Mombasa Day Trips Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary Safari

Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary 1 Day Safari from Mombasa explores the sanctuary, located in East Africa, in Kenya’s Kwale District, Coastal Province, and a mere 55 kilometers southwest of Mombasa.

The sanctuary covers 36 km² and, along with the adjacent Shimba Hills National Reserve, forms the Shimba Hills Ecosystem, a conservation area for elephants. The Sanctuary is a northern extension of the Shimba Hills National Reserve in Kwale District, a Coastal Province, approximately 35km southwest of Mombasa and north of Kwale town, covering an area of 36km2.

Spend a full day on safari in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, starting and ending in Mombasa. This guided day tour is ideal if you want a short, affordable wildlife safari from the Kenya coast. Enjoy game drives with an experienced guide, plus a coffee or tea stop at the picnic site along the way.

Expect excellent elephant sightings, with the chance to spot buffalo, lions, and more. The sanctuary was established to protect a vital migratory corridor for over 150 elephants between the Shimba Hills and the Mwaluganje Forest.

Key Highlights of Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary

✓ Activities: The sanctuary offers guided nature walks, game drives, and camping/picnic spots
✓ Scenic Views & Landscape: Offers breathtaking views of the Shimba Hills, the Cha Shimba River Valley, and the Kitzanze Waterfall
✓ Bird & Butterfly Paradise: Top destination for birdwatching, featuring species like the crowned eagle and the rare Sokoke scops owl
✓ Unique Flora and Fauna: The sanctuary hosts rare, prehistoric Dinosaur Cycads, which are 300 million years old, alongside massive, ancient Baobab trees
✓ Elephant Conservation & Viewing: Home to a significant population of elephants, with guaranteed sightings in their natural habitat, often featuring dramatic, hilly landscapes
✓ Community & Culture: A successful example of community-based conservation, where over 200 local families leased their land for the sanctuary. Visitors can experience the local Digo and Duruma culture.

Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is Kenya’s first community Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Kenya’s big tuskers (Elephants), dry baobab bushland, the endemic cycad palm, blooming desert roses, a diversity of butterflies, birds, and monkey-eating crowned eagle.

The sanctuary covers 36 km² and, along with the adjacent Shimba Hills National Reserve, forms the Shimba Hills Ecosystem. Wildlife species include: elephants, zebras, warthogs, bushbucks, waterbucks, baboons, leopards, porcupines, mongooses, bushbabies, etc.

Mwaluganje is located in an ecosystem characterized by rolling hills, steep ridges, cliffs, and winding water shades. A forested area of approximately 23,736 hectares, comprising Shimba forest, Mkongani West, Mkongani North, and Mwaluganje forest, also surrounds it.

The Mwaluganje forest is part of the current sanctuary, and the beautiful Mwaluganje Travelers Tented Camp is in the forest reserve.

The ecological attractions in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary are diverse, with scenic beauty such as the great natural forests, awe-inspiring cliffs, and the warm blue Indian Ocean.

Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary 1 Day Safari from Mombasa explores the sanctuary, located in East Africa, in Kenya’s Kwale District, Coastal Province, and a mere 45 kilometers southwest of Mombasa.

The sanctuary covers 36 km² and, along with the adjacent Shimba Hills National Reserve, forms the Shimba Hills Ecosystem.  Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is Kenya’s first community Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Kenya’s big tuskers (Elephants), dry baobab bushland, the endemic cycad palm, blooming desert roses, a diversity of butterflies, birds, and monkey-eating crowned eagle.

The sanctuary covers 36 km² and, along with the adjacent Shimba Hills National Reserve, forms the Shimba Hills Ecosystem. Wildlife species include: elephants, zebras, warthogs, bushbucks, waterbucks, baboons, leopards, porcupines, mongooses, bushbabies, etc.

Mwaluganje is located in an ecosystem characterized by rolling hills, steep ridges, cliffs, and winding water shades. A forested area of approximately 23,736 hectares, comprising Shimba forest, Mkongani West, Mkongani North, and Mwaluganje forest, also surrounds it.

