Mombasa Excursions
(Optionals)
Note all excursions except: - Full day Wasini, Tamarind dhow, and ‘Mombasa by night’ operate with a minimum 4 full paying pax
HALLER PARK (From north Coast only)
14h00 depart for Haller Park
Haller Park was a barren, lunar-type landscape turned into an ecologically sustainable wonder. Over the past 3 decades, quarries that were previously excavated by Bamburi Cement for cement production have now been transformed into a variety of recreational facilities including forest nature trails and game sanctuaries not forgetting crocodile and fish farms. A guided tour by a professional guide will outline the fascinating ecosystem of the world famous park. Your guide will be glad to point out to you the flora and fauna of this paradise. It is a home to amongst other animals, hippos, antelope, giraffe, reptiles, giant tortoises, fish and birdlife. 17h00 after the tour, you will leave the park and proceed to your bus for your return transfer back to your hotel.
FULL WASINI TOUR
0630hrs in the early morning you will be picked up from your hotel and drive towards the tranquil fishing village of Shimoni (120KM, 2½ hrs drive) close to the Tanzania border, welcomes you to a day of ultimate pleasure around the islands of the Kenyan South Coast. The scenic route takes you through lush coconut and cashew nut plantations and the colourful villages of the Digo People.
You’ll visit the Shimoni Slave Cave community project & enjoy, served down the cave, a light traditional Swahili breakfast of Swahili tea or Arabic coffee, mandazi & fresh tropical fruit.
Guests are then put on board a converted authentic Lamu dhow and they are briefed on the day’s schedule by one of our dive team crew as they depart for Kisite National Marine Park from Shimoni at 9am daily (except Monday).
For snorkeling & dolphin spotting - 90%+ dolphin success rate! Kisite Marine Park is the best underwater park on the Kenya Coast. Mineral water, fruits and sodas for guests on dhow are free of charge. For Snorkelers masks & snorkels, but not fins (experienced guests can bring their own) and full diving gear for divers is provided, but not towels. Non-swimming guests can enjoy the underwater using glass bottomed viewers. Dhows sail at some point during the day – traditionally rigged it’s a ‘back-in-time’ experience.
Scuba diving for diving enthusiasts or a fun dive for first timers are on offer at an extra $30 for a fun or single dive and $50 for a double dive. The best prices on the coast! SSI certified diving instructors supervise and offer individual assistance. Also BSAC registered. Divers are normally also joined by turtles.
You’ll eventually arrive on Wasini Island at approximately 1:30pm for an exotic 5-course lunch. Unlimited quality wines by the glass, beers, sodas and mineral water are included.
Bowls of marinated fish and coconut biting. Freshly prepared whole crab steamed in ginger – the famous Charlie Claw’s specialty. Barbequed fish fresh from the fishermen’s’ baskets with Swahili sauce, coconut rice & chapati – a traditional Wasini Island celebration dish. Tropical fruit platter of all available exotic fruits. Arabic coffee and simsim – sesame sweets.
For non-seafood eaters we prepare as an alternative to crab & fish:Fresh traditional vegetable soup followed by barbequed chicken or a Swahili vegetarian dish
In the afternoon you will have the following options:
To Snooze on the traditional beds under the shade in the private gardens & use the seawater swimming pool or Visit the nearby Wasini village - an authentic fishing community with Arab coastal style houses, ancient tombs and mosques – and the Women’s Boardwalk community project - a spectacular coral garden & into the mangroves walk of discovery.
