Mombasa is a bustling port city with plenty of character and places to explore. Located on the coast it is fortunate to have a marine park right on its doorstep where water sports and sunbathing are popular options. Fort Jesus is a good place to enhance your understanding of its varied background, before wandering around the Old Town to indulge in Mombasa’s amazing architecture, variety of excellent and exotic food options, and huge range of shopping options from high-end to the cheap and cheerful local markets. Don’t forget to swing past its famous fish market and take a selfie at the Mombasa tusks.
Make sure to check out the local fabrics like kangas and kitenge or the beautiful 100% cotton kikoy, which make excellent souvenirs and presents for loved ones at home.
As a sea-side town, Mombasa is perfectly located to indulge in some fun in and around the water. Humpback whales migrate through the area from the end of June to December and anybody who enjoys fishing can try their luck with excellent deep-sea fishing right off the Mombasa coast. A trip between August and October gives you the chance to catch yellowfin tuna, or try your luck with a marlin between December and March.
For a dose of nature in town, check out Haller Park and go for a walk, jog or ride on its lovely trails or visit the reptile park or the butterfly sanctuary when you are there. A little further out is Nguuni Nature Sanctuary where you can sip on a cold drink, watching a typical African sunset whilst enjoying a bbq with giraffes, ostriches and some other antelopes around you. There is also a crocodile farm in Mombasa called Mamba Village where you can take a tour and watch them get fed.
And last, but not least Mombasa is an excellent starting point for a trip to the white sandy beaches to the north and south of town, all excellent places to relax and enjoy the best of Kenya’s coast, and the national parks and other wildlife reserves like Shimba Hills or even Tsavo NP.