Whether you’re looking to travel to Mombasa, Kenya for some well deserved rest and relaxation or simply for business, the accommodation options in the North Coast are ample and cater for all pocket sizes.
For the hedonistic traveler, there are a number of four and five star beach resorts that line the North Coast of Mombasa, some of which offer an all-inclusive deal for their guests. Located on wide stretches of palm fringed, powdery white sandy beaches, these Mombasa resorts have an atmosphere reminiscent of Swahili culture. With air-conditioned, beautifully designed …

The main cell phone service providers in Kenya are Safaricom, Zain, and Orange-Telkom.
SIMs for these providers can be purchased for as little as Kshs. 100 and are widely available from many vendors. As long as your cell phone is not locked into another service provider’s contract and is GSM 900 compatible or tri-band / quad-band, you should be able to use the local lines effectively within Kenya at reasonable rates for international as well as local calls.

Swahili is the official language of Kenya and is spoken by the majority of the inhabitants of Mombasa.  Although English is also widely spoken, it is useful to know some common words and phrases to use whilst visiting Mombasa.

Hello
How are you?
Very well
And you?
What is your name?
My name is…
Where are you from?
I am from…
Good Morning
Good Night
Goodbye

Jambo
Habari Yako?
Mzuri Sana
Na wewe?
Jina lako nani?
Jina langu ni…
Unatoka wapi?
Natoka…
Habari ya Asubuhi?
Lala salama
Kwaheri

I
You
Friend

Mimi
Wewe
Rafiki

Yes
No
Please
Sorry
Excuse me
Okay
No problem
Good
Bad
I don’t know
I don’t understand
Thank you very much
I am very grateful
Welcome
I am very happy
I like…
I don’t like…
May I have…
I want…
Help me
Stop here
Wait here

Ndio
Hapana
Tafadhali
Samahani …

There’s little chance that you’d want to leave the sandy Mombasa beaches to go shopping, but should you need to, there are plenty of options available:
Nakumatt Nyali: This hypermarket has everything under one roof, from fresh produce to furniture, and is conveniently located within walking distance from Nyali Beach Hotel and Voyager Beach Resort. The centre that houses it also contains a bookstore, pharmacy, internet café, ATM machines, butchery, restaurants, a Kenya Airways booking office and a Safaricom (local cell-phone service provider) retail shop, amongst other shops.
Nakumatt Cinemax: This well-stocked …

If you don’t want the hassle of driving, and you want a cheaper option than flying, the train is your best bet to get from Nairobi to Mombasa.
Kenya Railways operates a train service that leaves from both Nairobi and Mombasa every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
A first class return ticket (recommended) with two beds per compartment costs Kshs. 6,750 (less than USD 100) and includes bedding, dinner and breakfast.
If there are more of you, you can opt for a second class cabin with 4 beds for Kshs. 4,980 (approximately USD 68)
Although …

AirKenya Express has started flying daily Monday – Sunday from Nairobi to Mombasa via Diani, on the South Coast.
This now gives travellers direct access to the South Coast and avoids delays if taking the traditional route from Moi International Airport to the South Coast via the Likoni Ferry service.
Current airfares posted on AirKenya’s website for a one trip ranges between US$100 to US$125 (as at August 4th)
For current information and bookings visit AirKenya’s website.

Commanding a lovely view of Mombasa’s Old Town, the elegant and luxurious full service apartments in the Tamarind Mombasa Village are a good alternative to beach resorts. Built into coral ramparts, guests fall in love with its beautiful African coastal architecture with its soft archways, classical turrets, white walls, private, gorgeous gardens and impeccable hospitality.
A collection of 45 apartments offering one, two or three bedrooms, it is a choice location for the business visitor, those wanting proximity to Mombasa or the traveler looking for a long term stay.
Decorated with authentic …

Mombasa has many local eateries to try out. If you can find a place that serves traditional coastal dishes, try the barazi (pigeon peas in coconut) served with mahamri (donut-like pastry) usually served for breakfast or the Mkate Sinia (Rice bread) Vitumbua (rice flour and coconut cream pastry buns) with a nice cup of chai (tea)….in true Swahili style!
Mubin’s – this open air restaurant is popular with the locals and although they serve everything from chicken tikka (barbequed taandori chicken) to naan (Indian flatbread), it is best known for its …

Mombasa is on the same timezone as the rest of Kenya.
Kenya’s (Mombasa) timezone  is UTC/GMT +3 hours
Calculating Time Difference between the US and Mombasa:
If you’re in US/Pacific, Mombasa is 10 hours ahead
If you’re in US/Central, Mombasa is 8 hours ahead
If you’re in US/Eastern, Mombasa is 7 hours ahead
Calculating Time Difference between UK and Mombasa:
If you’re in London, England, Mombasa is 3 hours ahead
Calculating Time Difference between Canada and Mombasa:
If you’re in Canada/Pacific, Mombasa is 10 hours ahead
If you’re in Canada/Mountain, Mombasa is 9 hours ahead
If you’re in Canada/Central, Mombasa is 8 hours ahead
If you’re in …

This is a video produced by the Kenya Tourism Board…what a place to visit!