Mombasa is well known for its warm, tropical climate. Basically Mombasa’s weather is hot and humid most of the time. Even so, Mombasa’s climate is a lot milder than most other countries with tropical climates.

Winter months are generally warmer than summer although not by much and the amount of rainfall largely depends on the time of year. This is simply because Kenya sits directly on the equator and can experience all four seasons all year round.

The hottest months are December through April, reaching an average high of 31°C throughout the day. July and August are cooler, reaching just 27°C as a high. The difference throughout the year is only a few degrees. The weather in the region is very stable and doesn’t change much over the course of the year.

The seasons are established by the monsoon winds blowing across the ocean. The Kaskazi wind is northeasterly and lasts from October to March. November is typically a month of occasional rains – some heavy, some light. The Kusi is more powerful and colder than the Kaskazi and lasts from April until September. From May until June expect rain.

April and May are the regions rainiest period. The rainfall in January to February is minimal. The rainy season should not be confused with being the cooler part of the year. The wettest month in Mombasa is May (it could rain up to 25 days during the month). The rainy season does mean regular rain, but not necessarily monsoons. There will be rain most days, but in short sudden incidents throughout the day. The sun is mostly likely to shine again after they pass, it is rare to have a daylong downpour.

In short Mombasa has a tropical climate, meaning warm and humid conditions throughout the year. The coolest month is July when average daytime temperatures are around 27 °C , the warmest months are February and March, when it’s around 31 °C during the day. Nights average between 20 °C during the coolest months to 25 °C in the hottest months. Rain is possible in all months, but April and May are by far the wettest months, with 200 to 250mm a month. February is the driest month with usually only 5 or so rainy days.

Not only has the Internet made it easier for people to act as their own travel agents, it has also helped explain the somewhat confusing hotel rating systems. Most travel companies use their own methods for ratings because there is no standard for the industry, even though many stick to using either stars or diamonds for their systems to create some congruency. The differences between a one-star and a five-star hotel are relatively obvious; but the difference between a four-star and five-star hotel is a bit more subtle.

Hotel Amenities

Customer feedback is used by many of the largest travel sites to determine ratings. For example, a four-star hotel’s amenities include things like 24-hour room service, turndown, concierge services, and valet parking. Five-star hotel amenities include state-of-the-art health clubs, luxury spas, high-end restaurants, and butler services. AAA uses diamond ratings; according to them, the difference between four-diamond and five-diamond hotels is based on how much the hotel’s amenities exceed customer expectations. Four-diamond hotels have “extensive amenities,” while five-diamond hotels have “amenities that provide an unmatched level of comfort.”

Room Amenities

How far the hotel exceeds customer expectation for these amenities determines the rating – the same way it works for hotel amenities. Four-star hotels are elegant, upscale, and stylish. Five-star hotels provide incredible luxury and the highest quality accommodations. Typically, four-star hotels will offer upgraded amenities such as large queen or king beds, comfortable couches, extra soft mattresses, mini-bars, and name brand bath products. Five-star hotels go further with oversized marble or granite bathrooms, double vanities, electronic drapery controls, high-end sound systems, and fresh flowers and fruit.

Services

All other things considered, hotel services are the largest factor in getting the highest ratings. Four-star hotels provide excellent patron services, frequently offering such extras as child-care services, pool service and a concierge to assist with making reservations or getting tickets. At a five-star hotel the staff will tend to personalize all services. They make it a point to use a guest’s name and anticipate the needs of every person.

Decor

Décor is not as much of a factor as services and amenities and can also be very subjective but it is taken into account. AAA defines four-diamond hotels as being stylish, with quality furnishings and a high level of attention to detail. Five-diamond hotels have decor that is “extraordinary in every manner.” Expedia.com also takes decor into account. Both will have lobbies with tasteful décor and original artwork but five-star takes it a little further with a slightly higher level of décor and the addition of fresh flowers throughout the hotel.

Mombasa is known for its diverse cuisine in that you can find Chinese, Indian, Italian, Korean, and Swahili menus. There is a multitude of eateries and restaurants to choose from, including those that offer a lot of freshly caught seafood. The following are some of the restaurants that you should consider whenever you vacation in Mombasa.

Arturo’s Italiano – often rated by Italian tourists as the best Italian cuisine you will find in Mombasa. You can gaze over at the crocodile farm and watch them basking in the sun while enjoying a delicious pasta dish or a pizza.

Blue Room – a fun, self-serve atmosphere where you can enjoy a wide range of different foods such as burgers, Indian cuisine, and pizza.

Chinese Galaxy – considered the most popular Chinese restaurant in Mombasa. The menu is filled with almost too many dishes to choose from. Don’t forget the daily house specials – you will find excellent food for very affordable prices on that menu.

Indo-Africa Restaurant – this is one of the oldest Indian restaurants in the city and serves superb dishes created by their gourmet chef who also happens to be the owner.

La Marina – international cuisine and many seafood entrées. This is an excellent place to take your special someone for a honeymoon or romantic dinner. You can enjoy a delicious meal while taking advantage of the outdoor seating they offer.

Maridadi Restaurant and Bar – a wide range of international cuisine greets you at this calm and relaxing eatery.

Safari Inn Bar and Restaurant – the locals will tell you if you want a delicious taste of regional cuisine and have an entertaining evening in the process, this is the place to spend an evening. The food is excellent and you will enjoy intermingling with other international travelers who are visiting the city.

