5 day Mombasa tour leads you to the turquoise waters along the coastal areas of Kenya. With a plethora of unique places and activities, the area rewards you with a smell of culture and a sound of banter. Wherever you go across the terrain, a series of landscapes profuse brilliantly in addition to usual watersports that involve both sun and surf. The area has a population of over 3.5 million people who re contained within a vast selection of stunning pockets and hosts of pleasure. On this 5 day Mombasa tour, you will unveil the tenacity and adrenaline architecture of this elongated spectacle of fame.

Mombasa shines as one of the areas where the love of pleasure meets some of most outstanding beaches and places on the planet. With just an area of 295 km², the place is nothing short of all the fun. Starting from the Bombolulu workshops, the white sand beaches, the pristine-looking parks to the ancient decorations of Arab architecture, the place combines the love of history and nature with the bluish beauty of the ocean. On this 5 day Mombasa tour, you will be fascinated by a melody of experiences that usually occur once in a lifetime.

Mombasa is the chief port and second largest city of Kenya. Due to its rich history and variety, the place rests as one of the most iconic destinations in East Africa. Sometimes called with its original Arabic name Manbasa or ‘Kisiwa Cha Mvita’ in Swahili, the gem possesses a three-word meaning of the its name as ‘Island of War. This heroic designation was supposedly as a result of the many changes in its possession that has got a great impact in its long history. It currently stands as one of the major centres of tourism in mother Kenya. The town over looks a large harbor where commercial shipping vessels are seen in a mix with the phenomenal sailing dhows of old.

As you enjoy the 5 day Mombasa tour, you will stroll through the old town, 16th century fort Jesus, bombolulu workshops, Haller park, the mamba village and the Geid ruins among others. Ensure that you don’t miss the sights of the tusks!!

Activities

  1. Mombasa

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Mombasa City Tour

Some of the places we shall visit on the Mombasa city tour.

  • Old Mombasa town: This is where ancient buildings, extravagant art designs and curio shops typical of the life of the Arabs can be found. Old Town is best seen when explored by foot with an experienced guide, as the streets are too narrow to accommodate a large number of vehicles. The town’s inhabitants are mostly of Arab origin whose forefathers once roamed the same streets of the town.
  • Fort Jesus: Fort Jesus is monumental piece of architecture that was built in the 16th century by the Portuguese. Within the fort lies a museum that displays various artifacts from the era where Mombasa served as a transit point for the slave trade and commodities. You will also see weapons such as canons. Fort Jesus is Mombasa’s most popular tourist attraction. Its interior comprises of torture rooms and prison cells where slaves were kept in captivity before being traded
  • Gedi ruins: Gedi was a small town built entirely from rocks and stones, which was inhabited by a few thousand Swahili people and ruled by a very rich Sultan. These ruins date back from the 15th century, and through careful preservation most of the original foundations can still be seen today. The ruins are designated as a National Museum by law, and their preservation are a direct reflection of the commitment of the Government to uphold the country's cultural and historical background.
  • Mombasa tusks: Mombasa tusks were built in 1956 to celebrate Princess Margaret's visit to Mombasa town. They are located at the entrance to the city; they are not made of ivory as is sometimes thought, but of aluminium. An interesting thing to note is that the tusks form dual archways on either side of the road creating the shape in entirety of an 'M' for Mombasa or Margaret.
  •  Haller park: Haller park is a small zoo that contains different species of reptiles, mammals like giraffes and monkeys. It also contains hippos.
  • Bombolulu Workshops: Bombolulu Workshops was founded in 1969 and is a project of the Association for the Physically Disabled in Kenya (APDK). This center is a popular attraction for tourists and has 150 disabled employees who create jewelry, textiles, wood and leather crafts. It is the largest rehabilitation center in Kenya. 

Day 2-4

Beach Holiday

Water sports at the beach. 

