What to Wear in Mombasa (2024 Guide)
If you are not familiar with Mombasa weather, then this post is right for you. Planning a trip to Mombasa or any other town on the Kenyan coast, then this post will guide you on what to pack and wear.
In summary, the weather in Mombasa is very hot. Temperatures can go as high as 91°F (32°C) and lows of 74°F (23°C) in the first quarter of the year. From April to December temperatures drop to highs of about 88°F (31°C) and lows of 70°F (21°C). The coolest months are seen in July and August ranging between 82°F (27°C) – 69°F (20°C).
With this in mind, start planning and packing for your trip accordingly.
Pro Tip: Always book accommodation with air conditioning and/or a pool as the temperatures are high at night.
Now let’s dive into what to wear in Mombasa.
Sun Hats & Caps
Unless you plan on staying indoors for your entire trip to Mombasa, you will need sun hats for women and caps for men. While exploring the city and the beaches it’s very easy to get sunburned even after a few minutes walk.
How big your sun hat is is a personal preference. I’d highly recommend the bigger sunhats for the beach and regular-sized hats for walking around town. Always pick something that covers the back of your neck as well as the front.
In case you forget to pack yours, don’t worry you can always buy one from the street vendors in the city.
Cotton T-shirts or Tops
I learned this the hard way, always pack cotton T-shirts and/or tops for any African destination. Other materials don’t do a good job absorbing the sweat and are not breathable leaving you sweaty and feeling very hot.
These don’t have to be heavy, a light cotton top will work just fine. For short-sleeved t-shirts and tops, don’t forget to wear sunscreen on the arms.
Long-sleeved shirts & tops
T-shirts and tops are popular and fashionable, but when you don’t have sunscreen, long-sleeved ones come in handy. When snorkeling or scuba diving in the Indian Ocean, long-sleeve tops will protect you from sunburn and also protect the reefs from unsafe chemicals found in most sunscreens.
In addition, long sleeves are better for nightlife in Mombasa. To protect you from mosquito bites and keep you warm.
I highly recommend linen, the material feels very comfortable on the skin, is highly breathable and absorbent, and is stylish for the beach.
Long Sleeve Tops and Blouses like this one are perfect for women when walking around Mombasa during the day or for a night out.
Shorts
Pack a couple of nice shorts for long walks on the beach or in the city of Mombasa. Loosely fitting shorts are highly recommended, avoid very short shorts or tight ones.
Again, don’t forget to apply sunscreen on exposed parts of the legs.
Light pants
Pack a couple of light pants for the beach. To save on space, I love packing a pair of beach pants that can also be worn on the streets. There’s nothing more frustrating than walking in a pair of jeans in hot weather.
Loosely fitting pants are great for walking the streets of Mombasa during the day. At night you can rock your favorite party jeans.
Light Sleep Wear
As mentioned earlier, it can get very hot at night. Pack light and comfortable sleepwear. I found sleeping in linen nightwear more comfortable than any other material. I’m a huge fan of silk pajamas but somehow I didn’t enjoy sleeping in them while in Mombasa.
Sun Dresses
The weather is fitting for sundresses, sandals, hats, and sunnies, take full advantage of it. Keep in mind it does get windy some days more than others but not too strong to stop you from rocking your sun dresses.
Sandals
A comfortable pair of sandals is one step forward to having an amazing time walking in the city. Unless going on a nature walk in the reserves, stay clear of closed shoes.
The city is pretty simple to walk in open shoes. Well unless it’s a rainy season when some streets tend to flood. I love these sandals from Amazon, very comfortable and long-lasting.
Comfortable shoes
A comfortable pair of closed shoes is a must-have even if traveling to beach destinations. If you are a party person, then they are better for the club compared to sandals.
When going on a nature walk or a mini safari in Mombasa, then these are a better fit. One thing I noticed is that some nature trails are a bit wet and slightly slippery. When visiting the Shimba Hills National Reserve, sandals wouldn’t have allowed me to hike down to the Sheldrick Falls. Which turned out to be a highlight spot of my trip.
Swimsuits
Don’t forget to pack your swimsuits and other beach essentials. Keep in mind that the culture here is conservative. Skimpy bikinis are frowned upon but not prohibited. If you hate everyone staring at you pack decent swimwear or throw a coverup on.
cover-Ups
For ladies, pack some coverups for the beach and swimming pool area. As mentioned the culture in Mombasa is conservative. Cover-ups will come in handy, especially when wearing bikinis or simply wanting to walk around the beach comfortably. As a shy person, I never forget my favorite coverup when packing for any trip.
Sunscreen
This goes without saying always wear sunscreen every day of the year regardless of the season or your location.
When going into the ocean wear reef-safe sunscreen. While there are no strict rules in Kenya regarding the sunscreen allowed on the beach, being a responsible traveler never hurts anyone.
In case you run out, you can easily restock from the pharmacies/drug stores in town. Many well-known brands including CeraVe and Supergoop are available in Kenya.
Sunglasses
Protect your eyes from the harsh UV rays with a good pair of sunnies. A sun hat will protect your face but sunnies prevent you from squinting. This can lead to the development of wrinkles around your eyes and the harsh sun’s reflection into your eyes can easily cause damage to the eyes. I love these (his and hers) polarized sunglasses available on Amazon.
Pack a sweater or light Jacket
I know this is a bit confusing when I clearly started by saying how hot Mombasa is. This is all true but keep in mind that it is also windy, especially in the evenings and at night. When traveling between April and August, expect some rainy days.
While you may end up not needing or wearing your jacket, always be prepared. Wear one when going out at night. It is a hot destination but not immune to colds from the strong winds blowing from the Indian Ocean.
What should I pack for a vacation in Mombasa?
Pack light and loosely fitting clothes for a vacation in Mombasa any time of the year. As we’ve discussed above the weather in Mombasa is hot throughout the year. Ensure that you only include breathable fabrics such as cotton, rayon, chambray, and linen just to mention a few.
Don’t forget to pack sun hats, caps, sunglasses, sandals, swimwear, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes too. All these will allow you to fully enjoy your stay in the beautiful city rich in history and delicious cuisine.
Can you wear shorts in Mombasa?
Yes, you can wear shorts in Mombasa. You will spot many people wearing them on every corner of the city. The hot weather requires something comfortable and loosely fitting.
While you want to walk comfortably on the streets and beaches of Mombasa, you do not want to risk getting sunburned legs. Avoid very short shorts, anything mid-thigh or just above the knees is considered decent.
Protect the exposed parts of the legs by wearing sunscreen.
Does it get cold in Mombasa?
Mombasa is generally a hot city during the day and at night. As mentioned above it does get windy in the evenings and at night. Pack a light jacket just in case you can’t handle the wind when dining out at night. Check out wind alerts here.
Generally, you will hardly need a jacket or sweater during the day in Mombasa. For young children and toddlers, it’s always wise to pack some sweaters for them. After all, you don’t want to risk your child catching a cold during a beautiful dinner by the beach.
How do people dress on the coast of Kenya?
Mombasa is a melting pot of cultures. Here you will find people from different tribes and cultures from all over Kenya.
There isn’t one universal dress code as locals either dress based on their religious background, casually or formally for work. However one thing is common, the highest percent of the population is dressed decently.
As a tourist, you can easily stand out based on how you dress. Skimpy outfits will attract stares and may be deemed disrespectful to some cultures.
Conclusion
This is a simple guide on what to wear in Mombasa. Most towns on the Kenyan coast have an almost similar weather pattern. The outfits mentioned here will work just fine in other places such as Diani, Lamu, and Malindi.
I hope this guide helps you when packing for your vacation to Mombasa.
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