SGR to Malindi price: what it costs from Mombasa Terminus by shuttle, coach or private car

By the Stapol Tours & Travels team | Last updated November 6, 2026 | 3 minute read

Quick answer

Getting from the Mombasa SGR Terminus to Malindi costs about KSh 500 to 900 by coach, KSh 1,200 per person on a shared shuttle and KSh 15,000 per group for a private transfer with Stapol Tours & Travels.

The SGR does not run to Malindi, so every option ends with a road journey of roughly 2 to 4 hours, depending on where you start in Mombasa.

Does the SGR go to Malindi?

No. The Madaraka Express runs between Mombasa and Nairobi, and Mombasa Terminus in Miritini is the last stop on the coast. Malindi is about 107 kilometers north of Mombasa town, and you cover that distance by road. Most travelers choose between three options: a coach or matatu, a shared shuttle van, or a private car.

The terminus also sits on the mainland, on the opposite side of Mombasa from the northern highway. That is the reason the drive from the terminus takes longer than the 2 to 2.5 hours quoted for a trip that starts in Mombasa town.

SGR to Malindi price comparison

Matatu and coach figures are indicative third party estimates and change with fuel prices, season and operator, so confirm the fare at the stage or office. Coaches and matatus leave from Mombasa town, which means you pay a separate fare to get from the terminus to the boarding point. Shuttle and private prices are Stapol’s current rates.

Other platforms list prices in dollars. Booking sites show minivan seats from about US$28 and private cars from about US$84 to US$121 on this route, and travel guides put a private car from the SGR terminus or Moi Airport at KSh 10,000 to 20,000 or more. Stapol’s private rate of KSh 15,000 sits in the middle of that range, and it is quoted in shillings with the hotel dropoff included.

What each price covers

A coach or matatu fare covers your seat and, on coaches, a place in the luggage hold. It does not cover the ride to the boarding point, the walk with your bags or the final trip from the Malindi stage to your hotel.

Stapol’s shared and private prices cover the chauffeur, an air-conditioned vehicle, fuel, tolls, luggage handling and dropoff at your hotel in Malindi. Pickup is at the Mombasa SGR Terminus or at Moi International Airport. Transfers run 24 hours a day with advance booking.

When you compare any quote, ask five questions.

• Is the price per person or per vehicle?
• Are fuel and tolls included?
• Is luggage included?
• Will the driver take you to your hotel or only to Malindi town?
• What happens if your train is late?

Shared or private: which is cheaper?

A shared seat is cheaper for almost every group. The break-even point sits at 13 travelers, because 12 shared seats cost KSh 14,400 and 13 cost KSh 15,600, which is more than one private vehicle.

Private is a convenience premium for most groups. Choose it when you have a large group, a late night arrival, children or heavy luggage, or when you want to leave at a time that suits you and arrange stops on the way. Choose a shared seat when cost matters most.

Travel time from the SGR terminus to Malindi

Booking sites list the trip from Mombasa town at about 2 to 2.5 hours for 107 kilometers. From the Miritini terminus, plan for 3 to 4 hours door to door, which is the time Stapol quotes for its transfer. Traffic around Mombasa, the Mtwapa and Kilifi stretches and the number of stops all change the total.

If your hotel is in Watamu or further along the coast, ask for the dropoff before you book. A resort at the end of a beach road can change the time and the price.

Arriving by SGR: how to plan the connection

• Step 1. Buy your Madaraka Express ticket from Kenya Railways at metickets.krc.co.ke, through the USSD code *639# or at a Madaraka Express station. Stapol does not sell train tickets.
• Step 2. Book your Malindi transfer at least 24 hours before you travel, and send your train arrival time with the booking.
• Step 3. Allow a buffer between the train arrival and the road departure. Trains can arrive late, and you will want time to collect luggage and find your driver.
• Step 4. Meet your driver at the terminus. Your driver helps with your bags and takes you straight to your hotel.

If you arrive at Moi International Airport, the same transfer works from the airport, so you do not need to go to the terminus first.

Ways to save money on the Mombasa to Malindi fare

Travel in daylight with light luggage and take a coach if you do not mind the extra steps.

Book a shared shuttle for the best price with door to door service.

Split a private transfer only when your group is large enough that the per person cost beats the shared fare. Agree the full price in Kenya shillings before you travel, and confirm whether it is per person or per vehicle.

Avoid unmarked cars at the terminus. A pre-booked driver with a confirmed price removes the haggling that tired travelers often face after a long train ride.

How to book your SGR to Malindi transfer with Stapol

Message or call +254 722 136113 on WhatsApp or phone, or use the booking form on the SGR to Malindi page. Send your travel date, the number of passengers, your hotel name and your train arrival time. We reply with availability and the price, and we send your confirmation by message.

Ready to book? See the full details on our SGR shuttle from Mombasa Terminus to Malindi hotels page, or explore all our SGR shuttle transfers.

Frequently asked questions

Stapol rates come from our own booking page. Fares change, so confirm the current price before you travel.