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[ 13 Day Safari [ The Best of East Africa ] ] - [ Air Safari ] - [ The Coast & Mombasa ]

COASTLINE SAFARI

Sun, sea and sand are the three attractions to Kenya's tropical coastal beaches. Stretching 480 Km from Somalia in the north to Tanzania in the south and fronting the Indian Ocean, Kenyan Coast is known for its fine sable-white sand beaches and resorts, and itàs associated with even-tempered weather. The hot and humid weather is pleasantly cooled by the monsoon trade winds blowing off the Indian Ocean.

Visitors can go sunbathing on the white beaches, snorkeling and goggling, have boat rides in the deep waters in glass bottomed boats so as to see most of the marine life, go for scuba and deep sea diving guided by professional divers. Deep-sea fishing can be done in several parts of the coast.

With remarkably white sandy beaches and the warm blue waters of the Indian Ocean, the Kenya coastline stretches from Lamu in the north to Shimoni in the south. Here your dreams of sunbathing, water sports, fishing, watching the enormous marine life, come true. The main attractions on the mainland include the "Mamba village" (a crocodile farm), the historic sites of Fort Jesus and the Old Town, the Marine Park and the untouched culture of the indigenous people.

MYSTIC ISLAND - MOMBASA

Mombasa, the second largest city in Kenya, is built on an island and is the country's principal port. This colourful city combines a blend of the ancient and the modern and is one of the most interesting and picturesque historic centres in East Africa. Sightseeing on the island includes the Dhow harbour and the old Arab town with its maze of twisting alleys, ancient mosques and old houses with massive carved doors and over-hanging balconies. Our tour includes a visit to the pink walled Fort Jesus, which was built by the Portugese in 1593 as a stronghold against the Arabs. The fort is now a national monument and houses an interesting museum. The tour ends with a visit to the Akamba wood carvers and a short shopping expedition in the colourful bazaar.

Whitesands Hotel:

This hotel, located on Bamburi Beach, enjoys the longest sea-front on the east African coast. Whitesands provides a range of facilities and quality service that sets it amongst the best resort properties worldwide. These include air-con in all guest rooms, five swimming pools, four restaurants including an open air grill, floodlit tennis courts, a watersports centre with PADI and SSI rating and 24-hour room service.

Indian Ocean Beach Club:

This hotel overlooks the powder-white sand of the Diani Beach and Tiwi River estuary in the South Coast. Surrounding the main building, is the makuti (thatched) deluxe club guest rooms facing the beach. The rooms are air conditioned with mosquito nets. A swimming pool, water sports, deep-sea fishing and scuba diving are some of the facilities available to guests.

Africana Sea Lodge:

This hotel is also situated on Diani Beach. The lodge faces the Indian Ocean and the coral reef which provides safe, protected bathing, shallow swimming, exceptional snorkelling and windsurfing. Africana Sea Lodge comprises of groups of thatched roof cottages known as rondavels which in total give the lodge its unique African village ambience. The comfortably furnished two roomed cottages, many with communicating doors, have individual verandahs, twin beds, air-conditioning and attractive bathrooms with showers. Activities include floodlit tennis courts, a squash court, volleyball, windsurfing and deep-sea diving. In the evenings guests are entertained by a band and local tribal dance performances.

Mombasa Serena:

Situated on the palm-fringed Shanzu Beach, North Coast, with dazzling white sands overlooking the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean coral reef. The beach and reef environments are protected as a marine park. The style of the Hotel is inspired by the ancient Swahili town of Lamu with the architecture being based on those of a 13th Century Arab Coastal town. Rooms are decorated in traditional Lamu/Arab style, each with its own breezy balcony with a view over rustling palms and blazing bougainvillea blossom. Facilities include a watersports center with professional tutors on hand for windsurfing, catamaran rides, deep-sea fishing, mini-sailing, coral garden goggling, scuba diving lessons, beach volleyball, swimming pool, table tennis, darts and board games galore. Serena Beach Hotel offers excellent cuisine. It is the only member of "The Leading Hotels of the World" on the Kenya's Coast. Harper’s & Queen also feature the hotel as one of the 100 finest hotels in the world.

