Mombasa · Tours & Day Trips
Mombasa Tours & Day Trips,
safaris, dolphins, dhows and days out from the coast
Mombasa is a launchpad. Big-game country, coral marine parks and Swahili ruins are all within a day’s reach of the beach. This guide sorts the best tours and excursions by type, price and how long they take, so you book the right one.
For wildlife, take a Tsavo East safari (full day) or the nearer Shimba Hills. For the sea, the Wasini Island & Kisite dolphin-and-snorkel dhow trip is the flagship, or a glass-bottom boat over the Mombasa Marine Park. For romance, a sunset dhow cruise; for anglers, deep-sea fishing; for heritage, Gede Ruins and Watamu. Most run as guided full or half-day tours with hotel pickup — pick by the kind of day you want and book ahead in peak season.
Browse by type
Find the right Mombasa excursion
Each has its own full guide with prices, timings and what’s included.
Tsavo safari
Red elephants and lions in Kenya’s largest park — the classic day safari from the coast.
Wasini & dolphins
Dolphins, snorkelling and a Swahili seafood feast on a dhow at Kisite Marine Park.
Shimba Hills
Green hills, rare sable antelope and Sheldrick Falls, just past the Likoni ferry.
Dhow cruise
Sail the creek at golden hour with dinner aboard a traditional wooden dhow.
Deep-sea fishing
Charter offshore for marlin, sailfish, tuna and dorado in the warm Indian Ocean.
Snorkelling trips
Glass-bottom boat and snorkelling over the Mombasa Marine Park reef, off Nyali.
Compare the trips
Mombasa tours side by side
The same details for each, so you can weigh time against price and interest.
| Tour | Type | Duration | Where | Price /person | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tsavo East safari | Safari | Full day (2–3h each way) | Inland | ~$120–300 | Big game, first safari |
| Shimba Hills | Safari | Half / full day | South coast | ~$80–140 | Nearest safari, short on time |
| Wasini & Kisite | Marine | Full day | South coast + ferry | ~$90–160 | Dolphins, snorkel, seafood |
| Dhow dinner cruise | Sunset | Evening (2–3h) | Mombasa creek | ~$70–110 | Romance, groups |
| Deep-sea fishing | Fishing | Half / full day | Offshore | ~$400–900 /boat | Anglers, big-game fish |
| Snorkel / glass-bottom | Marine | Half day | Nyali / Bamburi reef | ~$25–50 + park fee | Easy reef, families |
| Gede Ruins & Watamu | Heritage | Full day | North coast | ~$80–140 | History & a north-coast beach |
Prices are indicative 2026 ranges per person (fishing is per boat) and vary with group size, operator and whether the tour is shared or private — shared safaris start from around $38. Most safari and marine prices include park or marine fees and lunch; always confirm what’s covered when booking. For the city’s free, self-visit sights, see things to do in Mombasa.
Match it to your day
The best Mombasa day trip for…
Quick picks by what you’re after. Tap through for full prices and timings.
Tsavo East
The full big-game experience — elephants, lions and vast red plains. Short on time? Shimba Hills instead.
Tsavo safari →Wasini & Kisite
The coast’s best marine day — dolphins, a coral reef and a seafood lunch, all by dhow.
Wasini tour →Sunset dhow cruise
Dinner and a sunset on a traditional dhow — Mombasa’s most romantic evening on the water.
Dhow cruise →Deep-sea fishing
Charter out for marlin and sailfish; the reef drops off fast, so the big fish are close.
Fishing charters →Gede Ruins & Watamu
A lost Swahili town swallowed by forest, paired with Watamu’s marine park and white sand.
Gede & Watamu →Shimba Hills or snorkelling
A short safari or a gentle glass-bottom reef trip — big rewards without a punishing day.
Snorkelling →Book it right
What to know before you book
The details that decide whether a tour is good value and a good day.
Safari and marine tours usually cover park or KWS marine fees, lunch, transport and a guide; snorkelling gear is often extra. Always ask, since park fees are a big part of the cost.
Shimba Hills, snorkelling and the dhow cruise are half-day or evening; Tsavo, Wasini and Gede are full-day and start early. Long safari days mean a lot of driving — set expectations.
Dry seasons (Dec–Mar, Jun–Oct) are best for wildlife; calm, clear Dec–Mar seas are best for marine trips and snorkelling. Skip the long rains of April–May.
Use your hotel or a licensed tour company, confirm hotel pickup, and get the inclusions in writing. Book the dhow dinner and popular safaris a day or two ahead in peak season.
Sunscreen, a hat, water, closed shoes for safari, a swimsuit and towel for marine trips, plus small cash for tips and drinks. Bring your passport for park entry rates.
A single day in Tsavo is a lot of driving for a few hours in the park. If wildlife is the point, an overnight safari to Tsavo or Amboseli sees far more.
On the map
Where the trips go
Tsavo inland, Shimba and Wasini to the south, Gede and Watamu up the north coast. Pin a destination to place it.
Quick answers
Mombasa tours: common questions
What are the best day trips from Mombasa?
Can you go on safari from Mombasa?
How much is a Tsavo safari from Mombasa?
Is the Wasini Island dolphin tour worth it?
How do you book tours in Mombasa?
When is the best time for tours from Mombasa?
An Expert Take — by the Mombasa Kenya Editor
Do one thing on the water, one thing with animals
If you’ve come to Mombasa for the beach, the two day trips that pay you back most are the Wasini dolphin dhow and a safari — one for the sea, one for the wildlife, and between them you’ve seen what the coast and the country are really about. The Wasini trip is the easy winner: dolphins, a proper snorkel and a seafood lunch on a stilted island, all at a gentle pace.
On the safari, be honest with yourself about the driving. A day trip to Tsavo is five or six hours in a van for a few hours among the animals, and some people love it while others wish they’d stayed on the sand. If your heart is set on wildlife, spend the extra and go overnight; if you just want a taste, Shimba Hills is 45 minutes away and gives you elephants and a waterfall without the marathon. Match the trip to your patience, not just your wishlist.
Ready for a day out?
Start with the two everyone remembers — a dolphin dhow and a safari — and build your Mombasa trip around them.
See the Wasini dolphin tour →Keep planning your Mombasa trip
Our commitment · Conservation & restoration
Excursions that give back to the coast
Mombasa Kenya (mombasakenya.org) is committed to the restoration and conservation of the marine parks, forests, wildlife and heritage sites that Mombasa’s tours are built around. Every reef snorkel, safari and dhow trip depends on an ecosystem or monument that careful tourism protects and careless tourism erodes.
Choose operators who respect wildlife distances, marine-park rules and heritage sites, who cut single-use plastic, and whose fees help fund conservation. The best excursions leave the place exactly as spectacular for the next traveller. See the flagship marine trip →