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Top 10 Things to do in Mombasa, Kenya

Mombasa is an island coastal city along the Indian Ocean, South East of Nairobi. Kenyans proudly refer to this city as ‘Mombasa raha’, raha can be loosely translated to mean fun.

The coastal town is home to Swahilis, Indians, Arabs and the Mijikenda. There are other tribes from other regions of the country. The people of Mombasa are friendly and polite. 

Every aspect of the city and the island; from the food, the people, the culture, the ocean and the history is something to look forward to when planning a trip.

This destination is a favorite of many that head down to the coast for a time of their lives. It may sound overwhelming to decide on the activities to choose from, worry not, here are the top 10 things to do while in Mombasa.

1. Swim in the warm salty water at the beach

By FredD – Wikimedia

Mombasa has the best white sandy beaches in the world. The beaches are quite scenic with the turquoise water in the ocean stretching from the north to the south.

This has become a top attraction of this coastal city not only to local tourists but also to international tourists.

There are several beaches to choose from: nyali, Bamburi, kikambala, and shanzu. The most popular beaches are Diani, Nyali and Bamburi. These sites are popular for swimming, walking, or sunbathing.

The palm-lined beaches, crystal clear waters, coral reefs, and plenty of water sports, resorts, and entertainment venues provide plenty of tourist action.

2. Take a tour of the Fort Jesus

By Sandro Senn – Wikimedia

Fort Jesus was a military base for the Portuguese, it was constructed between 1593 and 1596.

The building was designed by an Italian architect Cairati, the site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fort Jesus was constructed to resemble the shape of a man. It displays the 16th-century Portuguese military architecture.

This historical landmark is a museum that showcases the rich history of the people of the coastal city during their interactions with the Portuguese.

 There is a wide range of ceramics and pottery showcasing the culture and trade of the coastal people. 

The compound has many fascinating relics used by the Portuguese during the war, the peepholes in the massive wall overlooking the ocean.

There is so much to see and learn from this museum, both inside and outside.

There is also an Omani house that was built in the late 18th century at the museum’s compound. The house exhibits Omani jewelry and displays on Swahili life.

3. Walkthrough the narrow streets of Mombasa Old Town

By FredD – Wikimedia

The historic Old town in Mombasa is right next to Fort Jesus and covers at least 180 acres of land.

The town is characterized by old buildings close to each other and narrow streets. 

The architecture of the buildings and the delicate yet beautiful wood carvings display a perfect blend of Arabic, Asian, European and African cultures.

As you keep walking down the streets, you will see the Old Port of Mombasa where dhows from the far east once docked. 

There are antique shops on the streets, the oldest bar in the city and a famous coffee house.

4. Get a Henna Tattoo 

Henna is part of the Swahili culture and history. It is a plant-based dye that is applied by Swahili women for body art and to also color their nails. 

The tattoos are not permanent, the color fades away after some time. There are many beauty parlors in the city that offer this service. 

You might even bump into one as you casually stroll by the beach. Just be wise in choosing the right artist, you don’t want your temporary tattoo ruined.

5. Visit the nature trail at Haller Park

Haller Park is an animal conservancy that used to be a wasteland and later reclaimed to be a sanctuary for orphaned and lost animals. It is located along the Mombasa- Malindi highway.

Haller Park was a project of Dr. René Haller that began in 1971 when he gave the abandoned limestone quarries a facelift to a thriving nature reserve.

The Park has a Game Sanctuary, Reptile Park, small demonstration Fish Farm area, Palm Garden, Crocodile pens and a giraffe viewing platform.

There is a variety of attractions at the various points to educate and entertain the over 160,000 visitors who visit the park every year.

They have a Giraffe feeding program at the park where one can get to feed them from a raised platform. The park rangers have food pellets for the giraffes. 

6. Take a boat ride to the Marine Park in the ocean

Photo by Maja Novak on Unsplash

The Mombasa Marine Park and Reserve lies between the Mtwapa and Tudor Creeks in the Indian Ocean.

It is a beautiful marine park with blue waters that are perfect for windsurfing, water skiing, snorkeling and diving.

The boats at the park have hardened glass floors where one can see through to the hundreds of fish species, stingrays, seahorses and eels.

Snorkeling and diving lovers will find much more beauty under the sea, the marine life in their natural habitats and the endangered coral reefs.

7. Spend some time with the Crocodiles at Mamba Village

Mamba Village is a crocodile farm in Mombasa and the largest in East Africa. The farm has grown crocodiles to baby crocodiles.

There is a video presentation on the overview of the crocodiles on the farm, followed by a tour of the pens holding the crocodiles.

There are albino crocodiles in the village  as well as the humongous crocodiles. 

Other activities available at the same village include horseback riding or strolling through the botanical gardens. 

There is a Village restaurant that serves a range of sumptuous meals and delicious cocktails at the Crocodile bar. 

8. Skydiving at Diani

This next activity is for those that are up for some adrenaline rush of heights and jumping off a plane.

This is probably the ultimate experience one needs to have on their bucket list while visiting Mombasa.

It is quite an exhilarating experience as you get to view the scenic coastline from the sky and land on the soft white sand by the beach. The drop-off zone is located in Diani south of Mombasa. The services are offered by .

9. Take a dhow trip to Wasini Island

Wasini Island is at the south of Mombasa and the island id approximately 5 kilometers wide and 1 kilometer long.

Trips to this gem of an island is popularly taken aboard a traditional dhow. The trip includes occasional sightings of dolphins in the ocean and also swim with them.

Along the way, there are stops for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts by the coral reefs. 

Another attraction close to the island is the historical Shimoni caves, it is believed that slaves were held there before being sold off to the Arabs. 

10. Take a photo at the famous Mombasa Tusks

As you enter Mombasa city by road, you cannot miss seeing the two huge tusks arching over the dual carriageway along Moi avenue. 

The tusks have a history behind them. When Princess Margaret of England visited the city in 1956, the town council gifted her with the symbol of the tusks.

The tusks were put together to spell the letter M, after the princess’ first name. They were initially made from canvas spread over a wooden frame. They were later replaced with aluminuim. 

Whether you are just starting your trip of finishing it, a photo at this landmark is a good idea.