BlaakLane.com arranges chauffeur service in Mombasa for Moi International Airport pickups, transfers to the beach strips at Nyali, Bamburi, Diani and beyond, runs to the Port of Mombasa and the Madaraka Express terminus, and hourly business days. The booking engine shows a fixed fare for your trip before you confirm. A vetted local affiliate drives; the confirmation names the operator and chauffeur.
Where do most Mombasa trips go?
Mombasa is two things at once: East Africa's largest seaport and the gateway to Kenya's beach coast. Most visitors land at Moi International and head straight to a resort on the North Coast or the South Coast, so the first question is which side of the island you are staying on. Business travellers go to the port, the Old Town, Nyali offices or the Export Processing Zone areas. Tell us the hotel and the engine prices the route, including the bridge, bypass or ferry option the chauffeur will use.
Moi International Airport (MBA): pickup and waiting
Moi International is at Port Reitz, on the mainland west of Mombasa Island, about 10 to 13 km from the Old Town. It has an international terminal and a domestic terminal next to each other. After passport control and baggage claim, walk out to the arrivals forecourt; your chauffeur waits at the designated pickup area for pre-booked cars and messages you with the car and name. A name-board meet and greet inside the arrivals hall is an add-on; add-ons are only available in selected locations.
Flights are tracked. International arrivals include 60 minutes of waiting after the actual landing, domestic flights from Nairobi 30 minutes, and other pickups 15 minutes, then 15-minute blocks. Holiday charters often land in clusters, and the international hour covers eTA checks and bags. See airport transfers for how this works in every city.
The beach strips and how long they take
| From Moi Airport to | Route | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Mombasa Old Town and Fort Jesus | Makupa Causeway | 25-40 min |
| Nyali | New Nyali Bridge | 35-55 min |
| Bamburi and Shanzu | Nyali Bridge, Malindi Road | 45-70 min |
| Mtwapa and Kikambala | Malindi Road | 60-80 min |
| Diani and Galu (South Coast) | Dongo Kundu bypass or Likoni ferry | 60-100 min |
| Kilifi | Malindi Road | 1.5-2 hr |
| Watamu and Malindi | Malindi Road | 2.5-3.5 hr |
North Coast: Nyali, Bamburi, Shanzu and Mtwapa line the coast just north of the island, reached over the Nyali Bridge, which is a known bottleneck at rush hour. Hotels such as the Serena Beach Resort at Shanzu and the Sarova Whitesands at Bamburi are here. Further north, Kilifi creek, Watamu's marine park and Malindi are longer drives.
South Coast: Diani Beach, Tiwi and Galu are about 35 km south of the island. The traditional route crosses the Likoni Channel on the vehicle ferry, where queues can be long. The Dongo Kundu Southern Bypass now links the Mombasa to Nairobi highway near Miritini with the Lunga Lunga road, so cars from the airport can reach Diani without the ferry. Your chauffeur chooses the faster option on the day; the fare is fixed either way. Some visitors fly directly to Ukunda airstrip near Diani instead.
Booking in two minutes
Enter the flight number or address on this page or at /book/, pick a vehicle, and the price shown covers the chauffeur, fuel, ferry or bridge crossings and the included waiting. No meter, no surge in peak season. Our Toronto desk dispatches a vetted Mombasa affiliate working to the BlaakLane.com written standard. Wedding parties, large family groups and corporate retreats with several vehicles are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing.
Port of Mombasa, cruise calls and crew changes
The Port of Mombasa, run by the Kenya Ports Authority, handles the region's container traffic and hosts cruise calls at its cruise terminal on the island. Cruise passengers usually have a single day for Fort Jesus, the Old Town or a short safari trip; a chauffeur with an agreed return time keeps that day controlled. Seafarer crew changes, linking the port, hotels and Moi Airport, are planned by a coordinator. See cruise lines and ports and shipping crew change. The port authority is at kpa.co.ke.
Madaraka Express to Nairobi
The standard gauge railway's Mombasa Terminus is at Miritini, on the mainland near the airport, not on the island. Trains to Nairobi take roughly 4.5 to 6 hours depending on the service. A chauffeur transfer to or from the terminus is the easy option with luggage, especially for Diani guests. Timetables are on the Kenya Railways site. By road, Nairobi is about 480 km, typically 8 to 10 hours, and most travellers prefer the train or a flight; the drive can be booked as an intercity transfer.
Old Town, Fort Jesus and a day with a car
Fort Jesus, built by the Portuguese in the 1590s, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the edge of the Old Town's narrow lanes, where cars cannot follow. The chauffeur drops you by the fort and waits nearby. Many visitors combine it with the Haller Park nature trail in Bamburi or a trip to Shimba Hills National Reserve above the South Coast. The hourly chauffeur service and city tours and day trips cover these days. Background on the fort is on UNESCO.
Vehicles for the coast
A Standard Sedan suits a couple with light bags. An executive SUV takes a family and dive gear or golf bags; a Standard Black SUV or Sprinter Van carries a wedding party or group together, and minicoaches or motorcoaches suit conference and charter groups. Partner vehicles include stretch limousines and Rolls-Royce or Bentley cars for weddings, and armoured vehicles on request after a risk assessment. Every vehicle is four model years old or younger; Rolls-Royce, Maybach and Bentley are accepted up to seven. See the fleet and rates.
Driving and safety on the coast
Kenya drives on the left. Heavy trucks from the port use the Mombasa to Nairobi highway, and the Changamwe and Makupa areas congest at peak times. Matatus stop suddenly, and tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis weave through traffic. Petty theft happens on beaches and in town, so use hotel safes and keep phones out of sight. The UK and other governments advise against travel to certain areas near the Somali border, far north of Mombasa and Malindi; the main coastal resorts are not in those zones, but check the UK foreign travel advice for current detail. Secure transportation is available for executives.
Seasons and events
- December to March: the main beach and holiday season, with the Christmas and New Year peak.
- July to October: a second peak, often combined with Maasai Mara safaris.
- April to June: the long rains, quieter and cheaper.
- November: the Lamu Cultural Festival further north, usually in November, draws coast visitors.
Entry rules for Kenya in 2026
Most visitors to Kenya need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before travel, applied for on the official Kenya eTA portal; citizens of the East African Community and many other African countries are exempt. Immigration officers at Moi International check the eTA on arrival. Child seats are free on request. Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup, 10% at 72 hours or less, 50% at 48 hours or less, and 100% at 24 hours or less or for a no-show. See also Kenya, Nairobi, the Nairobi JKIA airport page and Zanzibar.
