A 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa gives beach visitors a taste of the bush without a long trip. You sleep in a lodge built on stilts, with elephants at the waterhole below your window.
- FromUSD 430per person sharing, budget tier, 6 people, low season
- Duration2 days, 1 night
- StartsMombasa, Diani or Nairobi SGR arrivals
- Best forCoast holidaymakers who want one night of real bush with elephants at the window
- StylePrivate 4×4, your own driver guide
Rated 5.0 on Google from 46 reviews. Price confirmed in writing before you pay.
You travel from Mombasa or Diani in a private pop up roof 4×4 with a driver guide. The route runs inland to the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, a private reserve beside Tsavo. You take two game drives and enjoy an evening at the waterhole.
This page covers the plan, price tiers, park fees, the best months and the choices that make a 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa worthwhile.
Highlights
- A lodge on stilts overlooking a floodlit waterhole
- Elephants and buffalo at close range from your balcony
- Game drives in the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary beside Tsavo
- Pickup from Mombasa, Diani or Voi
- One night only, so it fits a beach holiday
- Private 4×4 with a pop up roof
Day by day plan
- Day 1
Mombasa or Diani to Taita Hills
You leave Diani at 6 am or Mombasa at 7 am and drive inland on the Nairobi highway through Voi, about 3 to 4 hours. You reach the sanctuary for lunch at the lodge. After a short rest you take an afternoon game drive for elephant, buffalo, giraffe and plains game. At dusk you return to the lodge and watch the waterhole from the terrace as animals come to drink. Dinner follows, with the waterhole lit through the evening. Your guide stays nearby to answer questions and point out the animals and you can sit out on the terrace as long as you like.
- Day 2
Morning game drive and back to the coast
You rise early for a sunrise game drive when the animals are most active. You may see lion, lesser kudu and hartebeest. After breakfast you check out and drive back to Mombasa or Diani, about 3 to 4 hours. You reach the coast by mid afternoon, in time for a swim. You can also ask for a drop at Voi for the SGR train to Nairobi, which suits guests continuing inland. Your 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa ends with a coastal sunset.
2 Day Salt Lick Safari From Mombasa, guide price per person sharing, USD, low season
| Tier | 2 people | 4 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | USD 550 | USD 470 | USD 430 |
| Mid range | USD 600 | USD 520 | USD 480 |
| Luxury | USD 670 | USD 590 | USD 540 |
- Guide price per person sharing, confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before any payment
- Low season (Apr to Jun, Nov) shown, with sanctuary fees about USD 40
- Jul to Oct and Dec add about USD 30 to 70 per person for lodge rates
- Tiers describe room type and lodge level, since luxury options near Tsavo are limited
Get my exact price on WhatsApp
Reserve this trip
Pick your dates and group. See the total. Hold it with a deposit.
Pay by Mpesa, bank transfer or card once we confirm in writing. Free changes until you confirm.
Included
- Private pop up roof 4×4 Land Cruiser with a driver guide
- 1 night accommodation on full board
- Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary fees
- Two game drives and bottled water in the vehicle
- Return transfers from Mombasa or Diani
Not included
- International flights and your Kenya ETA
- Tips for your driver guide and lodge staff
- Alcohol and drinks outside meals
- Travel insurance
- Optional extras such as a village visit or a night drive
What a 2 Day Salt Lick Safari From Mombasa Gives You
A 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa is a short, simple trip. You do not need a long holiday, only two days. You leave the beach, spend one night in the bush and return to the sand with photographs.
The highlight is the lodge itself. It stands on stilts above a waterhole, so you can watch elephants, buffalo and antelope from a terrace or room. For a bigger safari, see our 2 day Tsavo East safari from Mombasa.
It also suits travellers with limited energy. The lodge does the work and the animals come to you. A 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa gives older guests and young children a gentle introduction to the bush, with a real bed and hot food waiting.
How Much Does a 2 Day Salt Lick Safari From Mombasa Cost?
