Mombasa Kenya South Coast Hotels - Top 5 Hotels Mombasa South Coast

Heading from Mombassa to the south coast, travelers must take the Likoni ferry. This is usually a hot and colorful experience with little stalls lining the road as you wait for your ferry and a stream of pedestrian traffic in various garbs passing your window. There are bags of cashew nuts for sale, fresh coconuts as thirst quencher-lots of noise and color.

The coast line which extends from Mombasa down to the Tanzanian border is generally less developed than the north coast, the exception being the long stretch of Diani beach which has many tourist hotels.

You will not see the ocean from the road which heads south. Sign-posted roads off to your left lead to the various beaches. In the case of the less developed beaches you will find yourself driving down winding dirt roads under tall coconut palms. You pass little settlements-thatched houses made of coral rock and dried mud, children and chickens in the road, women draped in bright kanga.

Shelly Beach

This is the first beach after the Likoni ferry. The beach is narrow and rather uninviting.

1. Shelly beach hotel

The hotel sports a great deal of concrete. The beach looks unappealing. Plastic loungers surround a crowded pool and there is little shade. The hotel has many facilities to offer and seems to be full of inexpensive package tour groups. Shelly beach hotel is close to the ferry and to Mombasa town.

Tiwi Beach

Tiwi is relatively quiet stretch of beach bordered by private homes and rental cottage complexes. These cottages, some of which have communal pools, are typical self service. There is a camping site which edges the beach and is popular with over Landers. There are fewer foreign tourists here and not as many vendors trying to sell their wares.

2. Minilets

Minilets is a series of individual thatched chalets built on a cliff overlooking Tiwi beach. Nestled in colorful gardens, the chalets each have a private lopsided veranda and are linked to the restaurant and bar by paved paths. The chalets are basic, having neither fans nor hot water. A few chalets have kitchenettes but most guests use the restaurants and the beach bar. There is an interestingly shaped swimming pool and a scuba-diving base.

3. Tiwi Villas

Individual cottages, pool and restaurant

4. Tiwi Sea Castles

Separate cottages set in gardens. Each has kitchen, ensuite bathroom and private veranda. Pool and restaurant. Only steps to the beach.

5. Travellers beach Hotel Tiwi

This large hotel has been completed. It is located in a beautiful spot with lovely sandy beach and not far from Tiwi river mouth.

The promotional material for the hotel promised much: 208 spacious rooms with air-conditioning, overhead fans, hairdryers, 20-inch TVs and minibars. There is banquet and conference facilities, two executive suites, a 24hour coffee shop, five restaurants, five bars, two tennis courts, stables for riding and water sports. Much is made of the spectacular swimming pool which “meanders downhill” and the wonderful view from the main restaurant. Computer and communications systems and internet connections.

Barniom

Mombasa Kenya South Coast Hotels - Top 5 Hotels Mombasa South Coast