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The largest island on the Kenyan coast, its mystical mixture of the ancient and modern. Narrow alleys with ornamental balconies, vibrant bazaars and miles of white sandy beaches make it an intriguing potpourri of romanticism and history.
Let its laid-back atmosphere embrace you while you stay in one of the Hotels. A creek safari, or snorkel by day while evenings enchant with exotic cocktails and colourful dances. There are many good holiday hotels stretching right along the entire Kenyan coast with it’s wide white-sand beaches.
Almost the entire coastline from Malindi down the south coast is protected by an off-shore reef, whose clear, calm and warm waters are populated by many corals, starfish, fish, and underwater flowers – a paradise for snorkelers and divers. The conditions are also well suited to all other forms of water sports such as windsurfing, sailing and big-game-fishing.
1. Half Day - Mombasa City Tour
The second largest city in Kenya, which is on the island, diverse and intriguing population, women in dark bui-bui or wrapped in brilliant multicolored kanga, a visit to Fort Jesus, the old town, Baobab forest, Elephant Tusks and Akamba Woodcraft
Itinerary:
Depart from your beach hotel in the morning and drive to Mombasa. Begin the tour with a visit to the Baobab forest along Mama Ngina Drive before proceeding to Fort Jesus Museum built by the Portugese at the end of the 16th century.
It dominates the entrance to Mombasa Harbor and commands good views over the Old Town. The Fort is now a national monument and houses an interesting museum.
Walk through Mombasa the second largest city in Kenya and which is located on an island. It is a steamy, tropical, low-rise city with asymmetrical streets, languid pace, a diverse and intriguing population. It is mostly a Swahili town and women can be seen chattering by in dark bui-bui or wrapped in brilliant multicolored kanga.
Mombasa is also a port and a commercial center and has a long and complex history. Walk through the streets of Old Town up to the Old Port to see the Dhows. The old town is a maze of narrow streets, mosques and crowded buildings, some with impressive carved doors or intricate balconies.
Later visit the Mackinon market, Elephant Tusks and Indian Temple before proceeding to Akamba Woodcraft at Changamwe where you can see the craftsmen at work and select your carvings at the lowest price you can ever get in the world. Afterwards, transfer back to your hotel.
The package includes:
Gate entrance fees, transport, professional guide
Price per person from
- US$ 45 per person (North Coast hotels)
- US$ 50 per person (South Coast hotels)
2. Tamarind Dhow Cruise
A 12.00 hrs or 18.30 hrs departure from the Tamarind jetty for the lunch or evening cruise respectively. After a welcome cocktail, the Tamarind Dhow - Nawalicker (meaning Gateway to Heaven) cruises past the Old Town and fort Jesus. Fantastic seafood meals prepared by the world famous Tamarind Restaurant is enjoyed while a local band plays music to suit all tastes.
A trio-lingual guide, fully ticked bar and friendly service all adds to the unforgettable atmosphere. At 14.45 hrs or 22.30 hrs return to the jetty and thereafter to your hotel.
“Don’t miss enjoy an evening cruise on the ocean while on a romantic dhow”
3. Full Day Malindi and Gedi Ruins
Drive North to Kilifi through attractive country covered by extensive sisal plantations dotted with huge baobab trees. Continue on to the ancient city of Gedi - a 13th century ruin in the heart of the dense forest. Proceed to the coastal town of Malindi for lunch and an exploration of the marine park in a glass-bottomed boat where an experienced guide takes you goggling.
Later visit a nearby village and watch the Giriama tribe perform exciting tribal dances before driving back to Mombasa by sundown.
4. Full Day City Trail/Lunch/Nature Trail
A comprehensive morning tour of the island including a visit to Fort Jesus is followed by lunch at the Mamba Village. Mamba is the Swahili name for crocodile and this "village" is really a crocodile farm. Depart after lunch for the Bamburi Quarry Nature Trail. The wasteland of the stone quarry has been reclaimed and amongst the casuarina trees and other tropical flora reside a variety of wildlife and birds.
Eland and buffalo, crocodiles and other reptiles can be seen wandering with crowned cranes. The commercially viable aquaculture complexis also visited.
5. Full Day Tour - Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary Kenya's first community Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Kenya's big tuskers, dry baobab bush land, the endemic cycad palm, blooming desert roses, diversity of butterflies, birds and monkey-eating crowned eagle.
Itinerary:
Depart in the morning from your beach hotel to Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary. Have a mid-morning game drive enroute to Mwaluganje Elephant Camp for lunch.
Mwaluganje is situated in Kwale, South Coast of Mombasa and is Kenya's first community Wildlife Sanctuary. Until recently the, land was occupied by the local Duruma people who farmed and hunted there. This is a locally initiated and managed effort to develop tourism as an alternate to farming.
