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Are You Interested in Traveling to Kenya?
Kenya is not just about wildlife and tree-houses, but a plethora of other activities, too. If you want to explore the sea coast or some port city in Kenya, don’t miss a chance to drop in to Mombasa.
About Mombasa
Mombasa is a port city situated at the coast of the Indian Ocean. Being an ancient trade route, there are several ways to travel to this happening land from other parts of Africa or from Asia. Mombasa attracts travelers from Europe and other Western countries as well as a high influx of tourists from Japan and the Far East.
Getting to Mombasa from Nairobi
Mombasa is accessible by train as well as flight. A recently inaugurated train service, SGR, operates from Nairobi to Mombasa and takes 6 ½ hours to reach the port city. You will enjoy a mighty pleasant journey as you observe the animals through the breathtaking Tsavo jungle. Don’t be amazed to see a giraffe running while you’re on the train. While the average seat cost is 1000KSH (approx. $10), the first-class seat will cost you 3000KSH (approx. $30). Tickets are available both online and through mobile phones.
Regular flights operate from Nairobi to Mombasa and cost approximately $50. There are approximately 5 flights a day.
Regular bus and taxi services are also available that run between Nairobi and Mombasa. If you love comfort, then make sure to take the luxury coach service costing $15-$20.
If you’re traveling from any other part of the country, the easiest route is through Nairobi for traveling to Mombasa.
Is Touring Mombasa Budget-Friendly?
Mombasa is a very sought-after place which attracts tourists from all around the world for its excellent sand beaches, activities, historical tours and of course the awesome cuisine. If you do your online research you can book hotels that will cost you from $50 per day to $500 a day depending on quality and location.
Things to do in Mombasa
You can cover the main attractions of the city within a week or even less than that depending on how much time and budget you have. Mombasa is rightly defined as the hub of business and culture. There are a lot of things to do for tourists. You will love the vibrant city with restaurants, pubs and an array of nightlife activities. If you like touring then make sure to take the city tour. The beaches are incredible and offer great water-sports activities. The beach front luxury hotels with their excellent 5-star facilities are an experience you will truly remember.
Historical Tours
Mombasa is a 400-year-old city that rightly blends the culture of the East with the West. Start your day to visit the old town to curiously observe the heritage buildings that date back to the 16th century, standing tall to the test of time. Buy entry tickets to the fort Jesus to understand how foreign invasions affected Mombasa. The friendly guide will rightly tell you that Kiswahili, the local language of Kenya is a mixture of Portuguese, Arabic and Indian dialects.
Tour other attractions like Haller Park, Mamba Village Center, Spot World Safari, Nguuni Nature Sanctorium, Shiva Temple, Jain Temple, and Mama Ngina’s drive. Well, never forget to taste the local green coconut and Mugo chips; else your trip will be incomplete. Visit the Butterfly Center, Bamburi Nature Trail, Leven House, City Mall, Rabai Museum, Golden Key Casino, Nakumatt Nyali Center, and Wild Water Center. Don’t forget to pamper yourself with a selfie near the iconic Mombasa Tusks.
Pay a visit to the old port and view the age-old “dhow” of the 16th century which is kept as an attraction. Imagine how the sailors used them to sail across continents. Well, you’re not allowed to photograph the invaluable historical “dhow.”
Take a day break to visit Malindi, where Vasco da Gama stepped with an urge to discover the unknown.
Beach Activities
You can book a speed boat and have a ravishing tour over the Indian Ocean. Don’t forget to ask the boat driver about his experience of Tsunami in 2004. There’s always an exciting story to tell and learn. Watch the floating restaurants and if possible enjoy a dinner at the Tamarind Hotel. You’ll surely love it!
You may enjoy a scuba diving session, thereby swimming with the sea animals. Take a tour of the ocean in a glass bottom vessel that allows you to see the wonders of the marine world. Feed the fishes yourself or capture video of the breathtaking moments.
Hire a water ski or a banana boat to feel the refreshing salty sea water. And, if you’re a photography freak, you will have a chance to capture the awesome sunrise and sunset moments. Let the crimson color of the scintillating moments dance in your memory for the lifetime.
Why Mombasa?
Mombasa is a center of attraction for tourists from around the world. From the beautiful sand beaches, the seclusion and great hospitality to fabulous hotels lined up along the coast near the beach with excellent facilities and services. Well, tourists have a bouquet of choices here.
Mombasa is undoubtedly the hub of culture for tourists. Visit the villages, the handicraft center, the cultural activity trips to know more about the land and its people. Any good hotel generally arranges for a Masai dance, a theatre and some other attraction for the visitors to observe the aestheticism in proximity.
There is a bevy of choice of cuisines you may like to try. Indian, Thai, Pan-African, Continental, Arabian, and Middle Eastern cuisine will catch your attention and make you feel the fusion culinary culture.
Eat, drink, explore, photograph and enjoy every nook and corner of Mombasa. You will experience warm sun, beautiful beaches, a hospitality incomparable and people that are so friendly. Kenya indeed has a lot to offer even much more than we can possibly discuss here. So keep Mombasa in your travel bucket list when you plan your next vacation.
To my fellow travelers, I’ll handpick more places and unique experiences in Kenya in my upcoming posts. Until then keep following me on Review Resorts!