Return by dhow to Shimoni and visit the Shimoni Slave Caves Community Project. Visiting the community projects is inclusive & guarantees an income to these worthwhile projects. An early evening departure from Wasini Island and drive back to your hotel arriving at 1900hrs
1/2 DAY MOMBASA CITY TOUR
0800hrs after breakfast depart for a tour of Mombasa city. The city of Mombasa, spread over a small coral Island, has a long colourful history. The tour will go to the mainland to visit the Akamba Handicraft Industry Co‑operative Society where you will be able to watch the craftsmen at work and bargain over their handicrafts. You will visit historical places like Fort Jesus, built by the Portuguese in 1593 to secure their position in Mombasa and was under siege for more than 33 months before it fell to the Sultan of Oman in 1699. We will spend some time exploring Fort Jesus Museum and wander through the old town admiring the myriad of shops selling perfumes, embroideries, wood or stone carvings, sea‑chests and even Persian rugs. For thousands of years dhows have plied across the Indian Ocean carrying rare and exotic cargoes of spices and ivory. These romantic old sailing vessels have been largely replaced, but they can still be seen on Mombasa Harbour on balmy African evenings. Returning to the hotel in time for lunch (lunch on own arrangement), afternoon at leisure to enjoy the African sun and sand.
FULL DAY MOMBASA CITY TOUR & NGOMONGO
0800hrs after breakfast depart for a tour of Mombasa city. The city of Mombasa, spread over a small coral Island, has a long colourful history. The tour will go to the mainland to visit the Akamba Handicraft Industry Co‑operative Society where you will be able to watch the craftsmen at work and bargain over their handicrafts. You will visit historical places like Fort Jesus, built by the Portuguese in 1593 to secure their position in Mombasa and was under siege for more than 33 months before it fell to the Sultan of Oman in 1699. We will spend some time exploring Fort Jesus Museum and wander through the old town admiring the myriad of shops selling perfumes, embroideries, wood or stone carvings, sea‑chests and even Persian rugs. For thousands of years dhows have plied across the Indian Ocean carrying rare and exotic cargoes of spices and ivory.
You will then head to Ngomongo Village (WINNER OF THE Y2001 UNEP GLOBAL ROLL OF HONOUR AWARD) which is a unique presentation of the ways of life of the ten most colourful, and diverse rural tribes of Kenya.. Ngomongo started out as a wasteland and was converted into an eco-cultural paradise. You will have the chance to enjoy a traditional lunch with some Kenyan dishes and get to see what life is really like away from the holiday resort areas. You will get to see the different the different types of traditional houses and learn a little bit about the way of life of each tribe before returning back to your hotel.
1/2 DAY SHIMBA TOUR
13h00 Leaving the humidity of the coast behind, you drive 40 kilometers (45 min) southwards on your visit to the Shimba Hills National Reserve. Drive through cashew-nut and coconut forested landscape and a rise in altitude gives way to a beautiful topography of tropical forest with refreshing cool air and vistas of the Indian Ocean.
Enter the park and your game-drive takes you through this cool, lush reserve, searching for the resident animals and spotting the many colourful birds, which live in the reserve.
Whilst you are unlikely to encounter any big cats, the park is famous for its large population of rare Sable and Roan antelope as well as giraffe, elephants, buffalo, and a variety of plains game.
17h30 thereafter, depart the area and leave the park for your drive back to the hotel. You will be dropped back at your hotel in the early evening.
1 DAY TSAVO
0530hrs depart your hotel and drive north towards the vast wilderness of Tsavo East, Kenya’s oldest and largest parks. Turn off the highway into the park through Bachuma gate. (Approx. 2 ½ hrs, 165 Kms) and proceed for game drive en-route to Voi Safari Lodge for lunch. Voi is a capital of the region, which lies at the base of Voi Mountain, a massive fortress of rock named after the town. It has a spectacular hillside position with fabulous views across the surrounding plains thus the lodge is perched high on the edge of a rocky hillside overlooking the vast expanse of Tsavo East with the scenic 300‑kilometre long Yatta Plateau Yatta Plateau in the background. Additionally, this comfortable lodge offers spectacular views of the park and its multitude of wildlife.
Lunch will be served at Voi Safari Lodge or similar. (Approx12h30 – 13h00)
1330hrs depart for an afternoon game drive.
Tsavo is Kenya’s largest National park (20,000sq. Kms) and is actually split into two, Tsavo East and West. The scenery is spectacular, and so is the wildlife – Tsavo is particularly known for its “red elephantsâ€, coloured that way because of the red soil. But you will also find rhino, a variety of plains game and if lucky a pride of lion as well as cheetah.
