Mombasa 1 Day Tours Shimba Hills National Reserve Safari

Mombasa 1-Day Tours Shimba Hills National Reserve Safari is a fully guided day safari to the Shimba Hills National Reserve. Enjoy an action-packed day of wildlife viewing with a professional guide in the Shimba Hills National Reserve, transport and lunch included. Pick up/drop off includes Diani Beach & South Coast hotels, Tiwi, Msambweni & Shimoni.

Spend the day out in the African bush watching elephants and all kinds of other wild animals and birds in Shimba Hills Game Reserve. Sit back and relax while your experienced guide takes you on exciting game drives in search of 2 of the big five – Elephant and buffalo and more, sharing his or her knowledge as you explore. A lunch stop is also included in your Full-day Shimba Hills Park Safari in Kwale County, Kenya.

Shimba Hills Day Safari Highlights include:
* It is known for its herds of Elephants
* Scenic viewpoints and five picnic areas
* Visit the Mwalunganje Elephant Sanctuary
* Game drives with an experienced guide in a safari vehicle
* Guided forest walks up to the scenically beautiful Sheldrick Falls
* The Reserve is home to the last breeding herd of Sable Antelope in Kenya

This Full-Day Shimba Hills National Reserve Safari starts in Mombasa hotels where you are collected from your accommodation at 700 hours in the morning. Leaving Mombasa we make our way straight to Shimba Hills National Reserve located located 40 km south of Mombasa & 30km from Diani Beach. A short drive of about 1 hour brings us to the entrance of the national park. Arriving at Shimba Hills Park we check-in and embark on our exciting game drive in the untamed bush. Entering the park we make our way as we scan for wildlife, birds, and other creatures.

Shimba Hills is a stronghold for African elephants, which we are sure to see, along with an array of other large mammals, including Sable Antelope, Giraffes, Leopard, Genet, Civet cats, Hyenas, Waterbuck, Bushpig, Buffalo, African Bush Baby, Bushbuck, Black and white Colobus and Blue Duiker. During the game drive, we visit the famous Sheldrick waterfalls. Our driver will drop you at the viewing platform, after which you make your way down a number of stairs and through grasslands and forests to reach the waterfall. A ranger joins you on this 30-minute walk to protect you, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful scenery and eventually the freshwater pool at the foot of the falls.

Lunch is served at the 4-star Hotel called Shimba Hills Lodge. Later we make our way back south through the national park watching for wildlife action along the way. We exit the park via the south gate later this afternoon and return to Mombasa. Back in the city, you can choose to be dropped off at one of Diani’s excellent restaurants or at your accommodation in the early evening, bringing your action-packed day safari to a close.

Mombasa 1 Day Tours Shimba Hills National Reserve Safari; Shimba Hills National Reserve Day Safari from Mombasa Island is a Day Trip to Shimba Hills National Reserve located 40 km from Mombasa. The park is 74 Square Miles in size and access to the Park is via Diani South Coast.

The most distinctive of the Shimba Hills National Reserve’s many species is perhaps the rare and impressive Sable Antelope, found in the same habitats as several large herds of Buffalo.

Shimba Hills National Reserve is just 40kilometers (20 miles) south of Mombasa. It was created as a national forest in 1903 and is now one of the largest areas of coastal rainforest in East Africa covering 24,000 hectares.

There is 153 km (95 miles) of roads within this national park. The climate is hot and humid, with an average annual temperature of 24°C (75°F), but the area benefits from coastal breezes which also create mist in the mornings.

0700 Hours: Depart from your hotel after breakfast and drive to Shimba National Park. (Kindly note: We can pick you up from Malindi, Watamu, Mombasa North Coast, Diani beach, or Mombasa Airport).

The drive from Diani Beach takes about forty-five minutes to Shimba Hills National Reserve.  The scenic route takes you through lush coconut and cashew nuts plantations and the colorful villages of the Digo people.

0800 Hours: Arrival at Shimba Hills Park and proceed on a game drive. Shimba Hills National Reserve is the last remnants of tropical rainforest just outside Mombasa.

Attractions to see on this 1 day at Shimba Hills Safari include casuarinas forests, Marere Dam (a water hole where animals come to drink water), and Sheldrick Waterfalls. The landscape is grassland. Animals seen in this area include elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, impalas, hartebeest, rare leopards, black and white monkeys, attractive sable antelopes, and roan antelopes.