LAMU ISLAND

Lamu is where the visitor is transported back through time to a way of life much as it was 600 years ago. Little has changed, and by visiting Lamu, it is easy to see how life must once have been in all the great trading posts of the East African coastline. The unchanged architecture of the houses, a series of open plan galleries almost always without doors and interior courtyards ensuring shade from the tropical sun and calm from the bustling streets outside, kept secret by enormous intricately carved doors.

The Lamu area contains some of the world’s last truly deserted tropical beaches and islands, traditional crafts, exotic shopping for bargain hunters and a glimpse of a contented way of life that has remained unchanged for centuries.

Kipungani Bay:

The hotel is private and extremely low-keyed. The cottages, " grass villas", are well spaced to give privacy. The floors and the walls are made from local palm leaf mats and the roofs are thatched. Rooms have no doors or windows which enables one enjoy the breeze from the bedside, a ceiling fan to keep cool at night. The rooms are also fitted with mosquito nets. A swimming pool is available. The place is rustic and natural, ideal for letting the breeze and view be part you.

Island Hotel:

Situated in the centre of Shela Village, The Island Hotel is only four minutes walk from the fabulous Shela Beach. Decorated in traditional Swahili style, the hotel offers 15 rooms with private bathrooms, including three family rooms and a Penthouse. All rooms have fans and mosquito nets.

Peponi Hotel:

Peponi is situated on Lamu Island’s Shela Beach. The beach starts after a five minute walk from Shela village and it is a reason why people return to Lamu again and again - seven miles of golden sands that are never crowded, with a sea which is clean and ideal for swimming, surfing, diving, windsurfing, skiing, fishing or boating.

SHIMBA HILLS

Less than an hour drive from Mombasa are the forested Shimba hills. Over a thousand feet high the hills offer panoramic views of the Indian Ocean to the East and the African bush to the West. This National reserve with its thick forests, streams and waterfalls is best known as being the only place in Kenya where you might see the rare sable antelope. Other animals in the park include roan antelope, buffalo and elephant. There is also a wide variety of birdlife. Our trip to the cool, fresh air of these hills make a pleasant change from the beach. Lunch back at your hotel.

SHIMBA TRAILS

Day One: You will be collected from your hotel and driven into forested Shimba hills to the overnight game viewing lodge. This pleasant lodge has been ingeniously built into the forest rather like a glorious treehouse. You arrive in time for tea and sundowners which you can enjoy whilst watching the animals at water hole. All around are exotic trees, birds and monkeys. Flood-lights illuminate the water hole at night Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day Two: Pre-breakfast game drive in the Shimba Hills Game Reserve where you should be able to see elephant, buffalo, antelope, reedbuck, bushbuck, duiker and colobus monkeys. You might even be lucky enough to spot a rare sable antelope. Return to the Lodge for breakfast, before departing for Mombasa, where you will be taken back to your hotel arriving before lunch.

MALINDI

Drive north from Mombasa to Kilifi. You drive past extensive sisal fields dotted with gaint primeval Baobab trees. Cross the placid waters of Kilifi Creek and continue to Gedi where you can wander among the extenstive ruins of an ancient 13th Century town set in the heart of a dense forest. These mysterious ruins include palaces, mosques, houses and archways. The tour continues on to Malindi which is a typical Arab/African coastal town and one of Kenya's most popular holiday resorts. We take glass bottomed boats to the Marine national park to admire the coral gardens and the brillantly coloured tropical fish. (Remember to bring swimsuits and beach shoes.) After lunch at a beach hotel, we visit a Giriama village to watch traditional drumming and dancing and then return to Mombasa before sunset.

MOMBASA EXCURSIONS

Our tours picks out some of the highlights of this colourful city including the bustling fruit and vegetable market, The Old Town and Port, Fort Jesus, The Famous Elephant Tusks in Moi Avenue and The Akamba wood carvers centre. After the City Tour, return to the hotel for lunch.

