Fifty years ago this was a bare limestone quarry. Today it is a casuarina and coastal forest with lakes, hippos, giraffes and giant tortoises, and the easiest green walk within reach of Mombasa.
Haller Park takes its name from René Haller, the Swiss agronomist who began planting the worked-out cement quarries at Bamburi in the 1970s. What grew is now a mature forest and wetland that has become a refuge for rescued and resident animals.
The park has several kilometres of wide, firm paths, flat and easy enough for children and anyone who wants a gentle walk. The full loop passes the hippo pool, a raised giraffe feeding platform, and enclosures for crocodiles and giant tortoises, some of them very old. Eland and oryx graze in the open areas and monkeys play along the paths.
From the main loop you can carry on along forest trails towards the Nguuni sanctuary, where ostriches, giraffes and antelope roam more open ground. The park is open roughly 8am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday; check the entry fee before you go. Mornings are coolest; the giraffe feeding draws crowds late afternoon.
An easy circuit with a longer forest extension if you want it.
Enter from the Malindi road and follow the main path under the casuarinas.
Watch the hippos from the viewing area; stay behind the barriers.
Climb the platform to see the giraffes at eye level.
Giant tortoises and crocodiles, then the grassland where eland and oryx graze.
Return to the gate, or continue on the forest trails towards the Nguuni sanctuary.
Matatu, tuk-tuk or taxi north along the Malindi road to Bamburi, about 7 km from the island.
Open roughly 8am–5pm, Monday to Saturday. Check the current entry fee before you visit.
Mornings are cooler and quieter; late afternoon brings crowds for the giraffe feeding.
Mombasa practical notes →Wikimedia Commons photographs are used under their licences.
