Travel to Mombasa

a hectic but genuinely atmospheric old port

The substantial city of Mombasa is located on the southern part of the Kenya Coast.

The old Swahili town is set on an island in a tidal estuary and centred on an historic fort, encircled by a maze of small streets. It’s a fascinating place to explore, similar to Stone Town in Zanzibar and Lamu Town further north, all of which are more or less contemporary, dating back to the time when various Arabian sultans ruled over this coastline and plundered the mainland for slaves and ivory.

The southern half of the island is dominated by a large commercial port and associated industry, whilst the mainland either side is packed with busy modern suburbs, which sprawl for miles in every direction.

The coastal areas to the north of the city have historically been the more upmarket areas, with colonial houses, golf courses and lovely white sand beaches. More modern developments have certainly detracted from the appeal of the area, but it remains a pleasant enough place to visit, especially for those who are looking to largely remain within the confines of their chosen resort.

There are a handful of large resorts in this particular area, most notably Serena Beach Resort, which is related to the chain of large lodges throughout the safari areas of Eastern Africa.

There is presently no bridge linking the city of Mombasa with the southern coastline, it is necessary to connect by ferry. Around the southern landing lies the substantial shanty settlement of Likoni, after which there is around 10 km of coastline which remains relatively undeveloped due to the lack of prime beaches.

There is only one accommodation option of note along this stretch, the relatively upmarket Tijara Beach.

We tend to recommend Mombasa for inclusion in trips relatively rarely, however there are occasions when the area is right for guests, particularly for people wanting to access the city for some reason.

Generally our guests tend to be looking for a rather more idyllic beach paradise, such as those found in the Msambweni and Kinondo areas to the south, Lamu Island and Tana Delta to the north, or further afield on the Tanzania Coast or the Seychelles.

only occasionally included for its large resorts