Bird species include tropical guinea fowls, fish eagles, falcons, and weaver birds among others.

1000 Hours: You visit Sheldrick Waterfalls. This includes a walk which takes around 30 minutes to descend and 45 minutes return and is recommended only for the more energetic. The walk is accompanied by a ranger as you may see blue monkeys, buffalo, and elephants on the way.

1200 Hours: Drive to Shimba Lodge for lunch. Shimba Hills Lodge (One of the treetop hotels in the coastal region where you have a chance to see animals at the water hole)

1400 Hours: After lunch, depart for another game-drive

1600 Hours: Exit the park and drive back to Mombasa. Drop off at your hotel/ residence.

Mombasa 1-Day Tours Shimba Hills National Reserve Safari Rates Includes:

Lunch at Shimba Hills Lodge + Professional English-speaking guides + All entry fees, guide fees, service charges, and taxes + Mombasa 1 Day Tours Shimba Hills National Reserve Safari & Pickup from your hotel in Mombasa and drop-off to your hotel

Notes

* Pick up from hotels in the South Coast Hotels. Extra charge for pick up from North Coast Hotels
* This safari is conducted in a 4×4 Toyota Land-cruiser or a safari mini vehicle with a pop-up roof

Mombasa 1-Day Tours Shimba Hills National Reserve Safari Rates Do Not Include:

* Drinks
* Laundry
* 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)

Shimba Hills National Reserve is known for its beautiful lush green vegetation, forested landscape, sharp slopes, and steep valleys.  This is where you may see the rare sable antelope and many birds on your visit.

The best views are from the eastern side of the park, near Giriama Point, as the animals move towards the rivers to drink. Pengo Hill is 450m (1476 feet) high and offers a magnificent view of the local landscape. Elephants may be viewed through binoculars. The Tsavo plains can also be seen, along with Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day, and ocean views as far as Chale Island.

One of the main attractions to the Shimba Hills is the impressive Sheldrick Falls, which cascade 25m (82 feet) over the escarpment. There is a scenic 2km (1 mile) footpath that takes up to an hour to walk each way.

Take a hat, sunscreen, and water to drink, and keep a sharp lookout for elephants. A ranger will accompany hikers anytime between 1000 Hours to 1500 Hours daily. Sheldrick Falls is an idyllic spot for a cool swim and a picnic.

The park has the last breeding herd of beautiful sable antelope in Kenya. They are among Kenya’s largest antelope, with black coats and long, scimitar-shaped horns, which they were hunted for. They may be seen grazing early or late in the day around Buffalo Ridge.

There are more than 600 elephants in the park and a fenced elephant corridor links the park with the elephant sanctuary at Mwaluganje Forest. In addition to elephants, there are also buffalo, waterbucks, hyenas, warthogs, leopards, baboons, and monkeys. Masai giraffes and ostriches have also been reintroduced to the park.

There are many birds, including 111 different recorded species. There are even more birds to be seen during the spring migration. Bird shooting is only permitted outside the reserve. Some unique things to do at Shimba Hills National Park include taking a guided night drive. You may see leopards and cheetahs, and will certainly hear the hyenas howl in the eerie darkness.

You can also buy a unique souvenir at the gates, a piece of paper that is handmade from elephant dung!

1. Where is Shimba Hills National Reserve located?

Shimba Hills National Reserve is located 40 km from Mombasa. The park is 74 Square Miles in size and access to the Park is via Diani South Coast.

2. What to see around Shimba Hills National Reserve

Shimba Hills National Highlights and Attractions include:
* It is known for its herds of Elephants
* Scenic viewpoints and five picnic areas
* Visit the Mwalunganje Elephant Sanctuary
* The only place in Kenya you can see Sable Antelope
* Guided forest walks up to the scenically beautiful Sheldrick Falls
* Home to a variety of wildlife including Endangered Sable Antelope, Elephants, Giraffes, Leopard, Genet, Civet cats, Hyenas, Waterbuck, Bushpig, Buffalo, African Bush Baby, Bushbuck, Coastal Black and white Colobus, Blue Duiker, Bush Duiker, Red Duiker, Greater Galago, Black-faced Vervet Monkey, Sykes Monkey, Serval cat, Black, and Red Shrew etc.