The Mwaluganje forest is part of the current sanctuary, and the beautiful Mwaluganje Travelers Tented Camp is in the forest reserve. The ecological attractions in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary are diverse, with scenic beauty such as the great natural forests, awe-inspiring cliffs, and the warm blue Indian Ocean.

Other natural attractions include “God’s Bridge,” “Time Rock,” and the traditional shrine that symbolizes the community’s sacredness.

Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary was created in 1993 to conserve the serene surroundings that house the rare and endangered African elephants, a moist deciduous forest, riparian vegetation, and other special attractions in the ecosystem.

Elephants Experience: Elephants are the main attraction at Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary and there are as many as 150 residing there.

Trees and Plants Experience: Dinosaur Cycads are fan-like plants seen in the park. All 6 of Kenya’s Cycad species (Eucephalartos hildebrantii) are found in Mwaluganje.

Baobab Trees: Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary baobab trees are one of Africa’s most unusual deciduous trees.

The Scenic Landscape: Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary valleys overlooking the Taita Hills are a sight to behold with quite flowing waters and serene surroundings it is almost like in paradise.

Other natural attractions are “God’s Bridge,” “Time Rock” and the traditional shrine that characterizes the sacredness of the community. These beautiful hills roll up to Tsavo National Parks to the East and the Indian Ocean to the west and are marked by striking features like the: Golini cliffs, Kitanze Falls, Manolo River, which consists of the Riverine vegetation, and Meandering Rivers.

Educational Experience: Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary was launched in the early ’90s largely to reduce local human/elephant conflicts, which were on the rise due to both more elephants and more people.

Elephants would destroy crops and people would retaliate. More than 200 families have voluntarily contributed land to the reserve, agreeing not to farm this important elephant habitat. Today, they live nearby and manage the sanctuary, earning more from tourism than from farming, a critical factor in ensuring the survival of these elephants.

The sanctuary has also enabled the community to build school classrooms and enjoy a steady water supply and better roads.

0730 Hours: Depart in the morning from your Beach Hotel or residence to Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary.

1030 Hours: Upon arrival at the park proceed on a mid-morning game drive. Wildlife spices include; Elephants, zebra, warthog, bushbuck, waterbuck, baboons, leopards, porcupines, mongooses, bushbabies, etc.

In addition, the park has a rich diversity of birds, reptiles, and invertebrates.  The landscape in Mwaluganje is diverse and ranges from the dry baobab bushland to moist deciduous forest on the hills and riverine forest along the streams.

Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary has another attraction; the presence of the endemic Cyclades that looks like a primitive palm tree makes Mwaluganje floristically unique.

For wildflower lovers, this is paradise when the cliffs turn pink with blooming desert roses at the end of the rainy season (November) and when most plants flower at the start of the rainy season.

There is a height diversity of butterflies resulting from the diverse habitats – along the Manolo River, you will see species typical of Savannah and semi-arid country.

This is also a bird watchers’ haven with some of the most spectacular birds of prey such as the monkey-eating crowned eagle and the palm nut vulture.

Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary has other places of interest like Kaya Mtae, the Manolo River, the Kitanze waterfall, the Pemba River, and Mawe ya Masaa.

1230 Hours: Enjoy your picnic lunch box or hot lunch at a lodge/ camp.

1400 Hours: After lunch continue with a further game drive towards the gate and transfer back to your beach hotel.

1700 Hours: Arrive back at your hotel/ residence

Mombasa Day Trips Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary Safari Rates Include:

✓ Mineral Bottle Water
✓ Professional English-speaking driver-guide
✓ Picnic Lunch in the Sanctuary or nearby Hotel/ Lodge
✓ All entry fees, driver-guide fee, service charge, and taxes
✓ Mombasa Day Trips Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary Safari
✓ Pickup from your hotel in Mombasa and drop-off at your hotel

Notes

* Pick up from hotels on the South Coast. Extra charge for pick up from North Coast Hotels
* Our Mombasa Day Trips Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary Safari from 0730 Hours to 1700 Hours

Mombasa Day Trips Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary Safari Rates Do Not Include:

* Drinks
* Tips or gratuity
* Travelers Insurance
* Communication charges
* Visas, international airfares, and airport taxes
* Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)

Mobile: +254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com