OPTION 2: VISIT MAMBA VILLAGE

Afternoon transfer to a haven of reptiles (Africas Largest Crocodile Farm). Best visit is during the feeding time at 5.00 p.m. Also in the farm are beautiful botanical gardens which are worthy to be given a visit.

OPTION 3: DISCOVER MOMBASA BY NIGHT (DINNER IN THE CASTLE

Pick up from the hotel at 5.30 p.m. and taken to a romantic dhow sundowner cruise. Sail past the old port to Fort Jesus for the sound and light show. Dinner at the Fort and then you will be dropped to the hotel at around 10.00 p.m. (half night). Alternatively after dinner you will be taken to a Casino and play for 30 minutes- 1 hour and later driven to Bora-Bora Night Club for the mid-night show. You will be dropped at the hotel at around 1.30 a.m.

OPTION 4: TAMARIND EVENING DHOW

You will be picked up from the hotel. Take an evening cruise aboard a traditional dhow and enjoy the perfect combination of good food, music and romantic atmosphere on this leisurely cruise in Mombasa Old Habour. Highlights include asumptuous seafood meal, dancing under the stars and a gentle sail past the peaceful creeks of Mombasa Island.

OPTION 5: NGOMONGO (CULTURAL TOUR)

Drive to the "Ngomongo Village", a miniature reflection of tribal community groundings. Sample their lifestyles and culture in the different tribal huts and catch a real life glimpse of what may have been before "Civilization set in". A number of traditional huts serving different tribal groundings have been recreated in this theme village. Watch or participate in the traditional food preparation, sample the various local brews and marvel or participate in the tribal dances. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

OPTION 6: FULL DAY WASINI ISLAND & KISITE SEA ADVENTUTE

Welcome to a day of ultimate pleasure in the richest Marine Park in the Kenyan Coast. In the early morning depart for the tranquil fishing village of Shimoni close to the Tanzanian border. The scenic route takes you through lush coconut and cashewnuts plantations and the colourful villages of the Digo people.

At Shimoni jet board an authentic motorised Lamu dhow, which cruise and sail you through an enchanting seascape of Islands to the underwater splendours of the Kisite Marine Park. Here snorkellers will marvel at the incredible variety of marine life in the shallow and warm waters around Kisite Island; the venue for numerous birds.

We escort Scuba divers to explore a number of excellent dive sites, also teemeing with an astounding variety of Marine life which inhabit the magnificent coral reefs in and around the park.
A sumptuous Swahili style seafood lunch is served in Wasini Island restaurant. Thereafter visit the traditional Muslim village. After an unforgettable day on and around the Islands. We return you to your hotel in the late afternoon.

OPTION 7: DOLPHIN SEA ADVENTURE

Early morning departure from the hotel. The scenic route takes you through lush coconut and cashewnut plantations and the colourful villages of the Digo people.
On arrival at Shimoni Jetty, board a motorised glass bottomed Lamu dhow (boat) which will sail you through an enchanting seascape of islands to the richest marine park in Kenya (Kisite).
Being escorted by Dolphin experts makes this more than a dhow trip. Our knowledge makes a meeting with the friendly local Dolphins a real probability. It is in their natural Coral garden where we will snorkel and marvel at the prolific marine life. A traditional Suptious Sea food lunch will be served on board to ensure maximum time for Dolphin spotting sland exploring provides good vantage points overlooking the Dolphin's play
Grounds and leisurely sailing provides tranquil silence to listen out for Dolphin. Whistles blowing off the sea later. You are transfered to shimoni jetty for your transfer back to the hotel. Arrive in the hotel late in the afternoon.

OPTION 8: NATURE TRAIL PARK

Depart after lunch for the Bamburi Quarry Nature Trail. The wasteland of the stone quarry has been reclaimed and amongst the casuarina trees and other tropical flora reside a variety of wildlife and birds. Eland and buffalo, crocodiles and other reptiles can be seen wandering with crowned cranes. The commercially viable aquaculture complex is also visited.

OPTION 9: DEEP SEA FISHING (Half Day Fishing / Full Day ,Nightfishing)

DEEP SEA FISHING FOR BEGINNERS AND PROFESSIONALS, FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

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