12 Best Short Safari From Mombasa
Posted on November 10, 2020
Short Safaris from Mombasa
Mombasa, being a vibrant coastal city in Kenya, serves as an excellent base for short safari excursions. These safaris typically range from day trips to multi-day adventures, allowing visitors to explore the rich wildlife and stunning landscapes of Kenya without venturing too far from the coast. Here are some popular options for short safaris from Mombasa:
1. Tsavo National Park
One of the most accessible safari destinations from Mombasa is Tsavo National Park, which is divided into two parts: Tsavo East and Tsavo West. The park is renowned for its vast size and diverse wildlife, including elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, and various bird species.
-
Tsavo East: Approximately 150 kilometers (about 93 miles) from Mombasa, this part of the park is characterized by its open savannahs and red soil. Visitors can expect to see large herds of elephants and other wildlife congregating around waterholes.
-
Tsavo West: Slightly further away at about 200 kilometers (124 miles), Tsavo West features more varied terrain with hills, volcanic craters, and lush vegetation. Notable attractions include Mzima Springs, where visitors can view hippos and crocodiles through underwater viewing chambers.
Day trips to either section can be arranged through local tour operators or hotels in Mombasa.
2. Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is another popular destination for short safaris from Mombasa. Located approximately 240 kilometers (149 miles) away, it is famous for its stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro and large elephant herds.
Visitors can enjoy game drives that provide opportunities to see not only elephants but also lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and various antelope species. The park’s unique ecosystem includes swamps and open plains that attract a wide variety of wildlife.
3. Shimba Hills National Reserve
For those looking for a shorter excursion closer to Mombasa (about 33 kilometers or 20 miles), Shimba Hills National Reserve offers a different experience with its lush forests and hilly terrain. It is home to the endangered Sitatunga antelope and has several waterfalls worth visiting.
The reserve provides opportunities for both game drives and guided nature walks, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the area while spotting various bird species and other wildlife.
4. Malindi Marine National Park
If you are interested in marine life rather than traditional safari experiences on land, Malindi Marine National Park offers snorkeling and diving opportunities just about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Mombasa. The park is known for its coral reefs teeming with colorful fish and other marine creatures.
Visitors can take boat trips to explore the marine environment while enjoying activities such as swimming with dolphins or relaxing on beautiful beaches nearby.
5. Diani Beach Excursions
Diani Beach is located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Mombasa and offers a mix of relaxation along stunning white-sand beaches combined with adventure activities such as kite surfing or deep-sea fishing. While not a traditional safari experience, many tour operators offer day trips that combine beach time with visits to nearby attractions like Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park for snorkeling or dolphin watching.
In conclusion, short safaris from Mombasa provide an excellent opportunity for travelers to experience Kenya’s incredible wildlife and natural beauty without extensive travel time. Whether you choose Tsavo National Park for its iconic elephants or Shimba Hills for a quick escape into nature, there are plenty of options available that cater to different interests.
Full day Shimba Hills National Reserve
Tops the list in short safari from Mombasa; Shimba hill national reserve is a rain forest in nature and a popular park with beach holidaymakers at the coast. It’s less than 1hrs drive from another coast beach hotel (Mombasa) and 30 minutes driver from Diani beach hotels. This proximity to the beach makes it the best short safari when one wants a taste of safari while at the coast.
There are estimated to be approximately over 700 elephants in the reserve and the home for the endangered sable antelopes remaining in Kenya. Other wildlife found at Shimba hills includes Giraffe, Leopard, Genet, Impala, colobus monkey, vervet monkey, Sykes monkey, waterbuck, bush pig, buffalo. Other games found here include bushbaby, galago, black and red shrew.
For bird watchers, this is the best place to be. With over 100 bird species recorded, 22 are coastal endemic species among them are blue sunbird, quail, crowned, greater hornbill, honeyguide, ostrich, eagle, African hawk, falcon, cuckoo. Others include Guinea-fowl and fish eagle which common resident at Shimba hills lodge water hole entertaining guest having lunch.
Cost varies from $56 to $120 depending on the number of persons, for the best price email us.
Escorted walk to Sheldrick falls inside Shimba hills
Escorted walk to Sheldrick fall is a must for nature lovers and health-wise fit visitors. It’s more than a 2kms walk in the rain forest to Sheldrick falls where most take bath with water falling on their shoulders after the long walk. Going down is easy but coming uphill is tough hence one must be physically fit to do it.
Full-Day Wasini Island
With Kisite marine national park, Wasini island is famous for dhow tours, dolphin spot where one can swim with them. Attractions include Coral reefs & Marine life, Kisite and Wasini Island, Sandy islands that formulate during low tide.
