Taita Hills & Salt Lick Safari: 2-Day Game Drives from Mombasa

Summary

Stay above the waterhole at Salt Lick Lodge and watch wildlife in Taita Hills

You’ll leave Mombasa early for game drives through Ngutuni Sanctuary and Taita Hills with a local guide who knows every story behind these lands. Watch elephants gather below your stilted lodge at Salt Lick, wake up to bird calls instead of alarms, and share meals overlooking wild watering holes. It’s an overnight safari that lingers long after you’re back in city traffic.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Travel and game drives at Taita Hills

• Meet driver and depart hotel at 6am
• Drive north towards Nairobi
• Enter Ngutuni Sanctuary for game drive
• Lunch at Ngutuni Lodge by waterhole
• Proceed to Taita Hills Sanctuary
• Arrive at Salt Lick Lodge
• Afternoon game drive in Taita Hills
• Dinner at the lodge

Day 2 — Morning game drive and return

• Early morning game drive in Sanctuary
• Return to lodge for breakfast
• Short game drive after breakfast
• Lunch at Taita Hills Lodge
• Drive back to Mombasa hotel

Top questions

How long is the safari from Mombasa to Taita Hills?

The drive from Mombasa to Taita Hills takes several hours with stops for game drives along the way; expect early morning departure and evening return on day two.

Is hotel pickup included for this safari?

Yes, pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Mombasa are included in the tour price.

What animals can I expect to see on this safari?

You may see elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, and many bird species during game drives in Ngutuni Sanctuary and Taita Hills.

Are meals provided during the 2-day safari?

All meals are included: lunch and dinner on day one; breakfast and lunch on day two.

Where do we stay overnight?

You can choose between Taita Hills Safari Lodge or Salt Lick Safari Lodge overlooking a wildlife waterhole.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes, park fees and government taxes are included in your booking.

Is filtered water available on safari?

Filtered water is available in the safari vehicle; bring your own reusable bottle for refills.

Is this safari suitable for children?

The minimum age is 7 years old; not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal/cardiac issues.

What’s included

Your overnight safari includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Mombasa, shared game drives with an English-speaking guide (other languages available by request), all park entry fees and government taxes covered, plus overnight accommodation at either Taita Hills or Salt Lick Lodge with all meals provided—just bring your own refillable water bottle for filtered water during drives.

What’s the experience like?

“You’re not going to believe this,” I said, squinting out the window as our driver, Patrick, slowed down. A herd of elephants was just standing there, dust swirling around their ankles. We’d left Mombasa before sunrise—honestly, I barely remember the first hour except for the smell of strong coffee and that weirdly comforting rattle of the old highway. When we finally rolled into Ngutuni Sanctuary, it felt like stepping into a different world. Patrick pointed out giraffes picking at thorny trees and told us about how this land used to be full of railway workers and—okay, he got kind of dark—man-eating lions. I laughed but also checked my window locks. Lunch was at Ngutuni Lodge, right by a waterhole where zebras just wandered up like it was nothing.

The drive to Taita Hills after lunch was quieter—everyone sort of lost in their own thoughts or napping. The landscape changed again; more hills now, green patches breaking up the red earth. When we pulled up to Salt Lick Lodge (yes, the one on stilts), I didn’t expect how close you actually get to the animals. There’s this tunnel under the lodge where you can watch them come in for water—so close you hear them breathing if you’re quiet. Dinner tasted smoky and rich; maybe it was just being tired and hungry but honestly everything hit different out here. At some point that night I woke up to silence so thick it felt heavy—a weird comfort after city noise.

Next morning’s game drive started before sunrise (again). My brain wasn’t fully awake until Patrick pointed out Kilimanjaro’s snowy tip in the distance—he said it’s rare to see it so clear. The air smelled sharp and cold for Kenya. We saw lions lounging like they owned the place (they kind of do), and flocks of birds darting through acacia branches. After breakfast back at the lodge, there was time for one last drive through Taita before heading back toward Mombasa—I think everyone was a little quieter on the way home, still chewing over what we’d seen or maybe just full from all those meals.