Prices start at USD 430 per person for six people sharing a budget tier in low season. Two people in mid range pay about USD 600 each and two people in luxury about USD 670.
The price covers the vehicle, guide, one night on full board and the sanctuary fee. Compare it with our Tsavo East day safari from Mombasa if you only have a single day.
Group size drives the price. Six people split the vehicle six ways, while a couple pays for the same vehicle between two. If you travel as a couple, ask us whether other guests from your hotel want to share a 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa, which cuts the cost.
Fees and What Is Included
The Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is private, so it charges its own entry fee, about USD 40 per person. Confirm the current rate at booking. Children pay less and young children are often free.
Your price already includes the fee, game drives, meals and bottled water. Tips and drinks at the bar are extra. Our Kenya park entry fees guide lists KWS park fees if you want to compare.
Kenyan residents and citizens pay far lower fees and have their own rate sheet. See our Diani packages for residents if you live in Kenya.
Child fees depend on age. Children 8 and under are often free and ages 9 to 17 pay about half. We confirm the exact amount for your family when you request a 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa quote.
The Salt Lick Lodge Experience
The lodge sits on stilts, with walkways linking the rooms. This design keeps you above the animals and it makes the waterhole the main entertainment of the evening.
After dinner, floodlights show elephants, buffalo and, sometimes, hyena and genet. Many guests sit on the terrace with a drink until late. Rooms face the waterhole, though the exact view depends on your room, so ask when you book.
Bring a torch and a warm layer for the terrace, since nights inland feel cooler than the coast. Keep windows and balcony doors closed when you are away, because monkeys are curious and quick.
Wildlife in the Sanctuary
The sanctuary covers about 28,000 acres beside Tsavo East and Tsavo West. It protects elephants, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, eland, lesser kudu, impala and many birds. Lions and leopards live here, but sightings are not guaranteed.
This is dry bush country, so animals gather at water, especially in the dry months. For wider Tsavo options see our 3 day Tsavo East and Amboseli safari from Mombasa.
Dawn is the best time for sightings. The cool air keeps animals moving and the light makes photographs easier. Your guide knows the tracks that lead to waterholes and the shaded thickets where lions rest.
Elephants here are used to vehicles, so they often pass within a few metres of the lodge deck.
Best Time for a 2 Day Salt Lick Safari From Mombasa
Jun to Oct and Jan to Mar are dry, with the best waterhole viewing. Nov and Dec bring short rains and green bush. Apr and May are wettest, with the lowest prices and the lushest scenery.
The area is hot, with day temperatures of 28 to 34 degrees and cooler at night. Read the Kenya safari month by month guide for weather detail.
Because the waterhole is the main attraction, the dry months give the most reliable viewing. In the wet months animals spread out and the bush is thick, so game drives need more patience.
Early mornings are cool, so wear a jacket. By noon the heat builds and animals rest in shade. That is why the lodge terrace works so well in the middle of the day.
Getting There From the Coast
The drive from Mombasa takes 3 to 4 hours, mostly on the Nairobi highway. From Diani, add about an hour for the ferry or the Dongo Kundu bypass. You pass Mariakani, Mackinnon Road and Voi.
You can also arrive by train. The SGR stops at Voi, where we can meet you. Read the SGR Madaraka Express guide for schedules and fares.
Plan for an early start. Leaving the coast by 6 am gets you to the lodge for a late lunch with time for the afternoon drive, which is the best of the day. A later start still works, but cuts the first game drive short.
How This Trip Fits a Beach Holiday
Many guests book a 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa in the middle of a week at Diani. It breaks up beach time and adds variety. Others add it to the end of a week at the coast, or combine it with our Diani Beach holiday packages.
Resident travellers can find similar deals on our Mombasa SGR holiday packages.
Another option is to pair it with a day trip. Our Shimba Hills day trip shows sable antelope and waterfalls closer to the coast and our Mombasa and Diani day trips list more ideas.
What to Pack
Pack light, since you only spend one night. Neutral colours help in the bush and you can leave beach clothes at your hotel.
