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Mombasa Day Trips

Mombasa’s strategic location at the crossroads of many different worlds has made it one of East Africa’s great historical cities. And this location is good for travelers too. No matter which direction you go along the coast, Mombasa offers superb beaches, fine snorkeling, excursions in dhows (traditional wooden sailboats), and an Indian Ocean experience of white sand, palm trees and wonderful relaxation. It’s a very different experience if you travel inland, but there’s just as much choice, with a collection of outstanding national parks and wildlife experiences to look forward to. No matter which of the many Mombasa day trips you choose, you’ll be in for a treat.

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6 Questions About Mombasa Day Trips

1. What day trips are possible from Mombasa?
2. Can I do a safari from Mombasa in one day?
3. What wildlife can I see on a 1-Day safari out of Mombasa?
4. What is there to see in Mombasa?
5. What is the best time of year for a trip from Mombasa?
6. Is one day enough for exploring Mombasa?
 
 

6 Questions About Mombasa Day Trips

Answered by Anthony Ham

What day trips are possible from Mombasa?

“Assuming you want to get out of the city, you have a choice between exploring the coast or visiting an inland safari park. If you choose the coast, you could head north to Watamu and combine some relatively cheap time on one of Kenya’s loveliest beaches, with the resort town of Malindi and the medieval Swahili ruins of Gede also nearby. South of Mombasa, you could easily visit Diani Beach on a day tour. If you decide that you want to make a safari the focus of your day trip, you have a number of options. One of these is to make a day trip to Tsavo East National Park. This is one of Kenya’s best national parks for wildlife, and although ideally you would spend several days there, a 1-day trip is certainly possible. Another possibility is Shimba Hills National Reserve, with its rainforest, sable antelope and elephants. Nearby Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is another option.”

1

Can I do a safari from Mombasa in one day?

“Yes, a 1-day safari is certainly possible from Mombasa. The main choices are between Tsavo East National Park and Shimba Hills National Reserve. The issue with a 1-Day safari package is that you will spend several hours travelling to and from the parks, which can make for a long day on the road. These travel hours also will likely be early in the morning and late in the afternoon, meaning you’ll be in the park during the hottest part of the day. But even with these restrictions, a 1-Day safari can still be a highly memorable experience and you should still see lots of animals. Another possibility to consider is a marine safari, where you go diving or snorkeling off the coast from Mombasa or elsewhere. The marine life you can see on such a trip can be incredible.”

2

What wildlife can I see on a 1-Day safari out of Mombasa?

“If you travel to Tsavo East NP, you can expect to see elephants. Tsavo is famous for its elephants, and you can expect many to be coated in the famously red Tsavo dust. Lion is possible in Tsavo East, including the Tsavo males with their distinctive, scruffy manes. You may also see cheetah out on the plains in the park’s east, though you’d have to be extremely lucky to see one or both of these big cats on a day trip. Other possibilities include giraffe, zebra, buffalo and wildebeest, and you should keep an eye out for Tsavo specials like gerenuk and fringe-eared oryx. If your 1-day safari is to Shimba Hills, expect to see lots of elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra and Roosevelt’s sable antelope; the latter is a real prize. Shimba Hills is also excellent for seeing a number of primate species, such as yellow baboon, Sykes’ monkey, vervet monkey and Angola colobus monkey.”

3

What is there to see in Mombasa?

“Mombasa is both an ancient port city and a thriving modern metropolis, making it a fascinating city to explore. You could easily spend a day or more getting to know it. The main focal point of most visits is the 16th-century Fort Jesus, an imposing UNESCO World Heritage–listed fortress that overlooks the water. The city also has a maze-like and atmospheric old city, with a tangle of laneways lined with markets, Swahili curry houses and fascinating architecture, making for an affordable DIY day tour. The city also has some lovely beaches to the north of town, which are still considered part of the city.”

4

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

“Mombasa is an excellent year-round destination. Although rains are possible at any time, for much of the year rain is usually restricted to an afternoon thunderstorm. The months when rains are most likely to disrupt your visit are in April, May and October. The driest months are generally December to March and from July to September. Humidity can be high year-round, although it’s less of an issue from December to March.”

5

Is one day enough for exploring Mombasa?

“If you plan on remaining in Mombasa for the day, you’ll be able to see and experience most things that the city has to offer. Staying for longer will enable you to get a deeper appreciation of the city’s culinary scene, try a number of different beaches, and explore the old city a little further. But one day is certainly enough to get a wonderful taste. If you spend your day on an excursion beyond Mombasa, you’ll need one day for each of the possibilities, whether it’s Watamu, Tsavo East, Shimba Hills or Diani Beach. It would be too much to try to visit more than one of these in a single day.”

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