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 freshly done 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. The track is still as red as it can be , and sometimes challenging in rainy season, but road works have started here, too. At the western foot of the Shimba Hills you pass the  Mwache Dam project  - the massive construction is ongoing since early 2020.

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