Mombasa County sits on the Indian Ocean coast of southeastern Kenya, in East Africa. It takes its name from the historic port city of Mombasa, which anchors the county and gives it much of its character. The county is also the country's main maritime gateway, so ships, cargo and travellers have passed through its harbour for a long time.
What a visit offers
The main reason to come is the coast itself. The county is known for its beaches, which make a natural base for a slower stay by the sea. Alongside them, the historic port city gives visitors a sense of the place's long role as a trading point on the coast.
Because the port is so central to the county, the waterfront has a working feel. Watching the movement of the harbour is one of the more distinctive things a visitor can do here, and it helps explain why the city developed as it did.
Planning your trip
- Plan to spend time both in the historic port city and along the beaches, since they offer different kinds of days.
- Think of the county as a coastal base, with the harbour and the shoreline close together.
- Check local arrangements for getting around before you travel, as transport details vary.
Mombasa County suits travellers who want the mix of an old port city and the Indian Ocean coast in one area of Kenya.