3. What can I see and do in Shimba Hills National Reserve?

Things to Do at Shimba Hills Reserve include:
* Admiring 2 of Kenya’s Most Beautiful Orchids: Shimba Hills National Reserve is where you can still see two of the most impressive orchids in Kenya which are endemic to this reserve
* See the Last of the Kenyan Sable Antelope: Shimba Hills National Reserve provides a sanctuary for the last breeding herd of the locally endemic sable antelope in Kenya. The antelope gets its name from the distinctive sable-shaped white and black marks on its face and horns
* See Kenya’s Highest Density of Forest Elephants: The elephant population at Shimba is so high that the reserve cannot accommodate them. Other animals you are likely to see are the waterbuck, bushbuck, hyena, warthog, serval, duiker, suni, and bushpig. The Maasai giraffe and the ostrich were reintroduced in the park although the reintroduction of impalas and zebras was unsuccessful
* Spot Rare Birds: Out of the over 111 bird species that live at the Shimba Hills National Reserve, 22 are endemic to the area and threatened. Some birds you are likely to see here include the Ground Thrush, Crowned Eagle, Flycatcher, Sokoke Pipit, and Fischer’s Turaco
* See Rare Vegetation: More than 1,100 different plant species thrive at Shimba. Two hundred eighty of these exist nowhere else but in this park. Nineteen of them are rare
* Take a Cold Shower at Sheldrick Falls: Sheldrick Falls is a must-visit at the park. It is a 2 km walk along a marked footpath that is best done in the company of a Kenya Wildlife Service ranger because elephants and a few buffalo occasionally show up. If you are the bold type, then a cold shower of fresh spring water under the falls might crown the trip for you. You can even swim safely in the refreshing water pool or have a picnic by the cascades on the sand
* Visit Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary: When the elephant population at Shimba Hills National Reserve became a problem, the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary provided a solution. The sanctuary offers a route for the elephants to leave the reserve and reduce incidences of human-wildlife conflicts
* Camp and Picnic at the Reserve: If you need to stay longer, you can camp at the Makadara and Professional campsites. The former takes 50 campers and the latter, 100.

4. What is the best time to visit Shimba Hills National Reserve?

The best time to visit Shimba Hills National Reserve is between June and September which is the dry season. During this time the weather is mild and dry which makes it perfect for hiking and wildlife spotting. As Shimba Hills National Reserve is situated slightly inland from the coast, it is cooler and the landscape is often shrouded in mist in the morning. The reserve has a warm tropical climate and a mean annual temperature of 24 °C.

5. Is Shimba Hills National Reserve a safe destination for tourists?

Shimba Hills National Reserve is a very safe destination for visitors to Kenya.

6. Where to find accommodation in Shimba Hills National Reserve?

You can find accommodation at Shimba Hills Lodge located 7 km from Shimba Hills National Reserve and offers accommodation with a balcony, as well as a bar and a terrace.  There are also other hotels and places to stay in Shimba Hills National Reserve such as Serenity Beach Villa, Asha Boutique Hotel, and The Maji Beach Boutique Hotel. You can also camp at the Makadara and Professional campsites.

7. How can I get to Shimba Hills National Reserve from Mombasa?

You can get to Shimba Hills National Reserve from Mombasa by taking a car ferry from Mombasa to Likoni and then driving from Likoni to Shimba Hills National Reserve. The Shimba Hills National Reserve is a small National Reserve in the former Coast Province of Kenya, 33 km from Mombasa and 15 km from the coast. The reserve is an area of coastal rainforest, woodland, and grassland.

Located just 40km from Mombasa, the reserve is ideal for a day visit and contains one of the largest coastal forests in East Africa.

8. What animals will visitors see at Shimba Hills National Reserve?

Shimba Hills has a big population of elephants. They disappear easily into the forest and close-up sightings are not guaranteed, but an eagle’s eye view over the forest from one of the lookout points – especially Elephant Hill – often proves productive.

Other wildlife that can be found at Shimba Hills includes the endangered Sable Antelope, Giraffes, Leopard, Genet, Civet cat, Hyenas, Waterbuck, Bushpig, Buffalo, African Bush Baby, Bushbuck, Black and white Colobus and Blue Duiker. 

Also found here are the Red Duiker, Greater Galago, Black-faced Vervet Monkey, Sykes Monkey, Serval cat, Black, and Red Shrew, and Knob-bristled Suni Shrew.

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