Mombasa 1 Day Tours Shimba Hills National Reserve Safari

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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 56 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 33 kilometers (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 charge,s 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

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!