Savannah to Coast
Fort Jesus and the Old Town make a natural day stop on the way to a beach extension further south or north.
← All DestinationsKenya · 4.0°S, 39.7°E
Mombasa
Kenya's Swahili Coast, Six Centuries Deep
Kenya's oldest city, built around a natural harbour that Swahili traders, and later Portuguese, Omani, and British powers, all fought to hold. Fort Jesus — built by the Portuguese in 1593–96 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site — still stands at the harbour mouth, with the narrow lanes of the Old Town behind it.
What You'll See
Who Lives Here
Reef Fish
Snorkeling and diving excursions run from Mombasa's beaches to the offshore reef.
Sykes' Monkey
Found in pockets of remaining coastal forest around the city's outskirts.
The Landscape
Ground That Shapes the Light
A coral-rag coastline and a natural harbour, with mangrove creeks either side of Mombasa Island and the coral-stone architecture of the Old Town clustered around Fort Jesus.
Best Season
December to March, and July to October
The calmest, driest windows on the coast; the long rains typically fall April through June.
Weather
What to Pack For
- Dry
- Dec – Mar, Jul – Oct
- 24–32°C
- Warm, humid, minimal rain.
- Wet
- Apr – Jun
- 23–30°C
- The long rains bring heavier, more frequent showers.
Find Your Bearings
Mombasa on the Map
Select any point to see where else the ground leads.
Recommended For Mombasa
Built for This Exact Ground
Ready When You Are
Start Planning Your Mombasa Safari
Tell us a little about how you'd like to travel. We'll take it from there.