You’ll eventually join the Mombasa – Nairobi highway as you head for Mombasa. You’ll pass across the Taru desert, wild and waterless until you reach Mariakani, where the scrub bush begins to give way to coconut palm trees – just a hint of what lies ahead. Within a short while you will pass through Mombasa and get a glimpse of its busy port as you head to your base hotel
FULL DAY MALINDI TOUR
08h30 depart your hotel after breakfast and drive towards Malindi. As you drive past Vipingo sisal plantation, the driver guide will stop the vehicle so that you can take a closer look at the crop.
You will continue with your drive arriving at Gede Ruins at approximately 1030hrs (approximately 100KM’s 1 ½ hrs drive). You will then be taken on a tour of the ruins. Now a historical site situated 18KM south of Malindi, this was a flourishing Arab town between the 14th and 17th centuries before being mysteriously abandoned by its inhabitants.
11h30 you will leave Gede and travel northwards to Malindi arriving at the Marine Park at 11h45 where you will board on a glass bottomed boat and sail into the Malindi Marine Park hosting a colourful sea life, from here for the interested can then proceed for snorkeling for an hour.
13h00 Thereafter depart for Scorpio Villas for lunch, thereafter visiting Vasco da Gamma pillar, which is about 10minutes walk from the restaurant.
You will then visit the snake park before you depart for a short Malindi town tour en-route to Mombasa. Historically Malindi dates back to 9th century, with Arab occupation from the 13th century own wards. It has been a rich trade centre with the near East and the influence can be seen characterized within its Arabic architecture. It’s now a popular beach resort. The 1980’s brought in a lot of Italian investments with many building their summer villas here, thus the recent Italian influence in the shops and restaurants.
You will arrive in Mombasa in late afternoon and be dropped off in your beach hotel
THE TAMARIND DHOW DINNER CRUISE (Capacity: Maximum 60 persons)
1700hrs pick up from your hotel at specified time (depending on which hotel). A drive takes you to The Tamarind Restaurant. Upon arrival, you will be guided down the stairs to the jetty to embTree Tops on your waiting dhow. Just as the sun sets behind Mombasa Island, you will be welcomed with a sundowner cocktail – Dawa. At about 1830hrs the dhow slips her moorings and cruises alongside the silhouetted buildings of the Old Town and Harbour to the illuminating Fort Jesus, where you turn around and cruise back up Tudor Creek under Nyali Bridge and come to rest in serene dTree Tops waters.
As stars light up the tropical sky, mouth-watering aromas reach you as the chefs of Tamarind Restaurant grill fresh lobsters and fillet steaks on the charcoal grills before your eyes. The fully stocked bar can cater for your tastes.
The resident band takes the stage to play music of your choice for easy listening during dinner and later for dancing on the deck, cooled by the gentle sea breeze. This mTree Topss the height of the tour as the dhow slowly and gracefully releases her mooring to return to the jetty at around 2230hrs.
You will be transferred thereafter back to your hotel.
This romantic evening will leave you with memories to treasure of the magical experience.
MOMBASA BY NIGHT
Pick up from your hotel at 1700hrs. Drive to Jahazi Marine Jetty to board the Dhow at 1800hrs. Take a romantic dhow sundowner cruise along the shores of the picturesque island of Mombasa. Starts off an enchanting evening not to be missed
On board local musicians will entertain you, as biting & drinks are served.
As darkness sets in, dock at the private jetty and proceed to Fort Jesus. ‘Arab and Portuguese’ guards, bearing fire torches, man the entrance of the fort, constructed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. View a spectacular 30 minutes sound and light presentation of the turbulent History of the East African Coast.
A candelabra lit setting creates the atmosphere for a unique five course gala dinner served within the Fortress by waiters in Portuguese attire.
Following this feast, you can return to your hotel by 2200hrs.