  • After your day one in the city and touring around to discover the culture and scenery of the city, you shall proceed to the beach to enjoy a variety of water sports and activities. These would include: snorkelling, scuba diving, diving, dhow cruises, swimming, surfing and relaxing in the sun. 
  • Mombasa has a variety of beaches where you will enjoy quiet time, look at the ocean and get a lot of fun. The beaches occur in different areas, ranging from the Northcoast to the Southcoast.
  • Beaches of the North Coast include:
  • English point: Tiny sandy beach at Mkomani with view over the old town. Its a nice place to go but less for swimming than to enjoy the view.
  • Nyali Beaches: nice sandy beaches but due to the close distance to the town the water quality is poor and polluted. Its nice to walk along the shore when when you get tired of the hotel pools.
  • Bamburi Beach: Very nice beach with white sand and palm trees. Water quality is much better than at Nyali beach. Restaurants along the beach invite to sit under palm trees drinking a cold beer while watching people pass by. Du to the closeness to the town the beach is overcrowded on weekends or holidays.
  • Shanzu Beach: Very nice beach with white sand and palm trees. Less crowded than Bamburi beach.
  • Beaches of the South Coast include:
  • Tiwi Beach is a place to visit on Mombasa's South Coast. Quiet beach not spoiled by mass tourism. At low tide, you can swim in a tidal pool where tropical fish are trapped until the next tide comes in. Be careful to avoid the many sea urchins. Though there are relatively few people, there is a small cafe serving food and drinks.
  • Diani Beach is the place to go. A fantastic long white beach with loads of watersports and primates to see. A night at '40 Thieves' beach bar is a great place to hang out with a few tuskers (beers). If you want to see one of the six primate species in South Coast Kenya visit the Colobus Trust, dedicated to primate rescue, research and conservation, for an informative walk and you may spot one of the many wild primates

Day 5

Departure

Transfer from your Hotel and Departure

  • After breakfast, you will transferred to Moi International Airport for departure.

Travel tips:

  • Getting around the port of Mombasa is often easy by the Moi International Airport. No doubt the airport has led a remarkable contribution in the growth of the city’s tourism, where it’s Kenya Airways and Air Kenya offer the most frequent flight schedule to and from Mombasa to a variety of destinations. Those coming from Uganda can always use the Uganda Airlines since it also frequently moves to the area. 
  • Best time to visit Mombasa is the period from the end of June to early September and from December to January. Being the main holiday or peak season, you are always advised to book your tickets in advance as they are likely to make it full as soon this period commences or rather even be more expensive. 
  • There is a problem of Malaria particular to Kenya so it is highly recommended that you get preventive malaria medicine from your physician before you travel to Mombasa. Since there can be some side-effects from the medication, it is recommended to use anti-insect sprays. Similarly, get yourself vaccinated against Yellow Fever as well. The authorities may require you to show a vaccination certificate upon your entry to Kenya. A Yellow Fever vaccination is mandatory if you’re entering Kenya from a listed Yellow fever region. 
  • Kenyan Shilling is the local currency. Visa, Mastercard and mobile money (local) are accepted all over the city.
  • Tipping the people who help you is considered a good gesture here. It would be great if you tip your porter USD 1 per bag or give the server a tip equal to 10% of your food bill!
  • Many languages are spoken in Mombasa. However, English and Swahili are the two official languages. Try to learn some common daily-use phrases in Swahili language so you don’t find it tough to communicate in Mombasa.

Jambo = Hello

Ahsante / ahsante sana = Thank you / thank you very much

Karibu = welcome

Pole pole = slowly, relax, take it easy

Poa = ok

What to carry:

  • Walking boots, long trousers and rain gears as you will be hiking through Bwindi Forest.
  • Sun screen is recommended.
  • Mosquito repellant is advisable.
  • At least 1-2 liters of drinking water per person during the trekking.
Taken by Ellington Safaris
Taken by Ellington Safaris
Taken by Ellington Safaris
Taken by Ellington Safaris