Mombasa – The Second Time Around

On my way to Kilifi for a much-needed beach getaway, I decided to spend a weekend in Mombasa. The first time I visited, I spent less than 24 hours in the city as my friends and I were actually on our way to Diani. This time, I spent two days exploring some of the sites I had missed out on earlier.

Places to visit in Mombasa

Getting to Mombasa from Nairobi

As I had previously done, I travelled on the SGR train from Nairobi to Mombasa. I decided to travel with the 8 am train to allow me to arrive in Mombasa in daylight. Unlike the express trains that leave the city at 3 pm and 10 pm, this one makes several stops before arriving in Mombasa. The stops are short and painless but the journey takes an hour longer than the express.

I arrived in Mombasa at 2 pm and took a one-hour long Uber ride to Shanzu, a suburb of Mombasa. My accommodation for the next 2 nights was an Airbnb managed by a friend of mine in La Mera Apartments and I enjoyed my stay there.

24 hours in Mombasa

Most of my time was either spent by the pool or admiring the beautiful views of the ocean from the beachfront property. However, I did get some downtime to explore a few sites within the city.

A Weekend in Mombasa – What to Do

In my original itinerary, I had planned to visit Haller Park and Nguuni Sanctuary. Since I have been to Fort Jesus in the past, I left it off the itinerary for this trip. In addition, I planned to take a walking tour of the old city and end my stay with an evening sail on a dhow.

Mombasa Letters

In the end, I was only able to fit two of these stops in my schedule, however, I think they are all worth including in a weekend in Mombasa itinerary. So here goes:

Check out the Nguuni Nature Sanctuary

Giraffes may currently be my favourite animals so I couldn’t miss the chance to check out this nature sanctuary. The Nguuni Sanctuary is a small animal sanctuary housing giraffes, ostrich, tortoises, oryx and elands. The animals are free-roaming, although when I visited, the lone ostrich was in an enclosure, albeit, a large one.

The nature sanctuary also has a few picnic sites where guests are welcome to enjoy a picnic in nature. I visited this place at midday but the best time to go is around 4 pm when the giraffe feeding takes place. When I visit Mombasa again, I will surely plan for a picnic here.

Visit Haller Park

This park and the Nguuni Sanctuary are part of the same foundation. Haller Park contains more animals, including hippos, crocodiles, snakes and other smaller animals. There, you can feed giraffes – similar to the experience at Nairobi’s Giraffe Centre and watch crocodiles get fed as well.

Go Dhow Sailing

I ended up not sailing in Mombasa, mainly due to the cost of doing so on my own. Usually, the dhows on the coast are rented by a group at a time. What this means is that if you are travelling solo, you are left with the option of footing the entire cost of the outing and the boat.

The dhow I was to sail with cost 10,000 shillings for a two-and-a-half sunset ride, with a maximum capacity for 10 travellers. Without a discount, I decided to forego the ride and do it in Kilifi instead, where it was several shillings cheaper.

Dhow Sailing Kilifi

The sunset dhow sail is still an experience I look forward to having in Mombasa. I also believe that it deserves a spot on your weekend in Mombasa itinerary. However, it’s more cost-effective and fun to do it with friends or a partner.

Explore Mombasa Old Town

Finally, before heading out of the city, take some time to walk around and visit sites in the old town. Be aware that the old town is quite different from areas with resorts. Hence, it is common to find refuse on the streets and an associated stench.

Some places to check out include Fort Jesus and Mama Ngina Waterfront. You’ll also find the infamous elephant tusks structure on Moi Avenue and a few other interesting statues all around the town.

I certainly enjoyed my weekend in Mombasa and I look forward to returning for the third time!

Have you visited Mombasa? I would love to hear more about your trip! And if you live in Mombasa, please share some of your top recommendations for places to visit, eat and things to do there.

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Guess where! 👀
Guess where! 👀
20 hours ago
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1/9
Let me be honest, that tripod was never going to see the light of day! 🤭
Let me be honest, that tripod was never going to see the light of day! 🤭
2 days ago
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2/9
What a beautiful city! 😍

#kamoriver #kyoto #japan
What a beautiful city! 😍 #kamoriver #kyoto #japan
3 days ago
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3/9
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰
_____________________

If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢

📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here
📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン)
📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats.

For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. 

Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day!

#lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰 _____________________ If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢 📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here 📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン) 📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats. For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day! #lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
4 days ago
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4/9
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍

To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it!

-------‐‐‐--‐

Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages.

The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture.

#travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍 To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it! -------‐‐‐--‐ Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages. The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture. #travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
6 days ago
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5/9
Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
6 days ago
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6/9
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂

Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel!

Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑

I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are!

+1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel!
_____________________________

Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below!

#travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂 Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel! Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑 I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are! +1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel! _____________________________ Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below! #travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
1 week ago
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7/9
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍

#japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍 #japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June.

If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can:

🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌

You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays.

Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 

Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr
Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter

Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June. If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can: 🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌 You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays. Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
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