

Full Review

Expert
Mark Eveleigh  –  
United Kingdom UK

Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.

Containing ‘The Greatest Wildlife Real Estate on Earth’
5/5

The Masai Mara has been called ‘the greatest wildlife real estate on Earth’ and for the sheer density of its wildlife it probably has no competition anywhere in the world. For a first-time safari these days you probably still can’t...

Full Review

Tracey Cook  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Jun 16, 2026
So Much To See
5/5

Maasi Mara was fantastic! It was a lot of driving since we left at 4:45 am and didn’t get back until 5 pm. We saw a pride of 13 lions, which was incredible. We saw elephants, giraffe, cheetah, hyenas, ostrich, and lots of herd animals...

Full Review

Yannick Emmanuel Coulibaly  –  
Ivory Coast CI
Reviewed: Jun 14, 2026
Kenya, An Unforgettable Adventure
4/5

Between the vast savannas teeming with African wildlife and the vibrant energy of Nairobi, this journey through Kenya was a truly memorable experience. From the thrill of the safari to the urban discoveries of the capital, this trip...

Full Review

Priyanka Kotturappa  –  
Germany DE
Reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
Unforgettable memories
5/5

We visited last week of May to Masai mara. The grass is tall but we could spot animals in person but not great to capture photos. Our guide Chefben was amazing in explaining animal behaviour, patterns, and he had answers to all of our...

Full Review

Robyn Gowland  –  
Australia AU
Reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
Amboseli Wildlife Park
4/5

We were very pleased with the support we received from Esther of Cherish Safaris Kenya when making our booking for the three day, two night safari to Amboseli National Park. Francis met us as arranged at the Namunga Border crossing...

Full Review