Mwaluganje is a bull area boasting superb opportunity to see Kenya's big tuskers elephants are the big attraction and there are plenty of them. Mwaluganje is a historical bull area where independent elephant bulls grow in preparation for the demanding life of breeding males.
There are plenty of other attractions like large mammals including some very friendly zebras, warthog, bushbuck, waterbuck, baboons, Colobus and sykes monkeys. The landscape in Mwaluganje is diverse and ranges from the dry baobab bush land to moist deciduous forest on the hills and riverine forest along the streams.
The presence of an endemic cycad that looks like a primitive palm tree makes Mwaluganje floristically unique. For wild flower lovers, this is paradise when the cliffs turn pink with blooming desert roses at the end of the rainy season (November) and when most plants flower at the start of the rainy season.
There is height diversity of butterflies resulting from the diverse habitats - along the Manolo River you will see species typical of Savannah and semi-arid country. This is also a birdwatchers' haven with some of the most spectacular birds of prey such as the monkey-eating crowned eagle and the palm nut vulture.
There are also other places of interest like Kaya Mtae, the Manolo River, Kitanze waterfall, the Pemba River and Mawe ya Masaa. After lunch continue with further game drive towards the gate and transfer back to beach hotel.
The package includes:
Park entrance fees, lunch, transport in 4x4 vehicle
Price per person from
US$ 240 per person (North Coast hotels)
US$ 230 per person (South Coast hotels)
6. Full Day Safari - Tsavo East National Park
Kenya's oldest and largest National Park and one of the world's leading biodiversity strongholds, large herds of Elephants glowing red after dust baths with laterite soil, bushy grassland, Lugard Falls on the Galana River and some 500 bird species.
Itinerary:
Depart from your beach hotel in the morning and drive Tsavo East National Park. On arrival enter the park via Bachuma gate and begin your morning game drive enroute to Voi Safari Lodge for lunch.
After lunch, continue with game drives at Tsavo East which is one of Kenya's oldest and largest National Parks covering an area of 12,000 sq km. This vast park lies in low semi arid country at the eastern edge of the inland plateau, north of the main Mombasa-Nairobi road and railway. Much of the park is level, open country with scattered rocky ridges and outcrops.
Due to its size, the park is one of the world's wildlife and biodiversity strongholds. The Yatta plateau, a long, flat topped lava ridge, runs along the western boundary of the park its about 290 km long and is one of the worlds longest lava flows beneath it flows the Athi river which joins the Tsavo river just above the Lugard falls, to become the Galana river a permanent river that cuts right across the park.
The seasonal Tiva and Voi rivers are important features of the Northern and Southern sectors respectively. There are scattered seasonal pools, swamps and dams but relatively few sources of permanent water. One of the great spectacles of the park is the Mudanda rock a 1 & ½ km long outcrop it is a water catchment area and supplies a natural dam at its base.
In the dry season, hundreds of elephants come to drink and bathe here. Attractions include large herds of elephants and other wildlife, popular legend of Tsavo "The man-eaters of Tsavo", Aruba Dam built in 1952 across the Voi River attracting many animals and water birds. In the late afternoon exit the park and return back to Mombasa. Drop off at your beach hotel.
The package includes:
Park entrance fees, lunch, transport and game drives
Price per person from
- US$ 165 per person (North Coast hotels)
- US$ 165 per person (South Coast hotels)
7. Full Day - Dolphin Dhow Tour
A scenic drive through coconut and cashew plantations, at the Dolphin dhow jetty transfer to the traditional Arab sailing dhows, with help of Dolphin experts spot Dolphins and snorkel in the coral gardens marveling at the prolific marine life
Itinerary:
Depart in the morning from your hotel and have a scenic drive through coconut and cashew plantations to the rural coastal village of Shimoni at South coast of Mombasa.
Walk through tropical forest to the Dolphin Dhow beach watch out for the rare Colobus monkeys on the way. The water taxis transfers you to one of the traditional Arab sailing dhows. Once on board relax, have a cup of tea or coffee and start to take in the scenery.
Being escorted by Dolphin experts makes it more than a day trip and their knowledge makes a meeting with the friendly dolphins a real probability. It is in the coral garden where you will snorkel and marvel at the prolific marine life. A traditional lunch on board ensures maximum time for dolphin spotting.
Wasini Island exploring provides good vantage points overlooking the dolphins’ playgrounds and leisurely sailing provides tranquil silence to listen out for dolphin whistles blowing off the sea.
As with any wild animal safari, sighting cannot be absolutely guaranteed – but it will, however, a most enjoyable day. Later in the afternoon transfer back to the jetty and depart back to your hotel.
The package includes:
- Marine Park entrance fees, lunch, transport, drinks
Price per person from
- US$ 130 (North Coast hotels)
- US$ 120 per person (South Coast hotels)
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