Mombasa is Kenya’s top beach holiday destination. Both the north and south beaches on the Indian Ocean rate among the best in the world. Because of this, there are many resort hotels in Mombasa that accommodate the hundreds of thousands of visitors who flock here from all over the world. We review four of Mombasa’s top hotels below.

Sarova Whitesands Hotel

Located on Mombasa’s north coast beach, the Sarova Whitesands offers 340 rooms. It is one of the premium hotels in Mombasa. It has one of the longest beachfronts. It’s on 22 acres of tropical garden. Whitesands has five swimming pools, a classy spa and peerless dining, and accommodation facilities. There is also a waterslide for thrill seekers. The resort is suited for honeymooners, weddings, water sports, and conferences. It’s built with traditional designs and artifacts that capture the rich coastal heritage.

Mombasa Serena Beach Hotel

The Serena is a member of Club Best Hotels of the World and is one of Africa’s best resorts. It is conveniently located just thirty kilometers from MOI International Airport. The 166-guest rooms are decorated with 13th century Swahili Arabesque art. Bougainvillea gardens and palm trees adorn Serena Beach against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean. This ambience makes it one of the most sought after resort hotels in Mombasa. Recreational activities like scuba diving, aerobics, fishing, and excursions to historical locations in Old Town of Mombasa are available for guests.

Nyali Beach Resort

Nyali is one of the best for business travel or those who want to be close to Mombasa City. It is located just fifteen minutes outside the central business district. It’s luxuriously furnished rooms overlook the beautiful blue Indian Ocean. The resort’s cuisine ranges from Chinese to African. Traditional dancers provide an exotic cultural spectacle for guests. And visitors can also engage in water sports, or relaxing therapies like massages, pedicures. and manicures.

Diani Reef Resort

Diani Reef resides on a stretch of white sandy beaches in Kenya’s south coast. It is just over 34 kilometers from MOI airport. One of the things that makes this resort special is its location. It is built in a secluded traditional coastal Village, which makes it ideal for getaways. The resort has three restaurants that serve diverse cuisines and drinks. Boat trips, historical sites’ visits, water sports, archery, jogs, and biking are activities tourists can enjoy while at the resort. For golfers, an 18-hole golf course is only 500 meters away.

The Sai Rock Hotel and Spa offers a stunning view of the Indian Ocean from its lush and beautiful setting. The building is also somewhat of an architectural masterpiece – blending coastal and modern architecture to create the perfect beach ambiance.

Well-appointed rooms offer:

– Telephones

– Fans

– Televisions

– Air conditioning

– Refrigerators

– Spacious bathrooms

– Showers

– Hair dryers

– Tea & coffee

The hotel’s main restaurant offers exotic fare and delicious drinks. The menus are internationally themed and food is served buffet style. The Chinese restaurant can provide you a treat as you master the art of using chopsticks. The hotel has dedicated staff that focus on preparing seafood delicacies along with the standard non-vegetarian and vegetarian meals. The hotel also offers an Indian and Continental menu as well. The swimming pool has a Pizza corner for a quick bite while relaxing.

There are also four bars – one main location, two at the pools, and one located on the terrace near the conference room. There is a live band at the hotel most days that entertains guests. The hotel has two swimming pools, a conference hall, meeting rooms, a playground, boutique, beauty parlor, massage parlor, lounge, and shuttle from the airport that is available upon request.

In addition to the regular rooms, the Sai Rock also offers single bedroom apartments located behind the hotel. These are perfect for those who want to prepare their own meals rather than rely on the hotel. These apartments include all the amenities of the regular rooms plus their own kitchens. They also offer guests a secluded area close to the beach.

As mentioned, the hotel has two swimming pools. The larger one has been designed in the shape of a snail – its tail creating a ramp into the pool. It has a built-in Jacuzzi jutting out from the shell. All this and a panoramic view of the beach make it great for relaxing. The other pool is for dedicated swimming for those who are more interested in fitness than relaxation. The hotel also has its own kids’ center where the staff plans all manner of fun activities for children.

Tales of unlikely animal friendships are inspiring and beautiful. Heavy monsoon rains caused flooding in the Sabaki River in December of 2004 off the coast of Kenya. The rising water on the Kenyan coast, in turn, caused a family of hippos living near the river mouth to move and the massive mammals were washed out to sea. The adults managed to swim back to their home territory, but a small calf (less than a year old) was left behind in the open ocean.

For days, the calf kept his head above water as local fisherman and tourists looked on. At first no one dared approach because even as a calf, the hippo weighed over 270 kilos. He was eventually rescued by Kenya Wildlife Service rangers, who wrapped him in a fishing net and put him in a truck to be taken to Haller Wildlife Park just outside Mombasa. The hippo, christened Owen, named after his rescuer, was let loose in an enclosure with two giant tortoises and some bushbucks. In a remarkable turn of events, Mzee, one of the giant tortoises, later adopted him.

Mzee, which means old man, was 120 years old at the time. The friendship did not happen instantly. At first, the giant tortoise hissed aggressively at the frightened baby hippo. But after a few days the tortoise was eating and sleeping with the hippo and acting like the calf’s mother, even though Mzee is a male tortoise. Owen, in turn, treated the old tortoise like a parent, licking his face and following him everywhere.

Owen is now an adult at 9 years old and shares his enclosure with a female hippo. His surrogate caretaker Mzee lives nearby. These remarkable creatures are just one reason to visit Haller Park on your Mombasa holiday. There are many walking trails, making this a pleasant place to spend a morning or afternoon away from the beaches. The forest trails are not only excellent for nature watching, but also for leisure and fitness. There are cycling as well as jogging trails and a 1.7 kilometer trail. An open playground caters to children, and there’s even an attendant to supervise them while you explore the park.