Leave valuables in your hotel safe and bring a small day bag with a change of clothes, a swimsuit for the lodge pool if it has one and your medicines. Insurance should cover the trip, as with any safari.
- Light long sleeved shirts and trousers
- A warm layer for the early drive
- Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens
- Sunscreen, hat and insect repellent
- Our Kenya safari packing checklist lists more
Book Your 2 Day Salt Lick Safari From Mombasa
Send your dates, hotel and group size on WhatsApp at +254 720 731957. We reply with a written quote and a pickup time.
Dry months and holidays fill fast. Book two to three weeks ahead for most dates and earlier for Christmas and Easter.
If your hotel is far from Mombasa town, tell us the name and we plan the pickup time around it.
We confirm the lodge room type in writing, so you know what you get before you pay. Ask for a room facing the waterhole if the view matters most to you on your 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa.
How to book your 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa
Booking your 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa with us takes about five minutes of your time. The rest is our job. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises along the way.
- Send your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, how many people are coming and the ages of any children. Tell us if you have a budget in mind. We plan with it, not around it.
- Get a written quote. We reply with a clear price per person, what it includes and what it does not. No hidden park fees and no vague extras. If a cheaper camp or a shorter route makes more sense, we say so.
- Tweak it until it fits. Change a camp, add a night or swap a park. Ask as many questions as you like. Changes cost nothing until you confirm.
- Confirm with a deposit. A deposit holds your vehicle, guide and rooms. You get a written confirmation with every detail and the date the balance is due.
- Travel day. Your driver guide meets you at your hotel or the airport with a name board. You have their number and ours for the whole trip.
What every trip with us includes
Every 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa plan we put together comes with the basics done properly. You ride in a safari vehicle with a pop up roof, with a professional driver guide who knows the parks. Water is in the cooler box and park fees are sorted in advance so you do not stand in a queue at the gate.
We also stay reachable. If something changes on the road, a flat tyre, a closed route or a sudden storm, we sort it and keep you posted on WhatsApp.
Paying safely
We share payment details in writing only and every payment gets a receipt. The payment options and the balance date sit on your written quote, so nothing is left to memory or a phone call.
Why book with a Nairobi team
We live here. We drive these roads all year, we know which camps are honest about their photos and we know when a park is too busy to enjoy. That local knowledge is what turns a good 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa into a great one. Our Google rating sits at 5.0 from 46 reviews and we plan to keep it that way.
Ready when you are. Send us a message and we will put a plan together for you shortly.
Questions people ask
How much is a 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa?
Our guide prices start at USD 430 per person for six people in the budget tier in low season. Mid range runs about USD 480 to 600 and luxury about USD 540 to 670. Sanctuary fees are included.
What animals will I see on a 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa?
Elephants and buffalo are the most common at the waterhole, with giraffe, zebra, lesser kudu and antelope in the bush. Lions and leopards appear rarely. Birds are plentiful, with hornbills, rollers and weavers around the lodge garden, so bring your binoculars.
Can I do a 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa from Diani?
Yes. We pick you up from Diani around 6 am. The drive takes about 4 to 5 hours with the ferry or bypass. We return you the next afternoon.
Is a 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa good for children?
Yes. Many children enjoy watching elephants from a terrace. The drive is long, so bring games and snacks. Lodge fees for children are lower and we quote them when you book.
Is a 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa better than Tsavo East?
It is easier and calmer for those who want comfort. You stay at one lodge and watch wildlife from your seat, with less time in the vehicle. Tsavo East has bigger landscapes and more game drive time. See our 2 day Tsavo East safari from Mombasa.
Can I extend a 2 day salt lick safari from Mombasa to three days?
Yes. A third day adds Tsavo East. See our 3 day Tsavo East and Amboseli safari from Mombasa for a longer route.
Official information: Kenya Wildlife Service.
Ready when you are. Send your dates and group size. We reply with a clear price and a plan you can change.
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