There are a number of safari possibilities from Mombasa apart from an overnight at the Shimba Hills National Park. Expect to pay $150 and upwards for a one-day safari (5am pick-up from your hotel) to Tsavo East, including lunch at Voi Safari Lodge . Air safaris, even to the Mara, are also quite feasible, though much more expensive (upwards of $500 for two days and one night), although only spending one night you run a higher risk of disappointing game drives. If you're going to Lamu , don't bother with inclusive arrangements: just take a flight there and sort out accommodation when you arrive. Many of the companies listed below also offer half-day city tours of Mombasa ($25-35), and day-trips to places like Malindi and Gedi ($100 combined) and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. Things are much cheaper if you take public transport - full details are given throughout this section. The same applies to the much-touted overnight stays in Zanzibar: compare the $350 asking price with the regular $226 return airfare (including departure taxes).

Abercrombie & Kent 3rd floor, Palli House, Nyerere Ave, PO Box 90747 tel 011/316549, fax 314734, . Impeccable reputation for luxurious tailor-made lodge tours. Expensive. KATO (Kenya Association of Tour Operators).

African Quest Safaris Palli House, Nyerere Ave, PO Box 99265 tel 011/227052, fax 316501, taradamji@africanquest.co.ke. Large operator doing both camping and lodge safaris, from around $100 per day. KATO.

Big Five Ground floor, Ambalal House, Mikindani Rd, PO Box 86922 tel 011/311426, fax 311498, . Specializing in expensive lodge air safaris (two nights from $740), and lodge safaris by road (two nights at Tsavo and Amboseli $540). They're also agents for various dhow trips ($50-100 per person) and day-trips ($60-120 per person), with an overnight at Shimba Hills costing $160 per person. KATO.

Farways Safaricentre Msanifu Kombo St, PO Box 87815 tel 011/223307, fax 227239, farways@africaonline.co.ke. Good value and personal service from a small, long-established company with an excellent network of operator contacts, including car rental, Zanzibar trips, accommodation bookings and safaris.

Hatfield & Holleman tel 0733/607442, hatfield@form-net.com. Knowledgeable, exclusive and expensive tailor-made safaris. The general aim is to provide a more complete safari experience than just seeing animals - and includes educational two-way discussions with locals, rangers and conservationists about local issues. From $300-500 per person per day.

Pollman's Tours and Safaris Corner of Taveta Rd and Shimanzi Rd, PO Box 84198 tel 011/316732, fax 314502. One of the biggest (you'll see their vehicles everywhere): reliable package-tour safaris. Lodge safaris from $200 per day. KATO.

Rhino Safaris Rhino Building, Nyerere Ave, PO Box 83050 tel 011/311141, fax 315743, rhinomsa@africaonline. Branch of the respected Nairobi company, but not as immediately impressive. Three-night lodge and luxury tented camp tour in Tsavo and Amboseli for $610. Half-day Mombasa city tour for $26. KATO.

Somak Holidays Somak House, Mombasa-Malindi Highway, Bamburi, PO Box 90738 tel 011/487358-9 or 486197, fax 487324, stlmsa@africaonline.co.ke. Dependable upmarket operation. KATO.

Southern Cross Safaris Kanstan Centre, Nyali Bridge, PO Box 90653 tel 011/475074-6 or 474951-2, fax 471257, sales@southerncrossafaris.com. Branch of the well-respected Nairobi company, also agents for Satao Camp in Tsavo East. Lodge safaris from around $170, and overnights at Shimba ($140-150 depending on the season). KATO.

Special Lofty Safaris 1st floor, Hassanali Building, Nkrumah Rd, PO Box 81933 tel 011/220241 or 315789, fax 314397, slofty@ikenya.com. Conscientious operator running its own safaris. They prefer you taking the more expensive but still well-priced "made to order" trips, though they can run camping safaris from about $120 per day. The main draw is their experience and their land cruisers (a more personal way of travelling than by Nissan minibus, though they have these too). KATO.

Tour Africa Safaris Ground floor, Social Security House (NSSF), Nkrumah Rd, PO Box 87336 tel 011/316172, fax 316197, flights@tasmba.co.ke. Travel agency selling lodge safaris organized by its parent office in Nairobi, and camping safaris arranged through other companies. A five-day jaunt in high-class lodges costs $600-800. They also arrange safaris in Tanzania, including the lesser-known national parks, from $90-120 per day camping, or $150-180 in lodges. KATO.

UTC Moi Ave, PO Box 84782 tel 011/316333-4, fax 314549, . This "ground operator" makes the bulk of its business in providing transport and drivers for other companies, but also offers a selection of reasonably priced, tried and tested itineraries. KATO.