3 Important Things to Know about Mombasa for First-Time Travelers

If you have never been to Mombasa, Kenya before and you have booked this for a vacation, either by yourself or with family, there are a number of things you might want to know before you actually take off and head to this tropical destination. Here are three important things to keep in mind about Mombasa.

1. It is hot here.

If you live in the northern hemisphere, in a climate that sees snow during the winter, then you have no idea just how hot it can be at the equator. While you may have experienced the occasional day or two of temperatures being oppressive with regard to comfort, that’s still not going to prepare you for just how hot it can be near the equator.

Bring light clothing and also consider an extra bathing suit or two; you’re going to want to spend a lot of time in the ocean or the hotel pool.

2. You can get burned easily.

Because Mombasa is right along the equator, the sun is extremely intense. You may have a pretty good tan that you’ve developed back home, but you can still get burned here. You might want to consider having a swim shirt that extends down your arms and protect your shoulders if you plan on doing snorkeling or a lot of swimming in the ocean.

3. There’s plenty to do, so bring comfortable walking shoes.

Between Fort Jesus, the wildlife sanctuaries, and Old Town, Mombasa, you could end up doing a lot of walking. If you just bring along sandals or flip-flops, you could find your feet and legs sore after one long day of doing just one or two of these things. Sneakers or some other extremely comfortable walking shoes are advisable.