Haller Park, Mombasa

FROM UNINHABITED LAND TO ‘EDEN’

Haller Park, Along Mombasa/Malindi Highway

Located along the Mombasa/Malindi highway, Haller Park is home to a variety of wildlife including giraffes, buffalos, antelopes not mentioning adorable small mammals and colourful birds. 

One would hardly believe that the park was at one time just some limestone quarry wasteland south of the Bamburi Cement Plant. No one except Dr. Rene Haller could sit down in the ‘70s and visualize that piece of land could turn out to be the paradise it is today. 

This Coastal Sanctuary includes a beautiful serene palm garden, reptile park, game sanctuary, fish farm demonstration area, giraffe viewing area and crocodile pens.

Walking along the trail gives one the ideal way to look at the lovely animals ranging from zebras, Sally and Potty the Hippos, Cape Buffalos, waterbucks, elands, Oryx, herons, egrets, little egret yellow-billed egret, tree ducks, kingfishers, Aldabra Tortoises and Vervet monkeys. 

For the brave at heart, you may get a chance to hold or feed a reptile such as a snake under close supervision of a guide. Feeding the giraffes is an experience you’d really want to give a try. Trust me. 

However, nothing in the sanctuary park can be as thrilling as watching salivating crocodiles jump out of the water to snatch meat from the overhead line. It feels as if you are watching the famous ‘Nat Geo Wild’ live. 

Arriving just before 3 pm will give you the chance to see the lovely animals being fed. Appreciating the beauty of nature one afternoon in a while would be a very pleasant thing.