Makupa Causeway 🇰🇪

Connecting Mombasa Island to the Kenyan mainland, the historical Makupa Causeway offers you a unique vantage point over Kenya's coastal transport infrastructure. Built in 1929 by the Colonial British Government to replace the 1899 Britannia Bridge, this historic 1,200-foot (365-meter) structure spans about one and a half miles between Magongo Circus and Makupa Circus. As you travel along this dual-purpose corridor, you will dissect two scenic bodies of water: Tudor Creek to your east and Port Reitz Creek to your west.

It serves as one of three main road links to the mainland alongside the Nyali Bridge and Kipevu Causeway. As you pass through, you can observe a two-level road route carrying the main A109 Mombasa-Nairobi trunk road alongside the historic Uganda Railway line. Note that the southbound carriageway is elevated on an embankment, with traffic moving at fifty miles per hour.

While the surrounding area serves few businesses apart from a large Kipevu district waste disposal site, visiting allows you to witness an essential artery of local travel. You will also experience the south end's armed police checkpoint, which actively monitors traffic and handles local immigration checks as you enter the island.

What to see at Makupa Causeway

• Built in 1929 by the Colonial British Government, spanning 1,200 feet (365 meters).
• Dissects Tudor Creek to the east and Port Reitz Creek to the west.
• Carries the main A109 Mombasa-Nairobi trunk road and the Uganda Railway.
• Features an elevated southbound carriageway set on an embankment.
• Includes an armed police immigration and traffic checkpoint at its southern end.

Visiting tips

Be prepared for potential stops at the south end of the causeway, where an armed police checkpoint actively conducts immigration and traffic checks.

How long: Under 1 hour · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Makupa Causeway is easy to reach on Mombasa’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Haller Park and Mandhry Mosque. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Mombasa travel guide.