Contact Kenya Railways by phone to book tickets, at 011 (+254) 20 221 211.
Reserve tickets with a travel agent to avoid lines at travel time and to reserve sleeper compartments.
Book tickets at the station reservation office in Nairobi.
Plan to travel on Monday, Wednesday or Friday between Nairobi and Mombasa. Currently, trains run only three days per week, but check at the station. Schedules are subject to change.
Arrange your schedule around the 7 p.m. departure time. There is only one train departure scheduled each travel day.
Expect to spend 13 1/2 hours on the train. The Nairobi-Mombasa route is 329 miles long and usually arrives in Mombasa at 8:30 a.m. the following day.
Luxuriate in a first-class sleeper car. These have seats that convert to two sleeping berths, and include all bedding as well as an in-compartment toilet and sink. The rate (about $45) also includes breakfast and dinner in the train restaurant car.
Choose second-class sleeper seats for a perfectly comfortable ride. The sleeper seats in these cars convert to four bunks, and each car includes bed linens and restroom facilities. Included in the ticket price of about $35 are breakfast and dinner in the dining car.
Opt for third-class seats to save money on your trip. The price for these varies. Check rates and availability at the time of booking.
Enjoy dining in the restaurant car no matter which ticket class you choose. Full meals, snacks, drinks and even some alcoholic beverages are available.
