Packing Light but Packing Right: Your Trip to Mombasa Can be Defined by What You Bring (and Don’t Bring)

When you’re heading to Mombasa for vacation, you want to make sure you pack everything you’re going to need. There may be some things that you overlook at the time and then regret once you’re in Mombasa. While you can certainly pick up most items you’ll need when you’re here, it could cost quite a bit more than if you had brought along what you wanted from the beginning.

It’s a good idea to pack as light as possible, meaning avoiding stuffing your suitcase full of every possible clothing item you might need. If you going for a week, for example, don’t pack enough clothes for a month.

You should bring along at least two swimsuits, one that you can wear and put on when it’s dry and another that can be drying while you’re enjoying the pool or spending time at the Indian Ocean.

Bring along one pair of comfortable walking shoes, water shoes, and sandals or flip-flops. Anything else is extraneous. You don’t need to bring along six or eight or 10 pairs of shoes for every single outfit you have.

You’re going to be spending most of your time in a swimsuit, but you may want a nice dress or dress clothes for an evening out at dinner. You should also bring along one or two pairs of comfortable shorts and three or four comfortable shirts. Keep in mind that most hotels in Mombasa do have laundry facilities on site so you can wash something if you go through clothes to quickly.

Don’t forget your sunscreen. Being right along the equator means the sun is extremely intense and you can burn quite quickly. You should also consider a large brimmed hat to protect your face, eyes, and ears.