SGR Transfer to
Ukunda
Gateway to Diani Beach — your first stop on the South Coast
SGR Shuttle Mombasa to Ukunda: direct transfer from Miritini terminus
Miritini to Ukunda in about 1h 15m.
SGR Shuttle Mombasa runs transfers from Miritini SGR terminus straight to Ukunda, 47 km down the south coast. Most people booking this route are actually headed to Diani, since Ukunda is the town right behind it, but plenty of travellers have business or family in Ukunda itself. Either way, your driver's set up before you leave Nairobi.
It's a working town more than a beach resort, with the airstrip, the market, and most of the south coast's supply chain running through it. If that's where you're going, or where you're passing through on the way to the beach, the transfer works the same.
Distance
47 km
Journey time
~1h 15m
Pick-up
Miritini SGR terminus
Drop-off
Your Ukunda address
Operating hours
05:00 – 23:00 daily
Miritini SGR to Ukunda: route overview
This one used to mean queueing for the Likoni Ferry. It doesn't any more. From Miritini you take the Dongo Kundu Bypass south, rejoin the A14 at Ngombeni, and continue through Tiwi to Ukunda — the bypass skips Mombasa island and the ferry entirely, which took the single biggest variable out of this route. It's a straight run down the coast road from there. Call it 1h 15m on a normal day.
Pick-up point
Miritini SGR terminus arrivals gate, Mombasa
Drop-off
Your address in Ukunda or south coast area
Route
Dongo Kundu Bypass to Ngombeni, then A14 via Tiwi — no ferry
Distance
47 km
Est. journey time
~1h 15m (normal traffic)
Vehicle options
Shared shuttle, private saloon, private minivan
Your driver waits at the SGR Shuttle Mombasa point near the arrivals gate, with your name on a sign and your train number already logged. They're watching the live arrivals board, so a delayed train doesn't cost you anything extra in waiting time.
Drop-off is wherever you need in Ukunda, whether that's near the airstrip, the town centre, or one of the residential areas just back from the beach road.
SGR shuttle Ukunda fare from Miritini
Fixed pricing for the 47 km route, all road charges included. Nothing added once you're in the car.
| Vehicle type | Fare (KES) | Capacity | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared shuttle — town stage | From KES 600 | 1 seat | 2 bags, fixed departure windows |
| Private saloon | From KES 6900 | 1–3 passengers | All luggage, direct route, train-wait included |
| Private minivan | From KES 8000 | 4–7 passengers | All luggage, child seat on request, direct route |
Prices last updated June 2026. Your fare covers the full run via the Dongo Kundu Bypass — there is no ferry fee to pay, because this transfer no longer uses the Likoni crossing.
How to book your SGR shuttle to Ukunda
Same four steps as every route we run.
Choose Ukunda as your destination
Go to the booking page, select Ukunda, and add your SGR train number, travel date, and passenger count.
Pay and get confirmed
Pay online, and within minutes you'll get your driver's name, plate number, and a direct line to call.
Meet your driver at Miritini
They'll be at the arrivals gate, tracking your train. Late arrival, no problem, no extra cost for the wait.
Arrive in Ukunda
Down the bypass and the coast road, straight to your address. Luggage handled both ends.
About Ukunda
Ukunda isn't a beach destination in the way Diani is, even though they're practically neighbours. It's the town that keeps Diani running. The market, the banks, the supermarkets, the matatu stage, most of it sits in Ukunda rather than on the beach strip itself. Moi International Airport, the small airstrip that serves the south coast, is here too, which makes Ukunda the actual landing point for a lot of domestic flights heading to Diani.
If you're staying in Ukunda rather than passing through, you're probably closer to local life than the resort crowd. There are good local eateries, a busy daily market worth a wander even if you're not buying anything, and quick access to Diani's beach without paying Diani's prices for everything else.
A handful of guesthouses and smaller hotels operate in and around Ukunda itself, often at lower rates than the beachfront properties a few kilometres away. Distances to the beach are short, usually a ten or fifteen minute tuk-tuk ride from most parts of town.
There's no real off season for Ukunda the way there is for some beach towns, since it functions year round as a working hub rather than a holiday spot. The transfer from Miritini runs the same regardless of when you land. Book your seat now →
Why pre-book your Ukunda transfer from Miritini?
Getting to the south coast used to mean the ferry queue. The bypass removed it — but the terminus kerb is still its own problem.
The terminus kerb is still a negotiation
A pre-booked driver quotes the whole run up front. An unmetered taxi at the terminus often doesn't, and you end up renegotiating mid-route.
Ukunda and Diani get confused
Some drivers assume Ukunda means Diani Beach and take you to the wrong part of town. Booking with the exact address sorted in advance avoids that.
Flight connections need certainty
If you're connecting through the airstrip in Ukunda, a confirmed, on-time transfer from Miritini matters more than it would for a flexible beach holiday.
Heading somewhere else on the coast?
We run transfers to all twelve coastal destinations from Miritini. If Ukunda's actually a stop on the way to the beach, or you've got others in your group going elsewhere, here's the rest of the network.
Frequently asked questions: SGR shuttle to Ukunda
How do I get from Mombasa SGR to Ukunda?
SGR Shuttle Mombasa transfers you directly from Mombasa SGR Terminus to Ukunda stage. The journey takes approximately 75 minutes and costs KES 700 per person.
Is Ukunda the same as Diani Beach?
Ukunda is the main town at the junction leading to Diani Beach. Diani Beach itself is a 5–15 minute tuk-tuk ride from Ukunda stage, along the hotel strip on the beachfront.
What is the difference in fare to Ukunda vs Diani Beach?
The fare to Ukunda stage is KES 700. For Diani Beach (past Ukunda), the fare is KES 600, with a per-km top-up of KES 80/km if your hotel is further down the strip.
Book your SGR shuttle to Ukunda
47km, no ferry, one fixed fare. Book before your train leaves Nairobi and your driver's sorted by the time you land at Miritini.
Fixed fare. Vetted driver. Train-tracked pick-up. Free cancellation 24 hrs before.