The giant tortoises
Walking among the trees.
Ruzam Namor — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Inmotion Inc — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ruzam Namor — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ruzam Namor — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Inmotion Inc — CC BY-SA 4.0
Haller Park is a nature park in Bamburi, north of Mombasa, whose story is its finest feature: a bare cement quarry turned into forest, ponds and wildlife. It makes an easy family outing on the coast and became famous worldwide for the friendship between the baby hippo Owen and the tortoise Mzee. In 1952 a cement company set up a factory 12 km north of Mombasa, leaving an arid wasteland with brackish water. In 1959 Rene Haller was hired to beautify the area, and reforestation began in the 1970s. Of 26 plants tried, only three survived, including the casuarina, which started the forest on the quarry floor. You walk shaded paths among trees and ponds, seeing hippos, buffalo, giraffes, giant tortoises, crocodiles and monkeys. There are also reptile and fish sections, and pretty ponds reflecting the trees. Ask about animal feeding times at the entrance. It is 9.9 km in a straight line from Jumba la Mtwana and about 6 km from central Mombasa. Wear comfortable shoes, and bring mosquito repellent and water. Keep your hands away from the fences, feed animals only during set activities and avoid the midday heat. Stay with children at the crocodile ponds.
Walking among the trees.
In the park's ponds.
Shade on the hot coast.
Bamburi, north of Mombasa
A baby hippo and a tortoise whose famous friendship lasted at the park until March 2007.
Yes, with care at the crocodile ponds and fences.