Tamarind Mombasa – overlooking the Old Harbor area of the island just off the coast this establishment offers exotic seafood cuisine and an entertaining spot for the evening.

A beachside retreat in one of East Africa’s finest big-game fishing destinations, Hemingway’s Watamu overlooks the stunning beach of Watamu Marine Park. With a fabulous day spa, a wide array of international cuisines, numerous water sports and activities, plus a traditional Arabic dhow, this is the perfect way to encounter Kenya.

The low thatched buildings at Hemingway’s Watamu blend well into the coastal environment. The rooms and suites are contemporary in design with distinct local touches in the woodwork and artifacts. Palm-filled gardens and spacious public rooms provide a refined yet relaxed atmosphere.

Be sure to go fishing on a big game vessel. Then bring your catch back to Hemingway’s Watamu and the chef will cook it any way you wish. Enjoy snorkeling in the marine park or take to the waters for dolphin, whale or turtle watching. In the evening, take a sunset cruise on a dhow and return for a sumptuous seafood diner in the restaurant.

Hemingway’s has rooms in two wings: the original sea view wing, which has double rooms, and a newer “superior” wing, which includes triples and suites. The bedrooms of the older wing are fairly small in size; however, they are quieter, close to the ocean, and have superb sea views. Those in the new wing are larger and more luxurious and have views of the sea beyond the gardens and swimming pools. All were fully refurbished recently, and the rooms are all very comfortable.

The beach at Hemingway’s is long and sandy. The sea is actually part of the marine park, so there is good snorkeling nearby. Hemingway’s does get a great deal of seaweed from June to August. It is still present in September but in a lesser amount. It tends to be totally gone by October.

PHOTO CREDIT: ARTHUR BULIVA

Moi International Airport services a remarkable amount of aviation traffic with more than eighteen airlines flying directly between Europe and Mombasa. With regular connections to over twenty cities, Mombasa continues to be a top tourist destination and the airport has been upgraded to control traffic from long-haul international flights.

Facilities now include foreign exchange and banking services, duty free shops, bars and restaurants, WiFi, post office, taxi, car rentals, tour agencies, hotel booking booths, VIP lounges and a children’s play area. It is located in a township known as Port Reitz in Mombasa District that lies along coast of the Indian Ocean in Southeastern Kenya. It is the second largest Airport in Kenya, after the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi.

There are private companies that transport tourists from the airport to their choice destinations. If you do not feel like traveling by a private van, there are always taxis available. You can easily identify the taxis by the color; they are painted yellow. The airport does not have any Airport shuttles. If you would like to travel buy bus, you will have to settle for the Matatu, which is usually a fourteen-seat minibus. The public means of transport are found outside the airport. Make a point of asking the charges so that you can be sure about it.

Car rental is still an option, and perhaps the best option to travel from the airport and tour the city of Mombasa. The city has plenty of sights, therefore it is advisable that you rent a car and get to explore most of what the city has to offer. There are many car rental companies in Mombasa hence getting a cheap car hire service provider is possible. Other transport means include Tuk Tuks, boda boda motorcycles and bicycles.

It is possible to exchange your currency at the airport. The currency used in the country is known as the Kenya Shilling. Ensure that you change it at a bank or forex exchange bureau at the airport. In case you are headed to a hotel or maybe Safari lodge, carry some Kenyan money with you. The exchange rates in hotels and safari Lodges tend to be higher.

1. Eat At The Tamarind Restaurant
Perhaps the finest of the various Tamarind ventures; eating on the terrace of this grand Moorish building overlooking the water is a romantic splurge you can’t afford to miss. Seafood is the focus here, but meat eaters won’t go hungry and vegetarians even get their own menu. The only bum note is the rather cheesy keyboard music, which takes a few dawas (vodka, lime and honey cocktails) to drown out. There’s a casino upstairs – just remember you’ll need some money for the taxi back to town.

2. Visit The New Burhani Bohra Mosque

The elaborate facade and soaring minaret of this mosque overlook the Old Harbor. Built in 1902, it’s the third mosque to occupy this site.

3. Visit Malindi and The Gedi Ruins

Enjoy the sites and history with a seaside backdrop when you visit the African town of Malindi, perched on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Explore the ancient ruins of the 13th-century Swahili town of Gedi.

4. Hang Out On Biashara Street
To get a good insight into the daily life of downtown Mombasa, head to narrow, cluttered Biashara (Swahili for “business”) Street, which is just off Moi Avenue. Here, you’ll find all sorts of small shops that have been around for generations selling everything from leather to textiles, live chickens, and food. People are friendly and hospitable. While you’re here, take a wander through the vegetable and spice market, near where Biashara Street meets Moi Avenue.

5. Visit The Bombolulu Workshops & Cultural Centre
This nonprofit organisation produces crafts of a very high standard and gives vocational training to hundreds of physically disabled people. You can visit the workshops and showroom for free to buy jewellery, clothes, carvings and other crafts, or enter the cultural centre to tour mock-ups of traditional homesteads in the grounds, where various activities take place. Bombolulu matatus run here from Msanifu Kombo St, and Bamburi services in either direction also pass the centre.

6. Take The Tamarind Dhow Cruise

Topping the luxury dhow cruises is the Tamarind Dhow, run by the posh Tamarind restaurant chain of the same name. The cruise embarks from the jetty below the Tamarind restaurant in Nyali, and includes a harbour tour and a fantastic meal. Choose between the lunch and dinner cruise. There is a choice of seafood, steak and vegetarian dishes. Prices include a complimentary cocktail and transport to and from your hotel.