Mombasa Backpackers Hotel

I found Mombasa Backpackers to be a restful place, with great people, and great management.

And it is just a short 5 minute walk down to the beach, where there is great water sports to partake in.

The food in the Backpackers was very tasty, with a lot of variety, including great Burgers and Mexican food.

The best amenities included:

Great base if you want to explore the coastal strip, it is easily accessible to the beach, supermarket/ mall, park and movie theater(cinemax), and the town centre.


Friendly and helpful staff will ensure a comfy stay, will summon you a taxi/ tuktuk, and will even do your laundry at an affordable fee.

Warning: you may not want to leave the place when it's time to move on. It's not uncommon to hear people who intended to stay a couple of days but ended up spending several weeks there :-)

Other Beach Rentals and Vacation Villas

The first thing to say about this place is that it is insanely convenient to get to!

It is a short walk (5 min)from the big Nakumatt supermarket (Kenya's largest chain so EVERY local knows it) on the main North/South coast road.

The compound itself is tucked nicely out of the way on a smart residential street in the Mombasa suburb of Nyali.

On arriving i was assisted by owner and host David, a charismatic Peruvian ex pat who has a great hands on approach to running the hostel which ensures it has a nice sharp professional feel to it.

David is assisted by a a small locally employed staff who take care of the place. There is a wide variety of dorm rooms of differing bed numbers and a few private rooms.

The dorm i was in had clean sheets on the bunk beds with mosquito nets and two fans (floor and ceiling) to ensure you stay cool at night. facilities included...

Food: a great range of meals from 200 - 500ksh/-

Bar: it was the most diverse and impressive selection of beer i've seen!

Internet & tech: wi-fi 24/7, and it's free! Tech charging is free and there's a docking station for anything with the pre-fix i with good speakers for when festivities are in effect

pool: super clean, warm and a great asset... you can even do trial dives with the local diving company.

Bathrooms: numerous with hot showers and baths for you ladies / hygiene obsessed

Other: a book exchange / selection of games / take away menu's / taxi & transport connections with reputable safe local providers / links into a lot of cool other things to do like safaris rafting etc.

Over all i reckon this place rocks... it's modeled on the better backpackers hostels I've stayed in over the years as a kayaking nomad. Its sharp where it needs to be, mellow where it should be, striking a professional balance unique in Kenya... stoked to have found you!