Mombasa · Tours · Shimba Hills
Shimba Hills day trip
the nearest safari to Kisiwa cha Mvita
You don’t have to go far from Kisiwa cha Mvita — the old island city — to be on safari. Shimba Hills, just inland from Diani, offers sable antelope, elephants, forest and a waterfall walk in a half or full day. Here’s what to expect and how to book.
Shimba Hills is the closest safari to Mombasa — a coastal-rainforest reserve just inland from Diani, about 1–1.5 hours from the city across the Likoni ferry. It’s the only place in Kenya to see sable antelope, alongside elephants, buffalo, giraffe and birds, plus the lovely Sheldrick Falls reached on a guided forest walk. You can do it as a half-day or full-day trip (~US$80–140 pp) with no overnight, which makes it perfect if you’re short on time or staying on the south coast. It has less big game than Tsavo, but for a quick, scenic, easy safari it’s hard to beat.
What the trip is
A safari you can do before dinner
Why Shimba Hills is the coast’s easiest wildlife day.
Shimba Hills National Reserve sits on a plateau of coastal rainforest and rolling grassland just behind Diani, close enough that you can be game-driving within an hour or so of leaving the beach. It’s a different landscape from the dry plains of Tsavo — greener, hillier and cooler, with glimpses of the Indian Ocean from the ridges — and it’s the only place in Kenya where you’ll see the magnificent sable antelope, with their curved horns and dark coats.
Alongside the sable you can expect elephants, buffalo, giraffe, bushbuck and excellent birdlife, all in a compact, scenic reserve. The other highlight is Sheldrick Falls, a waterfall reached on a guided walk of 30 to 45 minutes through the forest, ending at a pool cool enough to swim in. It’s not a Big Five spectacle like Tsavo, but as a half-day escape into the wild — no overnight, no long drive — it’s a gem, especially for families and anyone based on the south coast.
Compare the options
Shimba Hills tour options, side by side
Half day, full day and add-ons compared.
| Option | Duration | Includes (typical) | Price /person | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half-day safari | ~4–5h | Transfers, game drive, guide | $80–110 | Quick safari, families |
| Full-day safari | Full day | Game drive + Sheldrick Falls walk, lunch | $100–140 | Seeing more, the falls |
| + Sheldrick Falls walk | +1–2h | Guided forest walk to the waterfall | + small fee | Walkers, a cool swim |
| Private trip | Half/full day | Own vehicle, guide, flexible | from $150 | Families, photography |
Indicative 2026 prices per person; park entry fees and the Sheldrick Falls ranger walk may be charged separately. Times include the Likoni ferry, which can queue at peak hours — build in a buffer.
The options in detail
How to do Shimba Hills, profiled
An expert read on each option, with links to compare and find it.
Shimba Hills half-day safari
~4–5h · quick · easyA real safari squeezed into half a day.
- What you get: transfer across the ferry, a game drive through the reserve looking for sable, elephants and giraffe, and back — no overnight.
- Price: indicative US$80–110 per person.
- Best for: visitors short on time and families who want wildlife without a big commitment. Note: morning trips give the best animal activity.
Shimba Hills full day + Sheldrick Falls
Full day · game drive + walkThe complete Shimba Hills experience.
- What you get: a longer game drive, the guided walk to Sheldrick Falls with a chance to swim, and usually lunch.
- Price: indicative US$100–140 per person plus any walk fee.
- Best for: those who want more time in the reserve and love a scenic walk. Note: bring water shoes and a towel for the falls.
Private Shimba Hills trip
Own vehicle & guide · flexibleYour own pace, ideal with kids or a camera.
- What you get: a private vehicle and guide, so you can linger at sightings and time the day to suit you.
- Price: indicative from US$150, good value split across a family.
- Best for: families, photographers and anyone wanting flexibility. Note: ask for a 4×4 with a raised roof for viewing.
Pair it with Diani
South coast · combineAn easy add-on to a south-coast beach stay.
- What you get: because Shimba Hills is right behind Diani, it slots neatly into a south-coast trip — safari in the morning, beach in the afternoon.
- Note: from Diani the drive is shortest; from the north coast add the ferry crossing.
- Best for: Diani-based visitors and anyone combining beach and bush. Diani guide →
Profiles reflect how these trips usually run; operators, inclusions, park fees and prices vary and change — confirm the itinerary and ferry timing before booking.
Match it to your trip
The best Shimba Hills trip for…
Quick picks by your time and base.
Full day + falls
Game drive plus the Sheldrick Falls walk and swim.
Compare tours →Know before you book
Booking a Shimba Hills day trip
The details that make the short safari smooth.
From the north coast you cross the Likoni ferry, which can queue at rush hour — an early start avoids the worst and gives better wildlife viewing.
Animals are most active in the cool early hours; a morning game drive beats the middle of the day.
The Sheldrick Falls walk is a highlight — bring water shoes, a towel and swimwear for the pool if it’s offered.
Shimba Hills is scenic and has unique sable antelope, but it’s not a big-herd, Big Five park like Tsavo — come for the setting and the ease.
Reserve entry and the ranger-guided falls walk may be extra on top of the tour price — confirm when booking.
The short drive, the walk and the manageable day make Shimba Hills one of the easiest wildlife outings with children.
On the map
Where Shimba Hills is
On the south coast just inland from Diani, across the Likoni ferry.
Quick answers
Shimba Hills day trip: common questions
Where is Shimba Hills and how far is it?
What can you see there?
How much is a day trip?
Is it worth it compared to Tsavo?
Can you walk to Sheldrick Falls?
Is it good for families?
Our recommendation
Quick safari now, or the big one later?
If your days are full of beach and you just want to see the wild without losing a night, Shimba Hills is the answer — close, scenic, and home to sable antelope you won’t see anywhere else in Kenya, with a waterfall walk thrown in. If wildlife is the whole point of your trip and you crave big herds and the Big Five, save your energy for Tsavo instead.
For most beach-based visitors, Shimba Hills is the easy yes. Add the Sheldrick Falls walk and go early. Shall we compare trips and dates?
Fancy a safari before dinner?
Compare half- and full-day Shimba Hills trips, add the Sheldrick Falls walk, and book the closest safari to the coast.
Compare & book the trip →Keep planning your Mombasa trip
Our commitment · Conservation & restoration
Kenya’s only sable antelope live here
Mombasa Kenya (mombasakenya.org) is committed to the restoration and conservation of the Shimba Hills coastal rainforest and its wildlife — most notably the sable antelope, whose only Kenyan population survives in this reserve. This rare pocket of coastal forest and grassland is a fragile, biodiverse island surrounded by farmland.
Tread carefully: keep to the tracks, drive slowly, don’t litter or feed wildlife, and choose operators who respect the reserve and the Sheldrick Falls forest. Visiting responsibly gives this unique habitat and its sable a lasting economic reason to stay protected. Compare with a Tsavo safari →