Exclusive Safaris · Kenya

2-Day Salt Lick Safari from Mombasa

2 daysScheduled group safari

About this journey

Salt Lick Safari Lodge is one of Kenya's most recognisable safari lodges: a cluster of thatched rooms on stilts above a waterhole in the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, linked by walkways and with an underground hide at eye level with the animals. This 2-day Salt Lick safari from Mombasa makes it the centrepiece of a short break from the coast.

The waterhole is the reason to come. Elephants, buffalo and antelope arrive to drink throughout the day and after dark, and from your balcony or the hide you can watch them from just a few metres away. Game drives in the sanctuary add lion, giraffe and zebra against the backdrop of the Taita Hills.

The first day also includes game viewing and lunch in Ngutuni Sanctuary on the boundary of Tsavo East. On day two, after a sunrise drive and a second game drive, you visit the World War I museum at the nearby Taita Hills Safari Resort before returning to the coast.

Best time to go: any time of year. In the dry months, from June to October and January to March, the waterhole is busiest.

Who it suits: photographers, families with young children who enjoy watching animals up close without a long drive, and anyone who has seen photos of the lodge on stilts and wants to stay there. The waterhole means wildlife comes to you, even between game drives.

The rooms are connected by raised walkways above the bush, and the underground hide is reached by a tunnel from the lodge, putting you at eye level with elephants a few metres away. Evenings are the busiest time at the waterhole, so it is worth staying up after dinner.

Highlights

  • Overnight at Salt Lick Safari Lodge, built on stilts above a waterhole
  • Underground hide for eye-level wildlife viewing
  • Ngutuni Sanctuary game drive and lunch
  • World War I museum visit
  • Pick-up from your Mombasa-area resort

What's included

Included

  • Pick-up and drop-off at your Mombasa-area beach resort
  • Transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • Game drives as per itinerary
  • Park and sanctuary entry fees
  • Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
  • World War I museum visit

Not included

  • International flights
  • Kenya eTA and visa fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks, tips and personal expenses

Day by day

  • Early breakfast at your resort and depart Mombasa by road
  • Game viewing in Ngutuni Sanctuary, bordering Tsavo East, with lunch at Ngutuni Lodge
  • Continue to the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary for an afternoon game drive
  • Evening wildlife viewing at the lodge waterhole
  • Meals: Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Where you stay

LocationAccommodation
Taita Hills Wildlife SanctuarySalt Lick Safari Lodge

Questions about this safari

How long is the 2-Day Salt Lick Safari from Mombasa?

2 days and 1 night. It starts in Mombasa and returns to Mombasa.

Is this a private or a shared safari?

It runs as a scheduled safari: you share the vehicle and game drives with other travellers on the same departure, which keeps the price down. We can also run it as a private safari on your own dates.

How do you travel?

By road in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for game viewing and photography.

Where will I stay?

Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary: Salt Lick Safari Lodge.

What is included in the price?

Pick-up and drop-off at your Mombasa-area beach resort, Transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof, Professional English-speaking driver-guide, Game drives as per itinerary, Park and sanctuary entry fees, Accommodation and meals as per itinerary and World War I museum visit.

Are park fees included?

Yes. Park, reserve and conservancy entry fees for every day of the itinerary are included in the price.

How far is Tsavo from Mombasa?

Tsavo East and the Taita Hills are about two and a half to three hours by road from Mombasa; allow a little longer from Diani or the north coast. From Nairobi, Tsavo West is around five hours by road.

Can I see the Big Five on this safari?

Elephant, buffalo and lion are seen on most Tsavo safaris and leopard is possible. Rhino are rare outside the Ngulia sanctuary in Tsavo West.

When is the best time for this safari?

June to October and January to March are dry, so wildlife gathers at the rivers and waterholes. Tsavo is open all year.

Can I customise this itinerary or upgrade the accommodation?

Yes. We can change lodges, add nights or extra parks, and arrange a private version on your own dates.

What should I pack for this safari?

Pack neutral-coloured layers, a warm fleece or jacket for early-morning drives, a sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars and your camera with spare batteries. A soft-sided bag is best, and required on light-aircraft flights.

Do I need a visa for Kenya?

Most visitors need a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), applied for online before travel. Check the requirements for your passport well before you fly.

Can you see animals from Salt Lick Safari Lodge itself?

Yes. The lodge overlooks a floodlit waterhole, and its balconies and underground hide let you watch elephants and other wildlife drinking, day and night, without leaving the lodge.

Destinations on this safari

Kenya’s greatest wildernessTsavoThe Indian Ocean finaleDiani Beach

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