An alternative route to the South Coast - safe, scenic . . . and without traffic jams.

The fastest way to get from Nairobi to the South Coast, of course, is by flying to Ukunda/Diani Beach (see previous page). Driving down by car is a whole day's trip, but at least you need not necessarily pass through Mombasa. You can avoid the notorious traffic jams and the Likoni ferry bottleneck by branching off Mombasa Highway in Samburu, and then driving through the Shimba Hills.

 

The 50 km stretch up to Kinango has been completely tarred by mid-2020: the driving time now is  just 45 minutes. Nevertheless, the whole trip from Samburu to Ukunda might still take you  2 h 1/2 hours.

 

If you want to do the trip in one day: make sure that you leave Nairobi in the very early morning, so that you are out of the city before rush hour. It will take you about 5 to 6 hours on the A109 to reach Samburu, 424 km from Nairobi. Here you branch off to the right. The picture below shows the tarmac road at Vigurungani.

 

In Kinango please turn left at the T-junction and shortly after to the right, then passing by the market place and a petrol station.

The remaining bumpy 23 km to Kwale will lead you towards the Shimba Hills, up the slopes and towards the main gate of the National Park. Roadworks started here, too, but were still unfinished by mid-2024. Especially behind Mwache Dam, the uphill track towards Kwale Town is challenging in rainy season (4x4 only!).

In Kwale and downhill towards the ocean you are on tarmac again, for the remaining 50 km. When you reach the coast road A14 at Kombani, turn right, pass through Ukunda, and from there it is just 25 minutes more to Msambweni.

Nairobi-Msambweni: km + hrs

via Mombasa: 536 km, 8 - 10 hours*

via Shimba Hills: 544 km, 8  hours

 

*depending on the waiting time at the ferry

google calculations differ slightly from personal readings

 


Directions within Msambweni

Branch off the Mombasa - Tanzania road (A14) at Msambweni police station, and drive 1 ½  km into the village (direction: Hospital).

Turn left at the first tarmac junction (direction: Kenya Medical Training Centre, KMTC), and immediately turn right after the sports ground at the zebra crossing. Turn right again after 200 m at the MBB sign board and follow the dust road for 500 m to our gate. If you get lost, ask for Club Salima – that is our well-known neighbour.

 

Note: google maps shows a route that turns off 200 m after the KMTC junction, at one point trespassing a private property (but without problems).