Mombasa is known for its sandy beaches and warm weather year-round. No wonder it’s a tourist destination. Despite that, people shy away from travelling to that place because they think you need to break the bank to travel there.
Actually, you do not need a lot to travel. If you like to plan a trip without spending a lot, read on to learn how to travel to Mombasa on a budget.
Purchase Your Train Ticket Early
Travelling by train to Mombasa is cheaper than using a plane or a bus. Furthermore, a bus takes longer compared to the train. The train has first-class and economy-class sections.
The economy class goes for 1500 Kenyan shillings and the first class 4500 Kenyan shillings. The train leaves the Nairobi terminus at 8: 00 am, 3: 00 pm, and 10: 00 pm daily, so schedule your ticket according to the time you would like to leave.
The 8: 00 am one is an inter-county service, as it stops at every terminus to drop off and pick up passengers. The 3: 00 pm one makes a stop at Voi only. The 10: 00 pm one is an express one and takes five and a half hours.
Purchase Your Train Ticket
If you want to buy a ticket, you can choose to go to the station physically or use your digital devices. If you want to buy an online ticket to travel to Mombasa, use the website or dial *639#
The process is self–service, and within a few minutes you will have purchased your ticket. You will receive a confirmation message on your phone after paying.
You will have to print the ticket physically at the station on the day of travel. So save that message.
To print your ticket, check: type your ticket number on the machine, enter your phone number, and press the query option. Confirm the details and print. If stuck, seek assistance.
Choosing Your Accommodation
Mombasa has five-star hotels in the country. However, since you want to travel to Mombasa on a budget, choose an Airbnb or hostel.
If you are an introvert, the best option would be Airbnb, because it is affordable and private.
Bonus Tip
Check the check-in time when you are booking so that you can plan according to the train arrival time. You do not want to check in to Airbnb at 3 pm if your train arrives in Mombasa at 3: 45 am.
Making Your Way to the Station
On the day of travel, make sure you arrive at the Nairobi or Mombasa terminus an hour before the train leaves. This gives you time to go through the check-in inspection process.
If you are in Nairobi and want to go to the SGR terminus, you can take Uber or use any private means to the Syokimau terminus.
If you are using public means, you can choose to use the railway, which leaves the railway bus station at 6 pm, or matatus.
Board the Syokimau vehicles near the Afya centre and make sure you tell them that you are alighting at the SGR terminus.
If you fail to get off at the right point, you will have to take a motorbike, which will cost you 300 Kenyan shillings extra.
When you arrive at the SGR terminal, go through the checkpoint, and after that you can proceed to the waiting lounge. You will start boarding the train 20 minutes before departure time, or depending on what the attendant has agreed.
Do not forget your passport or your ID; this will be used to verify your ticket.
Activities to Do When You Travel to Mombasa
Once you arrive in Mombasa they are plenty of activities to do. Some are free; others require a small fee.
Here are some of the places that you can visit and activities to do:
• Visit Fort Jesus
• Mamba Village
• Haller Park
• Explore the beaches
• Try the coastal delicacies
• Take a ferry ride
- Visit Fort Jesus
Get to learn about Arabs pronence in the Kenyan coast. The entrance fee is 250 for residents and adult citizens of Kenya.
Get to learn about the armaments used in warfare during those times, and the artifacts and way of life of the Omani community.
After you are done with Jesus, take a stroll around the old town.
The homes have some interesting architecture and building designs that are ancient. They are very unique and have not been refurbished since construction, but are durable.
2. Mamba Village
Mamba is a Swahili name for a crocodile. This is a crocodile centre where you get to see the crocodiles and learn more about them.
The entrance fee is 350 Kenyan shillings, and you are accompanied by a guide.
I learned that they are classified into two categories: the Nile and albino crocodiles. The albino one has yellow scales, while the Nile ones have dark scales.
They also feed the crocodiles in a spectacular show, but unfortunately, only once a week. So if you would like to see that, go there on Friday.
Here is another thing to get you to eat crocodile meat.
Have you ever eaten crocodile meat? If not, this is a great chance to try it.
3. Bamburi Haller Park
One thing about Mombasa is that it can get very hot. But you tend to forget that when you visit Bamburi Haller Park.
This is a park that enablesto take talk you as your explore nature and wild animals.
You will get a chance to see the giraffes, tortoises, hippos, crocodiles, monkeys, reptiles, and antelopes.
The park was formerly a mining quarry, and the land was reclaimed to become a park. The entrance fee is 600 shillings for adults who are citizens of Kenya.
Go through the gate, pay, and then start by walking through the nature trail. As you walk, you meet animals such as monkeys and tortoises.
You then proceed to the reception, where they direct you to see the other animals such as the crocodile, hippos, and the reptiles.
The best time to go is in the afternoon because you get to feed the giraffe, and you get to see the hippos being fed and the crocodile.
The feeding of the giraffe is done by the tourist, and you buy the food pellets for 50 shillings. The feeding is done from 3-4 pm, but I would suggest you go at 3:30 when it is less crowded.
The feeding of hippos is done from 4-4:30 pm, while crocodiles are fed from 4: 45 pm0 to 5 pm. This one is done by the game staff. The crocodile feeding is an interesting sight.
They also have a butterfly pavilion and a fish pond. By the time you leave the park, your feet are sore from all the exploring, so it is better to put on sneakers than sandals, despite it being Mombasa.
4. Explore The Sandy Beaches
You can travel to Mombasa and fail to experience the sandy beaches; otherwise, why were you in Mombasa? You do not even need to swim; just relax at the beach. It has a calming feel. Visit the public beaches: Shanzu Beach, Pirates Beach, and the Maasai Beach. Since these are public beaches, they can be really crowded, and the best time to go is in the early morning. While there, you can take a boat ride to see the sea creatures and also get a henna tattoo or body piercing as a way of remembering your trip.
6. Try out Coastal Delicacies
You can leave without trying out their delicacies. They have the most delicious dishes. The dishes are very affordable. They even have a local saying: chakula chatoka bara lakini upishi upo pwani.
Some of the delicacies are: coconut fish curry, mshikaki,mitai,mahamri, chicken biryani, beef biryani, pilau, samaki wa, kupashawarma, shwarma, and of course the madafu.
You can also buy the coconut in bulk and carry them back to your place. You can purchase them at the pirate’s beach.
7. The Ferry Ride
You must ride the ferry even if you are not going anywhere.
What to carry when you travel to Mombasa
Mombasa is hot, so you do not need to carry a lot when travelling. All you need are hygiene products, sunscreen, for ladies, ladies’ dresses are more suitable for ladies and men, shorts, and sandals and light sneakers in case you are walking a lot.
How to Navigate the Town
You can choose to hire a chauffeur,hauffer but that will not be necessary. Choose the public transport tuk-tuks, which are cheap.
In case you are lost, do not hesitate to ask directions from the locals. They are very kind and will show you the directions.
A Bonus Tip When You Travel to Mombasa
When in Mombasa, do not just tour the locality where you are staying. Try at least to explore the surrounding area. A good place to try is Diani.
Diani is less crowded, and the public beaches are not as polluted as the ones in Mombasa. The best time to go there is in the morning, when there are fewer people.
If you have a desire to travel to Mombasa on a budget, you now have a guide. Have you ever been to Mombasa? What are the must-do activities while there? Share your thoughts in the comments section.