Happening safari could also be Kenya’s greatest attraction, however its 536km (333-mile) Indian Ocean shoreline has a few of the greatest seashores in Africa. From the Lamu archipelago within the far north and the resort seashores close to Mombasa to lesser-known, quieter shorelines in between, a stint on a Kenyan seashore is properly value including to your journey itinerary.
As East Africa’s largest port, Mombasa has been formed by new arrivals from around the globe for hundreds of years, together with British colonists, Arab merchants, and Indian and Chinese language immigrants, and the area’s delicacies, structure and inhabitants replicate this affect. Being simply accessible, the seashores round Mombasa can get busy, however it’s all relative – they’re unlikely to really feel really crowded.
Whether or not you’re on the lookout for leisure, good meals, family-friendly spots with calm waters, or aquatic adventures within the type of kayaking, scuba diving or whale watching, Kenya has a seashore for it. Right here’s our decide of the most effective seashores in Kenya.
Diani Seashore
Finest seashore for lengthy walks and watersports
About 30km (19 miles) south of Mombasa, Diani Seashore is a long-time traveler favourite, with an extended stretch of sentimental, powder-white sand, and a very good and huge alternative of accommodations, hostels and serviced seashore villas, in addition to numerous eating places and bars. Diani is in style for just about all the favored seashore actions, together with standup paddle boarding, kitesurfing, kayaking and deep-sea fishing. You’ll be able to even go skydiving for views from above.
Diani is a dream for divers and snorkelers, with many dive websites lower than an hour away by boat. Reef sharks are an enormous draw, as is recognizing endangered hawksbill and inexperienced turtles. From November to February, you would possibly see whale sharks. For teenagers, glass-bottomed boat excursions provide a straightforward glimpse of the underwater world.
In case you’re after a safari repair, the rainforest park of Shimba Hills Nationwide Reserve is 16km (10 miles) inland, and it’s dwelling to elephants, monkeys, mongooses, chicken species and the endangered sable antelope. Contained in the reserve is the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, created for elephants to freely roam round this space.
Galu Seashore
Finest seashore for eco-tourism and kitesurfing
Galu (generally known as Galu Kinondo) is commonly seen as an extension of Diani Seashore, and it is one other countless stretch of shoreline south of Mombasa. This patch of sand is a bit more secluded and fewer developed than Diani, and there’s extra coastal scrub. Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest is the final remaining jungle on the Kenyan coast, dwelling to vervet and colobus monkeys, and it is a sacred website for native communities.
Whereas white sands are the large ticket, the eco-tours run by Colobus Conservation are value investigating. The group was set as much as defend these threatened primates and preserve their behavior after locals voiced issues over the rising deaths of colobus monkeys on busy Diani Seashore Street. Your vacationer {dollars} will go some option to assist analysis, schooling, animal welfare and habitat safety.
Galu Seashore can be in style with kitesurfers and paddle boarders, and the Polish-run KiteMotion kitesurfing school is an effective first port of name if you wish to take part. Snorkelers and divers can swim amongst scorpion fish and moray eels, in addition to rarer fish resembling sea horses and ghost pipe fish.
Nyali Seashore, Mombasa
Finest seashore for straightforward entry from Mombasa
When individuals discuss Mombasa’s seashores, they typically imply the lengthy stretches that lie north and south of the town, resembling Diani and Watamu. However Nyali, half of a bigger residential space simply north of central Mombasa, has lots happening to go well with all ages, and it’s one of the crucial accessible and handy stretches of sand.
Nyali’s lengthy, white-sand seashore has a wide variety of accommodations and eating places throughout all budgets, and you’ll get pleasure from a wide range of seashore actions and watersports. It’s not probably the most stunning of Kenya’s seashores, however with the New Nyali Bridge connecting Nyali to Mombasa Island, it’s simple to succeed in the Outdated City and sights resembling historical Fort Jesus.
An excellent base is Tamarind Village, a classy advanced of serviced residences on Mombasa Harbor with attractive views over the water to Mombasa Island. Its white exterior and excessive arches are a design homage to conventional Arab structure on the Swahili coast. Its in style, open-sided Tamarind restaurant is superb for seafood, and you too can e-book a visit on a dhow (conventional sailboat) for a crewed sundown cruise across the harbor. You’ll be able to request drinks and snacks, or perhaps a full dinner, or convey your personal provides.
Kikambala Seashore
Finest seashore for native environment
About 33km (21 miles) north of Mombasa, Kikambala Seashore is just not probably the most accessible spot – the street ends a number of hundred meters away from the shore – however in case you like quiet sands and snorkeling, it’s well worth the effort. The sand is blinding white and at low tide, you may stroll out to the coral reef. It’s a preferred seashore with the local people, which makes it notably atmospheric on the finish of the day, with youngsters kicking soccer balls round and other people stress-free with chilly beers at small seashore kiosks.
