Welcome, Coastal Storyteller
The Kenyan Coast is often written about from the outside. We publish the people who actually live it.
We commission 4–5 paid articles per month from locals, guides, conservationists, hospitality professionals, and experienced travellers who understand the Coast firsthand.
Every published article is paid. No exceptions.
Who we welcome
If you know the Coast deeply, you do not need to be a professional writer.
Local residents
You see what outsiders miss.
Tour guides & operators
Your daily work is real knowledge.
Conservationists
Reefs, mangroves, wildlife, heritage.
Hospitality professionals
You understand how travel works on the ground.
Experienced travellers
You have tested routes, costs, and realities firsthand.
What we publish
We focus on useful, factual, grounded travel content. Most articles run 800–1,300 words, depending on the depth of the topic.
Practical Guides
- Real information: prices, hours, routes, what to expect.
How-To Guides
- Step-by-step pieces on ferries, reef visits, booking tours, and getting around.
Trip Reports
- What actually happened — costs, mistakes, timings, and lessons.
Culture & Heritage
- Local voices, context, history, and lived experience.
Reviews
- Honest, balanced coverage of stays, food, tours, and experiences.
Ecotourism
- How to visit responsibly, without harming the environment or local communities.
If it is original, factual, and rooted in the Coast, pitch it.
What we’re currently commissioning
We are building a practical, detailed guide to the Kenya Coast — covering all six coastal counties:
Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Tana River, and Taita Taveta.
We are not looking for seasonal or generic travel content.
We are looking for problem-solving, experience-based guides that help people understand how the Coast actually works.
Priority areas
We are especially interested in pitches that focus on:
Getting around and transport
- How to travel between coastal towns
- Nairobi to coast routes (train, flight, bus)
- Mombasa to Diani (including ferry realities)
- Matatus, tuk tuks, and local transport systems
- Moving around without a car
Nightlife and social life
- Where to party in Mtwapa, Bamburi, Nyali, Diani, Kilifi, or Lamu
- Where locals go out
- Beach bars, lounges, live music, and social spaces
- Low-key evenings vs high-energy nightlife
Food and drink
- Where to find vegan or vegetarian food
- What to eat on the coast (first-time guides)
- Cheap eats and local food spots
- Swahili food culture
- Palm wine (mnazi) and local drinking culture
Where to stay (decision guides)
- Area-based guides (not hotel lists)
- Nyali vs Bamburi vs Shanzu
- Diani by area and vibe
- Lamu Town vs Shela
- Budget vs mid-range vs luxury
Things to do and activities
- Water activities (kitesurfing, snorkeling, diving, boat trips)
- Sports (golf, football, rugby, fitness culture)
- Day trips and experiences
- What is actually worth doing
Destinations and comparisons
- Diani vs Watamu vs Kilifi vs Lamu
- Where to go for a weekend vs longer stay
- Quiet places vs social places
- Beach vs inland travel
Budget and real costs
- What things actually cost on the coast
- Budget travel breakdowns
- Where people overpay
- Affordable ways to travel
Culture and local life
- What coastal life actually feels like
- Old Town Mombasa and Lamu culture
- Markets, mosques, and daily rhythms
- Local etiquette and expectations
Events and festivals
- Lamu festivals and cultural events
- Food and music events
- Recurring nightlife and social events
Inland and lesser-known areas
- Marafa (Hell’s Kitchen)
- Shimba Hills
- Taita Taveta routes
- Tana River experiences
- Inland detours from coastal towns
What makes a strong pitch?
A strong pitch answers a clear question, focuses on a specific place or route, includes real, current detail, and helps a reader make a decision.
Examples of what we publish
Read these before pitching. They show the kind of detail, honesty, and usefulness we look for.
- A Walker’s Guide to Mombasa
- The Quiet Work of Diani Turtle Watch
- The Perfect Lamu Evening: A Sunset Dhow
Replace these placeholders with links to your strongest published pieces.
House style: Clarity over cleverness
- Be useful: Include KSh prices, times, contacts, directions, and practical detail.
- Verify everything: Check names, opening days, routes, and prices this month.
- Write plainly: No hype, no “hidden gems,” no inflated travel language.
- Include safety and accessibility: Mention currents, scams, rough roads, solo-travel realities, ramps, or transport issues where relevant.
- Language: English or Swahili is welcome. Translate Swahili on first use when needed.
Our standards
We only publish original, verified, human-written work rooted in real experience on the Kenyan Coast.
We do not accept
- Promotional or SEO content — including backlink swaps, affiliate-heavy posts, or disguised marketing.
- AI-generated writing — even if lightly edited.
- Plagiarism, fiction, or unverified claims — if it cannot be checked, do not send it.
- Vague listicles — if it lacks prices, timings, directions, or caveats, it is not ready.
- Generic travel writing — if it could be written about anywhere, it is probably not for us.
If you have not experienced it or verified it, do not pitch it.
Rights & republication
- Upon acceptance and payment, Exploring Mombasa receives first web publication rights and 90-day exclusivity.
- After 90 days, you may republish your piece elsewhere if you credit Originally published on Exploring Mombasa and include a link to the original article.
- Do not submit the same piece elsewhere while it is under consideration or during the exclusivity period.
We pay for all accepted work
With a committed monthly budget, we commission 4–5 paid features. Every published article is compensated.
| Content type | Rate (KSh) |
|---|---|
| Practical Guide or How-To | 3,000 |
| Culture or Ecotourism | 3,000 |
| Deep-Dive Articles | 6,000 |
Payment method: M-Pesa
Timeline: Within 30 days of publication
Rates include research, writing, fact-checking, and 6–10 original photos where relevant.
How to pitch
Send your pitch to editor@exploringmombasa.com
Subject line:
PITCH: [Type] – [Title] – [Location]
Include the following
- Your name and location
- Your connection to the topic or place
- 2–3 headline ideas
- A short sample paragraph
- 3–5 specific facts you plan to include
If you are unsure, a simple idea and a short paragraph is enough to start.
Before you send
- Prices and times verified
- Directions are clear
- Safety notes included where needed
- Photos available if relevant
- Any complimentary or hosted access disclosed upfront