Mombasa is a historic town with a rich history known for its white sandy beaches and its rich historical artifacts. This is the major drive behind the popularity of most hotels are along the North and South Coast. At Find Mombasa Hotels you will find a broad selection of hotels that will suit your taste and budget. Today we are spotlighting boutique hotels.

A boutique hotel is not your average, chain-affiliated lodging. They are different and often have a more intimate atmosphere while providing top of the line amenities as befits style of the hotel. These are often small hotels with fewer than one hundred rooms (sometimes far fewer). There is a much more personal connection between guests and the staff and the décor and ambience create a more intimate connection with Africa.

The quality of service at these hotels is well above average. Hotel staff members are professionals trained to predict guests’ needs and wants. The personal service you receive at these establishments is exceptional and the staff will always be incredibly friendly. This alone sets boutique hotels apart.
Many of these hotels in Mombasa feature unique themes. This has become a very popular practice in the boutique hotel industry. This style includes original local artwork visible in the lobbies, interesting music – often local – rather than typical hotel Muzak, the incorporation of designer facilities in washrooms, and complimentary champagne and wine upon arrival or with dinner.

These hotels have a great edge in terms of activities because of Mombasa’s location on the rich Kenyan coast. These activities range from deep sea fishing excursions to scuba diving to high adrenaline water sports. Some also offer safari services to most of the city’s key attraction sites. Most of these hotels have in-house bars and restaurants in addition to their close proximity to major clubs and casinos.

Some of the most popular boutique hotels include the breathtaking Diani Beach Resort, which offers the perfect retreat for romantic and exotic escapism since it is located in a lush tropical garden gracing the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Eight out of the ten en-suite bedrooms offers an oceanic view. Its services include airport shuttle service, babysitting services, braai/barbecue and credit card services among others.

You can surround yourself with traditional Swahili décor and culture at the Tijara Beach Hotel. The hotel also plays host to the famous Black Jack’s Cave, which dates back to the slave trade era. It also has its own wildlife area stocked with game such as dikdik, wild pigs, bush buck, bush babies, exotic butterfly species, and genet cats.

There are many other amazing boutique hotels you can choose for your holiday. Call us today to talk about your options and we will help you find the perfect hotel for your comfort, style, and desires.

Kenya is a major tourist destination. Thousands of travelers come to the country from North America, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia, and other parts of Africa. Typically, there are two ways to fly into Mombasa: take a flight to Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi and then grab a connecting flight onto Moi International Airport in Mombasa, or directly to Moi International.

Prices will vary depending on where you are flying from but there are better times to fly no matter where you live. Flights to Mombasa tend to fill up quickly between the end of June and early September, and also from December to January because this is the main holiday season. For these times, it is smart to book at least a few months in advance to get the best-priced fares.

If you’re not looking to travel during peak season, you can get great off-season deals. Call Find Mombasa Hotels to discuss your travel plans and we will find you the best rate on your hotel and flight. We will go over all the details for your trip and answer any questions you may have. International passengers can have visas arranged on arrival for a $50 fee. However, this might lead to some delays, so it is always better to arrange the visa before departing the country of origin.

From North America you will need to change flights twice. There are no direct flights from North America to Kenya / Nairobi. Northwest Airlines is affiliated with KLM and Kenya Airways, and it has good connections to Kenya (including MOI International) via Amsterdam, Milan, London, Munich, or Zurich.
You will be able to get a direct flight from Europe depending on the airline you choose. KLM works with Kenya Airways and has good connections and rates from Amsterdam. Other airlines include the Belgian airline, Brussels Airlines, and Swiss International Airlines, from Zurich.

Travelers from New Zealand and Australia are in much the same situation as those from North America – there are no direct flights available to Nairobi. You will have to change planes in southern Africa, Asia or the Middle East. If you cannot find a direct flight to Mombasa from there, you’ll again have to change planes in Nairobi.

Social conventions in Mombasa and the surrounding areas are basically the same as in Western countries. Handshaking is the common form of greeting and informal dress is the norm. Kenyans are generally considered very friendly and welcoming, so you should be able to get to know a few of the locals during your visit.

While visiting the coast, you will find everything is a bit more relaxed and casual. The sense of casual dress is more open – shorts, dresses, and sarongs are common. Cotton is your best friend on the coast as it keeps you cool and is easy to wash and dry. Leave your synthetic or nylon pieces at home; these fabrics often overheat your body and are uncomfortable to travel in. And don’t forget your sarong – it has a multitude of uses including wrapping it around as a skirt (for both men and women), as a dress, top, scarf, swim wrap, table cloth, bed sheet, or instant shade.

Tipping is not mandatory but it is often expected. Most of the big hotels and restaurants include the gratuity (service charge) in their bills but porters, maids, taxi drivers, and so on should be tipped.

If a service charge is not included at a restaurant, club, or bar, ten percent is the customary gratuity. It is also customary to tip your safari guide, captain, and driver at the end of your trip. You can also give gifts such as t-shirts, shirts, shorts, shoes, hats, and the like. Carry these items with you and give them away as a token of appreciation to your local watchman, guide, house help, and especially people living out in remote villages where access to such items can be difficult.

The dining atmosphere in Mombasa is similar to other Western countries. It is a casual experience meant to be social. You’ll likely be invited to try some of the exotic meats that are part of the normal Kenyan diet. If tasting crocodile doesn’t sound appealing, just politely refuse and your hosts will understand.

Here are a few other tips:

– If you want to photograph the locals, it is polite to get their permission first. There are some instances where the people might expect compensation for taking their picture.
– If you are unsure about anything, ask. Your hotel staff or guide should be able to answer all of your questions so you don’t have to risk making a mistake.
– Do not give money to children or beggars on the streets.