Mombasa Day Trip: Shimba Hills National Reserve Tour

Mombasa, Kenya

Explore Shimba Hills National Reserve on a full-day, small-group safari trip from Mombasa that includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a game drive, a guided hike to a waterfall, and lunch at Shimba Hills Lodge. Visit one of the largest coastal forests in East Africa, which supports sable antelope, more than 100 bird species, and the highest density of African elephants in Kenya.

Begin with pickup at your hotel in Mombasa, then begin the 1.5-hour drive to Shimba Hills National Reserve. Upon arrival at Shimba Hills, pay the park entrance fee at the gate, and continue into the reserve for a morning game drive. This small-group tour allows for plenty of personal attention from the guide, who will help spot animals, birds, and other features throughout the day.

Watch for some of the reserve's extraordinary wildlife in the Shimba Hills’ grassland and forest; the park is especially known for sightings of the endangered sable antelope, which fight off predators using long, scimitar-shaped horns. Shimba Hills National Reserve is also home to elephants, giraffes, leopard, civet cat, monkeys, shrews, and far more. Bird watchers can tick off species on their “life lists,” as 111 bird species have been recorded in Shimba Hills, including 22 coastal endemics such as the ostrich eagle, African hawk, and honey guide.

After the game drive, keep exploring on foot: walk to Sheldrick Falls with a guide, a 1- to 2-hour round-trip hike, and enjoy an oasis of lianas and greenery surrounding the 69-foot (21-meter) cascade.

Pause for lunch at Shimba Hills Lodge, then you have the option to take a second walk through the bush around the lodge—or simply enjoy the view from the lodge. At the end of the afternoon, begin the return trip to Mombasa, where this tour concludes with drop-off at your hotel.