Visit Mombasa, Kenya

Mombasa, the second largest city in Kenya, is located on Mombasa Island. It is a steamy, tropical, low rise city with asymmetrical streets, a languid pace and a diverse and intriguing population.

Mombasa is mostly a Swahili town. Women chatter by in dark bui-bui or wrapped in brilliant multi-coloured kangas. There are dozens of intricate mosques and temples, pungent open air markets, mazes of narrow lanes crowded with street stalls.

Beaches of Mombasa

Stretching north of Mombasa there are miles of idyllic white sandy beaches. The nearest beach is Nyali Beach, and then Bamburi, Shanzu and Kilambala stretch north. All have a number of large hotels.

The beaches all have soft white sand and many are backed by profusions of palms. There are offshore coral reefs which protect the beach and make superb snorkel spots.

From June to September the beaches have a lot of seaweed washed up onto them. The best time to visit them is from October to April.