Activities include Snorkeling, Dolphin Spotting, local dhow Ride, Marine Sightseeing, Seafood Lunch, Wasini Island Village Walk, and Shimoni caves walk For the best price email us ranging from $70 to $130 depending on number of persons
Full-Day Tsavo East National park
For safari enthusiastic, this is the best short safari from Mombasa. Full day Tsavo East National Park is the best and popular safari with beach holidaymakers on the coast. The park is almost 3hrs drive from any beach hotel in Mombasa beach, Diani Beach, Watamu, and Malindi. From Malindi and Watamu, it is easily accessible through the Sala gate while those from Mombasa and Diani beaches use Bachuma gate.
During full day game drives, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, lion, leopard, cheetah, ostrich, eagles, eland, impala, Thompson gazelles, mongoose, hippos are among the many that easily seen at Tsavo east national park.
City tour of Mombasa
Mombasa is a Swahili city with historical sites that are worth visiting. Fort Jesus is a must-visit while on a city tour of Mombasa. Other places include old town, mosque, market, Haller park, tamarind dhow, Akamba craft market among other places.
Arabuko Sokoke forest
This is best for bird lovers and bird watchers although it overs a nice nature walk for all with a lot of information being offered by the resident nature guides
Overnight Tsavo East National Park
Kenya is a safari destination where taking a break from the beach would add more value to a beach holiday. Tsavo East is the best option to do a short safari from Mombasa due it its closeness to the coast; 3hrs a drive from any beach hotel along the coast.
During this safari, one would have a minimum of 3 game drives, 2 the first day, and 1 the last day. Extra game drive en-route out of the park, noting that park fee is valid for 24hrs, hence need to exit the park the same time you entered. Extra park fee is charge full if found inside having over stayed.
Overnight Shimba Hills
As mention above, Shimba hill national reserve is located along with the coastal town of Kwale, a few minutes’ drive from Diani beach and an hour drive from Mombasa. This would be a good place to do an overnight safari from any beach hotel along the coast more so from Mombasa and Diani beach hotels. Overnight will be at Shimba hills lodge, the only lodge found in the reserve is a must for anyone considering a short safari from Mombasa to break from the beach.
Full-day or overnight Mwaluganje conservancy
A Short safari from Mombasa to Mwaluganje conservancy is by far an extension of Shimba hills through the locally owned conservancy. It serves as a migratory corridor for elephants from Shimba hills. Hundreds of elephants can be spotted here, buffalo among other wild animals. Overnight at Mwaluganje camp is always a better option.
3 Days Tsavo East and Tsavo West National parks
Tsavo is the biggest national park in Kenya, with Tsavo east and Tsavo west separated by Mombasa- Nairobi highway is another short safari from Mombasa. Starting in either park, this is a safari like no other where one will see almost what there is to see on any safari in Kenya.
Elephants, buffalo, rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, gazelles, zebras among many others will be available for one to spot while on game drives. Mzima spring at Tsavo west is a must-visit with its underwater glass to see hippos, fish, and crocodiles. While at Tsavo East, stay at Satao camp, Ashnil Aruba Lodge, Voi safari lodge, Voi wildlife lodge would be great. In Tsavo West, Kilaguni Serena lodge, Ngulia, Severin camp are among the best places to stay at.
3 Days Masai mara
Masai Mara is the most famous safari destination in Kenya. This is not a place to miss even when on a beach holiday at the coast. Though one can get to Masai mara by road or train through Nairobi, flying is the best option and shorter way to get to Masai Mara, thus making in the list of short safari from Mombasa .
Mombasa Air is the main airline that flies from Coast beach towns to Masai mara daily with one flight in the morning and another in the afternoon. Depending on which airport is closer to the hotel, it’s recommended to be at the airport at the latest 7 am. Departs Mombasa airport at 730am and picks clients a Diani airstrip and at Malindi airport.
Depending on which lodge or camp guest are staying, 4 shared game drives a must. Afternoon game drives on the arrival day, morning game drives and afternoon game drives the next day and an early morning game drive the last day.
Flight back to the coast departs from 2 pm depending on which lodge or camp one is staying at since the airline picks guests from different airstrips in Masai Mara. Flights arrive at the coast from 430pm and a transfer back to the hotel to continue with beach holiday stay at the sand beach.
Amboseli National park
A short safari from Mombasa to Amboseli national park is a better option too from the coast. This is popular with guests who want to do 3 to 4 days of safaris itinerary. An overnight at Tsavo east and 2 nights Amboseli is a good option for guests taking a beach break. However, flying using Mombasa air is the preferred option for those who just want to visit Amboseli.
Here there are hundreds of elephants, buffalo, zebra, lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffe among many other wild animals found in Kenya. Located at the bonder of Kenya and Tanzania, Mt. Kilimanjaro makes a visit to Amboseli so memorable. The best views of Kilimanjaro are from Amboseli and most photos one can see are taking from Amboseli national park.
Now you know the best short safaris from Mombasa and activities to do during your beach holiday in Kenya!
However, there are many excursion that one can do from nightlife to day short excursion, for more details let us know what you in mind. Our Mombasa team will tailor and short safari from Mombasa for you.
Comments are currently closed.