Diani Beach
White sand south of Mombasa, coral reef offshore, rare colobus monkeys under protection, and a marine park of islands and dolphins further south.
- Arrival
- Ukunda · UKA
- To the beach
- About ten minutes by car to the beach hotels
- Private jets
- Customs at Mombasa, 31 km north
- Best time
- December to March · July to September
The city
Reef, forest and the monsoon wind.
Diani is the long beach of the south coast, some thirty kilometres below Mombasa, with coral reefs offshore. The endangered Angolan colobus lives here, looked after by a local conservation centre, and the wind along this coast brings kitesurfers.
There are two good seasons. From December to March the days are hot and dry, at 32 or 33 °C. The long rains fall from April to June, May being the wettest; July to September is cooler, at 28 or 29 °C, with little rain and a sea of 25 °C. The short rains return in October and November.
- Colobus Conservation A centre in Diani that protects the endangered Angolan colobus living in the coastal forest.
- Kisite-Mpunguti A marine park set up to protect small islands and their waters, for snorkelling and swimming with dolphins.
- Shimba Hills A national reserve in the hills inland, home to elephants and sable antelopes.
Arriving
A short airstrip, a long runway up the coast.
Ukunda airstrip, about ten minutes by car from the beach hotels, handles flights from Nairobi in daylight. For jets and customs, the gateway is Moi International in Mombasa, about 31 km north as the crow flies.
- Nairobi 55 min
- Kigali 1 h 45
- Bahrain 5 h 00
- Lagos 5 h 45
- Vienna 8 h 20 long-range jet
When to go
December to March, and July to September.
On the south coast the afternoons reach 28 to 33 °C in every month. The long rains peak in May at 270 mm and the short rains come in October and November. December to March is hot and dry; July to September is cooler and almost as dry.
- 32° J 30 27°
- 32° F 17 28°
- 33° M 68 28°
- 31° A 181 29°
- 30° M 270 28°
- 29° J 97 27°
- 28° J 76 26°
- 28° A 65 25°
- 29° S 63 25°
- 30° O 86 26°
- 31° N 102 27°
- 32° D 66 28°
Where to stay
On the beach road.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
- Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa One hundred and forty-three rooms and suites on a thirty-acre plot, raised to five stars by the Tourism Regulatory Authority in 2019.
- Swahili Beach Swahili plasterwork in the rooms and a pool that falls in seven tiers towards the sand.
- Leopard Beach Resort & Spa One of the first two resorts south of Mombasa rated five-star by the Tourism Regulatory Authority, in 2016.
- Diamonds Leisure Beach & Golf Resort Rated four-star by the Tourism Regulatory Authority, with its own golf course.
Where to dine
Two tables for the evening.
No MICHELIN Guide covers Kenya. Ali Barbour’s is a Fodor’s Choice with Fodor’s price; Chui Grill is the steak and seafood room of Leopard Beach, a member of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.
- Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant Fodor’s Choice Seafood, French $$$$ Diani Beach
- Chui Grill Chaîne des Rôtisseurs member Steaks, seafood Leopard Beach Resort, Diani Beach
Elsewhere in Kenya
More reasons to come.
- Nairobi A national park on the edge of the city, and Wilson airport for the bush flights.
- Masai Mara Lions, and the river crossings of the migration from July to October.
- Laikipia Private conservancies on the plateau north of Mount Kenya.
- Amboseli Elephants against the snows of Kilimanjaro, across the border.
- Lamu A Swahili town without cars, of dhows and old stone houses.
Flying to Diani Beach?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.