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Diani Beach

White Sand, Kitesurfing and Dhows to the Kisite Reef

Plan this trip
3 daysIdeal stay₹4,440From / night₹1,480Food / day₹2,410Entry

Seventeen kilometres of white sand south of Mombasa, behind a coral reef that keeps the lagoon calm at low tide, often named Africa's best beach. Colobus monkeys cross the beach road on rope bridges, the kitesurfing is good on both monsoon winds, and day trips go by dhow to the Kisite-Mpunguti marine park and Wasini Island, with dolphins on the way. Ukunda airstrip has flights from Nairobi; by road it is an hour from Mombasa over the Likoni ferry or the Dongo Kundu bypass.

Highlights

  • Diani's white-sand beach and reef lagoon
  • Dhow trip to Kisite-Mpunguti with dolphins
  • Lunch on Wasini Island
  • Kitesurfing on the kaskazi and kusi winds
  • Colobus monkeys on the beach road
  • Shimba Hills and Sheldrick Falls
  • Kongo Mosque at Tiwi

Things to do

  • Dhow trip to Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Wasini IslandMorning · 8h
  • Kitesurfing lessonJun–Sep, Dec–MarAfternoon · 3h
  • Colobus Conservation centre tourMorning · 1h 30m
  • Shimba Hills and the walk to Sheldrick FallsMorning · 6h
  • Beach afternoon at low tideAfternoon · 3h

Tours & tickets

Tours & tickets in Diani Beachvia GetYourGuideTours & tickets in Diani Beachvia Klook

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When to go

Best time: December – March, July – October

Worth knowing

Long Rains on the Coast

April to June is the coast's wet season, heaviest in May: humid, with heavy downpours, rough seas and cloudy water for the reef trips. Some smaller hotels close or renovate; those open are at their cheapest.

Heads up

Kusi Wind: Rough Sea and Seaweed

The south-east kusi monsoon blows from about June to September: good for kitesurfing, but the sea is choppier, the reef water cloudier, and seaweed washes up on the beach. Dhow and glass-bottom-boat trips can be cancelled. The calmest, clearest sea is from about December to March, under the lighter kaskazi wind.

Heads up

Christmas and New Year on the Coast

From mid-December to early January the coast fills with holidaymakers from Nairobi and Europe: hotels raise prices and set minimum stays, and flights and SGR tickets to Mombasa sell out. Book early.