Watamu
Finest seashore for snorkeling and marine life
About 108km (67 miles) north of Mombasa, the coral gardens of Watamu Marine Nationwide Park and Reserve are dwelling to parrotfish, angelfish, three species of turtles and plenty of extra marine species, making this an underwater paradise. In case you’re right here between November and February, there’s a very good probability of recognizing whale sharks and manta rays, whereas July to October is the season for humpback whales. Tribe Watersports can organize kitesurfing and different water actions.
Watamu is made up of three bays – Watamu, Blue Lagoon and Turtle – and so they’re all white-sand, aquamarine, coconut palm-lined pure wonders. What makes this space notably particular are the close by wetlands and mangrove forests – the Arabuko Sokoke Coastal Forest is without doubt one of the largest tracts of coastal forest in Africa and a thriving habitat for wildlife, together with elusive elephants, numerous reptiles and amphibians and the adorable-looking Sokoke scops owl.
Whereas Watamu remains to be a comparatively sleepy seashore city, a rising variety of accommodations have put it on the map, together with the favored Hemingways, named in tribute to the US creator who spent a trip right here deep-sea fishing. Others, resembling Ocean Sports activities & Turtle Bay have raised Watamu’s profile for watersports; the resort’s exercise heart can organize scuba dives, fishing journeys, kayaking and windsurfing classes.
Kilifi
Finest seashore for cool, artistic vibes
In recent times, Kilifi has come into its personal as younger professionals have made a base right here, resulting in an explosion of cool cafes and bars, coworking areas and idea venues resembling The Food Movement and FoMo, the place artist studios, an natural farm and market days come collectively in a single artistic house. Kilifi can be the setting for the annual three-day Beneath the Baobabs Festival – Africa’s first carbon-neutral competition – mixing East African music and tradition with a concentrate on sustainability.
Kilifi is round 35km (22 miles) south of Watamu on the mouth of Kilifi Creek, with a largely native inhabitants of Giriama and Chonyi individuals from the Mijikenda tribe. Palm-lined Bofa Seashore is a gorgeous spot and residential to the vigorous seashore bar and kitesurfing heart, Salty’s Kitesurf Village. The south facet of Kilifi Creek is dwelling to the smaller Shauri Moyo Seashore with extra white sand.
The creek itself, an estuary of the Goshi River, is a haven for birdlife. Take a ship to the chicken island in the course of the creek to see fish eagles and flocks of southern carmine bee-eaters. Kilifi can be a very good base for a visit to the Watamu Marine Nationwide Park and Reserve, one in all Kenya’s oldest marine parks. Take a ship to snorkel and dive amongst groupers, lionfish and huge rays and whale sharks in season.
On land, Kilifi is dwelling to the Mnarani Ruins, the archeological stays of a centuries-old Swahili settlement on a bluff overlooking the creek. The positioning consists of two Fifteenth-century Mnarani mosques and a 900-year-old baobab tree.
Malindi
Finest seashore for Italian flavors
Malindi is one in all Kenya’s most intriguing seashore cities. Whereas it has a predominantly Muslim inhabitants, it’s also referred to as ‘Little Italy’ after the Italian-run Broglio Area Heart opened within the late Sixties and a rising Italian group made a house right here. Whereas fewer Italian residents stay right here completely right this moment than in Malindi’s heyday, the city remains to be dwelling to an above-average variety of Italian eating places, gelaterias and grocery shops promoting pasta and Parmesan cheese.
Malindi has an extended and wonderful stretch of seashore, and whereas the city has a considerably pale really feel, that’s additionally a part of the allure. Lodges and resorts line the seashore street resulting in Malindi city, together with the bizarre sculpture-park-meets-hotel, White Elephant, owned by an Italian artwork collector. Two of the most effective Italian eating places within the space – Osteria and Baby Marrow – are additionally on this seashore street.
Lamu Island, Lamu Archipelago
Finest seashore for experiencing Swahili tradition
Sluggish journey guidelines on Lamu Island, and visiting his dune-dusted archipelago can really feel like a step again in time – conventional gown, donkeys for transport (vehicles for personal use aren’t allowed) and conventional trades resembling carpentry and boat-building are nonetheless commonplace. Repeatedly inhabited for greater than 700 years, the Thirteenth-century port metropolis of Lamu City is without doubt one of the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlements in East Africa, and also you’ll see African, Asian and European influences on the islands’ structure, notably the ornate doorways.
In addition to exploring the seashores (Shela Seashore is especially beautiful), a sundown dhow boat journey round Lamu island and into the mangrove forests is a should. These superbly carved conventional crusing vessels have been as soon as used to ferry spices and different items between Africa, Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. At present, they take individuals on sundown cruises, snorkeling day journeys, and even in a single day journeys the place you may swim in glowing phosphorescence and sleep on deck underneath the celebs.
In Lamu City, make a visit to Ali’s boatyard to see the FlipFlopi Dhow, the world’s first recycled plastic crusing boat, a part of a venture to scale back waste in coastal communities.
