How to get to Mombasa : The primary Kenya safari tourist destination in Kenya is Mombasa. Its beaches have made it a popular resort due to its location on Kenya’s eastern coast, which borders the Indian Ocean. Mombasa draws most tourists on holidays, family vacations, and solo travellers because it offers a variety of marine life, top-notch hotels, and a welcoming ambiance. There are several means to go to Mombasa, including;
By Air
Air travel is the quickest and most convenient way to get to Mombasa. The only international airport in Mombasa that offers both regional and intercontinental flights is Moi International Airport, which is located in the Port Reitz area of the mainland. The airport was recently renovated, increasing the number of flights from European cities to Mombasa. Kenya Airways provides the most options for travel, but other airlines like Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines also offer flights to this coastal city. Mombasa City is also accessible via Moi International Airport for regional domestic and charter flights from Nairobi and other regions of the nation; however, charter flights have the option to utilise the Bamburi airstrip in Mombasa.
By Road
Road transport is another option. The main road between Nairobi, the capital and largest city of Kenya, and Mombasa, the largest port city, is part of the Northern Corridor, which connects various highways to the country’s regions. It also leads to Dar es Salaam and the northward road link to Malindi and Lamu, which also stretches towards the Somalia border. Travellers can reserve a private safari car through tour operators, which is always included in the safari package. From Nairobi, you travel 482 kilometres in a south easterly direction through various Kenyan counties, which could take up to 4 or 5 hours, depending on your average driving speed.
By Train
A modern railway station called the Mombasa terminus station, a Standard Gauge Railway station in the suburbs called Miritini, has two passenger trains that leave the station daily, an inter-county train that stops at all stations, and an express train that goes directly to Nairobi Terminal, which is quicker and takes only six hours to link Nairobi. This is another way to get to Mobasa. The city is also accessible by train from Nairobi, with two departures daily in each direction.
White sand beaches
The Kenya safari tourist attractions in Mombasa are the numerous stunning beaches that are well-liked Kenya safari destinations for a variety of thrilling tourist activities. These white sand beaches are divided into two categories: the north coast and the south coast. The north coast beaches are a little livelier due to their proximity to the airport and Mombasa city, while the south coast beaches are home to the Mombasa Marine National Park. These palm-lined beaches with crystal-clear waters and coral reefs offer the most thrilling and laid-back adventurous moments.
The north coast beaches of Mombasa are a bit livelier than the south, and they are closer to the airport and the city of Mombasa. The Mombasa Marine National Park offers multi-coloured coral gardens, drop-offs, and the best wreck diving in Kenya on the MV Dania, along with other beaches like Nyali Beach, Bamburi Beach, and Shanzu Beach. Diani Beach, Tiwi, and Shelly beaches are among the sun-bleached beaches of rustling palms and rain forests teeming with a variety of wildlife and birds that encircle this picturesque length of coast and coral reefs. The south coast offers a world of natural beauty.
Fort Jesus
One of the kenya safari tourist destinations in Mombasa is Fort Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was constructed by the Portuguese between 1593 and 1596 and features a magnificent exhibition of Portuguese military architecture in the form of a man. In addition to showcasing a vast array of ceramics and pottery from the numerous nations who traded along the coast, Fort Jesus is home to a number of intriguing battlements and abandoned structures, such as an Omani house, a structure with Omani jewellery, and exhibits on Swahili culture.
Mombasa Old Town
The Old Town is located on the southeast side of Mombasa Island, it is a reminder of the time when the Portuguese controlled this significant port. The residents of the Old Town are primarily Arab, Asian, and European, and their many cultural backgrounds are reflected in the architecture. Great for history aficionados, the antique buildings that coexist side by side along the winding lanes are adorned with intricately carved doors and balconies.
Haller Park
It is kenya safari destination located off Mombasa-Malindi road in Bamburi, Haller Park is a nature safari park for animal and bird lovers. It includes a giraffe viewing platform, a fish farm area, a game sanctuary, a palm garden, crocodile pens, and a reptile area. It is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including antelopes, hippos, buffaloes, giraffes, and several other smaller mammals and birds. Remember the well-known interspecies pair that went viral on the internet after the 130-year-old tortoise Mzee took in an orphaned hippo named Owen?
More chances to see animals may be found in the Nguuni animals Sanctuary, which is about a 15-minute drive from Haller Park and is home to giraffes, ostriches, eland, oryx, and several bird species. It’s also among Mombasa’s most well-liked locations for picnics.
Mombasa Marine National Park
Another must-see Kenya safari tourist destination in Mombasa is the Mombasa Marine National Park, one of Kenya’s busiest offshore reserves that safeguards coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass meadows, and sandy beaches. Popular activities that provide views of marine life, including seahorses, stingrays, eels, and several fish species, include diving and snorkelling.
Mombasa Tusks
The Mombasa Tusks, a well-known feature in the city, were constructed in 1952 to honour Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Mombasa. The tusks, which are made of aluminium, serve as a landmark for the entry to the town’s centre, which is home to the majority of the banks, stores, and marketplaces. The letter “M” for Mombasa is likewise formed by the crossed tusks.
Mamba village in Nyali
The largest crocodile farm in East Africa is located at Mamba Village Centre in Nyali. The village also features a botanical garden with an aquarium, where visitors can learn about the life cycle and behaviour of these fascinating amphibians. The gardens’ speciality is orchids and aquatic plants, but they also feature carnivorous species.
Shimba Hills National Reserve
The Shimba Hills National Reserve, located on an island in Lake Victoria and offering a peaceful escape from the city’s commercial centre, is the ideal tourist destination in Mombasa. It is home to several endangered plant, animal, and bird species, and visitors will be astounded by the area’s breathtaking natural beauty, which includes lily-top ponds, woodlands, savanna, enchanting waterfalls, and a rich rain forest. There is a lot of bird life, elephants, antelopes, and occasionally a leopard may be seen.
Gedi Ruins
One of the oldest ruins in Mombasa is the Gedi ruins, which are located on the north shore of the city, close to the town of Malindi. Gedi, a tiny village made of rocks, was home to a few thousand Swahili people. As one of the many relics of the past, this historic Arab-African town is preserved as a National Museum. Numerous walkways through the ruins allow visitors to see Gedi’s Dated Tomb, Gedi’s Tomb of the Fluted Pillar, the Great Mosque, Gedi’s Palace, Annex, the house of the cowries, as well as the houses of the Porcelain Bowl, the Panelled V Walls, the Mosque of the Long Conduit, the Sunken Court, the Long Court, the House on the Wall, the Dhow and the house of the double dourt.
Marikiti spice market
This market, which runs west of the Old Town along Nehru and Langoni Roads, is a sensory overload with lots of shouting, wheeling, negotiating, jostling and, of course, the exotic aroma of the stall after stall of curry, cardamom, pepper and turmeric powders. There are also stalls along Langoni Road that serve mouth watering street food. Shop clothes at Kongwea or visit the Maasai market for souvenirs and unique artwork, among other marketplaces.
Handcrafted Workshop
The Association for the Physically Disabled is the organisation behind this workshop and cultural centre, which gives tourists a taste of Mombasa culture and customs. They can see traditional homesteads across Kenya and take in tribal dance performances. The workshops provide handcrafted mementos that support the center’s operations, such as leather crafts, wood carvings, jewellery, and textiles.
