Welcome, Coastal Storyteller
We commission 4–5 paid articles per month from locals, guides, conservationists, and experienced travelers who know Kenya’s Coast firsthand.
Who we welcome
If you live on or know the Kenyan Coast deeply, we want your voice.
Local Residents
You see what outsiders miss.
Field Guides
Your daily work is our reporting gold.
Conservationists
Protecting reefs, mangroves, heritage.
Experienced Travellers
You’ve tested routes, costs, and mistakes firsthand.
We do not accept pitches from: content agencies, SEO farms, AI services, or writers with no personal connection to the topic.
What we publish
Most pieces run 800–1,300 words, depending on what the topic requires. What matters is depth, accuracy, and usefulness—not length.
Practical Guides
- Towns, beaches, parks — with prices, hours, routes, realities.
How-To
- One task, step-by-step: ferry rides, reef etiquette, booking tours.
Trip Reports
- Your real journey: costs, timings, fixes, lessons.
Culture & Heritage
- Festivals, crafts, language — with local voices and context.
Reviews
- Stays, eats, tours — who it’s for, price ranges, honest caveats.
Ecotourism
- How to visit marine parks or turtle projects without harm.
Have another idea? If it’s original, factual, and rooted in the Coast, pitch it.
House style: Clarity over cleverness
- Be useful: Include KSh prices, 24-hour times, +254 contacts, map links.
- Verify everything: Check names, opening days, routes this month.
- Write plainly: No “hidden gems” or hype. Neutral, informed, respectful.
- Include accessibility & safety: Ramps, currents, scams, solo-travel notes.
- Language: English or Swahili. Italicise Swahili on first use (with translation).
Our standards: What we accept (and what we don’t)
We only publish original, verified, human-written work rooted in real experience on the Kenyan Coast.
- ❌ No promotional or SEO guest posts — including backlink swaps, affiliate-heavy content, or undisclosed sponsored access.
- ❌ No AI-generated narratives — even if “edited.” (Grammar or spelling tools are fine.)
- ❌ No plagiarism, fiction, or unverified claims — creative nonfiction is welcome only if every fact is accurate and checkable.
- ❌ No vague listicles — if it lacks current prices, times, directions, or safety notes, it won’t be considered.
- ❌ No politics beyond essential civic info that directly affects travel (e.g., ferry strikes, park closures).
- ❌ No stereotyping or extractive storytelling — dignity, context, and respect for local communities are non-negotiable.
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, provided you credit: “Originally published on Exploring Mombasa” with a do-follow link to the original.
- Do not submit the same piece to other outlets while under consideration or during the exclusivity period.
We pay fairly — for all accepted work
With a committed monthly budget, we commission 4–5 paid features. All published work is compensated.
| Content type | Rate (KSh) |
|---|---|
| Practical Guide or How-To | 4,500 |
| Culture, Ecotourism | 4,500 |
| Deep-Dive Guide | 6,000 |
Payment: Sent via M-Pesa within 14 days of publication. Rates include research, writing, fact-checking, and 6–10 original photos.
Repeat contributors: Writers who deliver high-quality, verified work may be invited to join our trusted contributor pool for priority assignments.
How to pitch
Send your pitch to editor@exploringmombasa.com with subject:
PITCH: [Format] – [Working Title] – [Location]
Your pitch must include:
- Your name and location (e.g., “Lamu”, “Kilifi”, “Mombasa”)
- Your personal connection to the topic or place
- 2–3 headline options
- A 200–300 word sample paragraph
- 5 specific, verifiable facts you’ll include
- Optional but helpful: A public link that shows your connection— such as a social media profile, business page, or community project. (Not required if you prefer to keep your work private.)
Before you send:
- ✅ All prices/times verified this month
- ✅ Clear directions and accessibility notes included
- ✅ Safety considerations addressed
- ✅ Original photos available (6–10, landscape or portrait)
- ✅ Any complimentary access disclosed upfront