2-Day Taita Hills Safari from Mombasa: Salt Lick Lodge

You hunt for big cats at sunrise and watch nocturnal animals from an underground observatory at night.

A 2-day private safari from Mombasa to Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary with an overnight stay at Salt Lick Safari Lodge. Day one includes a 5-6 hour drive from Mombasa, a midday game drive, lunch at Taita Hills Lodge, and an afternoon drive to Salt Lick with access to its underground observatory before dinner. Day two starts with an early morning game drive to spot predators at hunt, then breakfast and the return drive to Mombasa by sunset.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel and game drives in Taita Hills

• Pick up from Mombasa hotel at 6:30am
• Short break for refreshments at 8:30am
• Drive through Voi and Wundanyi towns
• Arrive at Taita Hills Sanctuary at 11:00am
• Short game drive in sanctuary
• Lunch at Taita Hills Lodge
• Relax in lodge lounge
• Game drive en route to Salt Lick Safari Lodge
• Visit underground observatory at Salt Lick
• Dinner and overnight at Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Day 2: Morning game drive and return to Mombasa

• Early morning coffee
• Early morning game drive
• Return to lodge for breakfast by 8:30am
• Midmorning relaxation until 10:00am
• Depart sanctuary
• Lunch in Voi town
• Drive back to Mombasa hotel before sunset
• End of tour

The experience

Pickup from your Mombasa hotel happens at 6:30am, and the drive to Taita Hills takes about 5-6 hours with a refreshment break around 8:30am. You pass through Voi and Wundanyi towns before arriving at the sanctuary around 11:00am for your first game drive. The 28,000-acre reserve sits adjacent to Tsavo West National Park and holds herds of elephants, buffalo, giraffes, gazelles, and the big cats (leopard, lion and cheetah) that make the early morning and late afternoon the best hunting hours.

After two hours of game driving, you check into Taita Hills Lodge for lunch and a rest. The lodge sits on a hilltop with views across the sanctuary. In the afternoon, you drive onward to Salt Lick Safari Lodge, your overnight base, and spend time at its underground observatory before dinner. The observatory sits below ground level, letting you watch the waterhole from inside while nocturnal animals come to drink after dark. A vantage point you cannot get from above ground.

Day two starts before dawn with coffee, then an early game drive to catch the cats hunting in the first light and watch the sunrise. You return by 8:30am for a full breakfast, rest until 10:00am, then depart the sanctuary for the drive back. Lunch is in Voi town on the way, and you arrive back at your Mombasa hotel before sunset. The guide speaks English throughout, and children from age 6 are welcome.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Mombasa to Taita Hills and back.
• all park fees and taxes.
• dinner on day one and breakfast on day two.
• access to the Salt Lick Safari Lodge underground observatory.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day35 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 23:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 95 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 14 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by LiReise Tour Safari Experts

Is this one for you?Book this overnight tour if you want to time your game drives with peak wildlife activity (early morning and late afternoon) rather than midday hours. The private format means your guide adjusts the route and pace to where animals are spotted, and the two-day length lets you hunt for predators at dawn, rest at midday, and watch the waterhole from underground after dark, a rhythm a single-day trip cannot fit.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What animals will I see on the game drives in Taita Hills?

Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary holds cape buffalo, African bush elephants, leopards, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, hartebeest, impala, waterbuck, Thomson's gazelle, lesser kudu and a wide variety of birdlife. The early morning and late afternoon drives time your presence with when the big cats hunt and when herds are most active.

What is the Salt Lick Safari Lodge underground observatory?

The underground observatory at Salt Lick lets you watch the waterhole from below ground level, giving you a unique vantage point to see nocturnal animals that come to drink after dark without disturbing them or being seen.

How long is the drive from Mombasa to Taita Hills?

The drive takes about 5-6 hours from your Mombasa hotel pickup at 6:30am, with a refreshment break around 8:30am. You arrive at Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary around 11:00am, in time for your first game drive.

When do I return to Mombasa on the second day?

After an early morning game drive, breakfast, and a midmorning rest at the lodge, you depart around 10:00am. Lunch is in Voi town on the return route, and you arrive back at your Mombasa hotel before sunset.

Is this tour private or shared with other travelers?

This is a private safari, so your group travels and game drives alone with your guide rather than sharing a vehicle with other bookings.