Coastal Kenya

Coastal Kenya is the region of Kenya bordering the Indian Ocean. It includes some of Coast Province and the southern part of Northeastern Province.

Cities

Lamu

Mombasa

Diani Beach

Diani Beach

Leopard in Shimba Hills

Relaxing at the beach

• 1 Lamu. historic tourist town on the north coast. The city was founded in the 14th century and contains many examples of Swahili architecture. The old town is inscribed on the World Heritage List as "the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa".  

• 2 Malindi & Watamu. the most scenic beaches in Kenya  

• 3 Kilifi. Kilifi Fishing Port is a non-touristy town of about 120,000 inhabitants, situated at the mouth of the river of the same name, offering a safe berth for pleasure boats and overseas yachts. Kilifi is known for its nearby miles of beaches and also for the nearby ruins of Mnarani which include mosques and tombs built between the 14th and 17th centuries.  

• 4 Mtwapa. a coastal town where many Europeans live and famous for its nightlife  

• 5 Mombasa. Kenya's second largest city, worth visiting for its beaches and colonial heritage  

• 6 Ukunda. village at the touristic Diani Beach the best-known and most touristy beach region in Kenya. In the high season from December to March firmly in northern European hands. Best hotel, many restaurants, beach bars, water sports of all kinds.  

• 7 Msambweni. village at the more remote South Coast  

Understand

Travel organizations usually offer beach holidays at South Coast or North Coast, which simply means south or north of Mombasa.

While the South Coast (Tiwi Beach, Diani Beach, Galu Beach, Gazi Beach, Msambweni Beach, Mwazaro Beach) has the nicer beaches and more primordial nature the North Coast near Mombasa (Njali Beach, Bambouri Beach, Shandzu Beach, Mtwapa Beaches, Kikambala Beach) offers much more activities. The beaches further north (Kilifi, Watamu, Malindi) are like South Coast, primordial and tranquil, not as long and broad as Diani Beach but even more photogenic.

Get in

Most tourists come to the coast by plane to Mombasa airport and only few via Nairobi airport and from there by bus or train.

To reach the South Coast from Mombasa airport, most visitors go either by taxi or take the offers of one of the travel agencies at Diani Beach (see: Diani Beach/Do/Safaris) that offer pick up services to bring guests to the hotels. The North Coast beaches near Mombasa can be reached by taxi or matatu (small minibus "taxis" called matatus in Swahili), while to the beaches further north usually by long-distance coaches from Mombasa.

Get around

There are long distance coaches that go along the coast with center in Mombasa. From the hotels to the various attractions you can go most comfortable by taxi. Every hotel can call you trustworthy drivers and give you a hint about the transport costs. Other transport options are motorbike taxis or tuktuks, a mechanized three-wheeled taxi. Motorbike taxi are cheapest but most dangerous and only advisable for short distances and not really on main roads. With tuktuks 2-3 people can be transported even with goods, shopping bags, etc. They are loud and bumpy but cheaper than a taxi. Advisable for short distances only. Matatus are privately owned 9 seater minibuses that ply set routes, run from termini, and are used for both inter- and intra-city travel. They are very cheap but are known for reckless driving and you sit "like sardines in a tin". Advisable only if you are short in money or want to experience "real African transport". Uber works well in Mombasa and Nairobi and you can get fares online. This is useful, as taxi drivers tend to overcharge tourists. An alternative is hostel/hotel transfer: Hakuna Mutatu Bus operates on the Kenya Coast, and a ride from Mombasa to Diani or Kilifi costs roughly Ksh 1000. This is a door-to-door service, meaning you will be collected from your current accommodation in Mombasa, Diani, Kilifi or Watamu and dropped directly at your next accommodation.

See

North cost

• 1 Takwa. is a ruined city on the island of Manda. Takwa was a 15th/16th century Swahili trading town.  

• 2 Kiunga Marine National Reserve. The park covers an area of around 50 islands and coral reefs in the Lamu archipelago. The outer islands of the reserve are home to many seabirds.  

• 3 Dodori National Reserve. Topis, lesser kudu, giraffe, hippo and lion are all found in Dodori National Reserve. It serves as a breeding ground for many bird species including the pelican. Green turtles, which breed on the riverbanks, and dugongs live in the river delta.  

• 4 Boni National Reserve. The Boni Forest, after which the reserve is named, is a native open canopy forest. The forest hosts a high density of plant species, among the highest in the world, and has been declared a Biodiversity Hotspot. Common herbivores in the region include hippo, bush pig, warthog, buffalo, duiker, topi and waterbuck. Common carnivores on the reserve include the endangered African wild dog and aardwolf.  

• 5 Tana River Primate Reserve. The lush patches of riverine forest are remnants of West African forests. The river cuts through arid woodland and open savannah. There are 262 recorded bird species and at least 57 mammal species live there. There are several endemic species of trees, as well as a variety of other animals and plants. Many of the bird and animal species in the reserve are uncommon in East Africa and typical of the Central African lowland rainforest.  

• 6 Marafa Canyon. Marafa is a settlement about 40km northeast of Malindi, known for the Marafa Canyon, a bizarre, very photogenic gorge formed by soil erosion. The canyon is also called "Hell's Kitchen" because of the enormous heat that accumulates there.  

South coast

The Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests

• 7 The sacred forests of the Mijikenda (30 km to the north). Located in Kilifi county, they are inscribed on the as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kaya people who inhabit it have their traditions inscribed as a piece of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.  
• 8 Colobus Conservation, Diani Beach Road, Diani Beach (37 km to the south), ☏ +254 711 479453, enquiries@colobusconservation.org. A re-adaptation center and orphanage for Angolan colobus in the Kwale County. 
• 9 Shimba Hills National Reserve (35 km to the southeast), ☏ +254 704 467855, shimbahills@kws.go.ke. A semi-forested elephant reserve.  
• 10 Mwaluganje Elephant sanctuary (5 km from Shimba Hills).  

Do

Most visitors come to enjoy the wonderful beaches and to go on a safari in one of the many safari parks like Maasai Mara, Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park and Shimba Hills National Reserve.

• Diving: There are five marine parks – Diani-Chale, Kisite-Mpunguti, Kiunga, Malindi, Mombasa, and Watamu – protecting the fringing coral reef. Average sea temperatures range from 25°C in August to 30°C in March, and April and May are the wettest months. The sea is calmest from October to March, and whale sharks and manta rays visit between November and February, while humpback whales can be seen from July to October. Dive sites include:

- The deep wall at Nyuli where two currents meet

- The Canyon at Watamu Marine Park – also for wall dives

- Galu Reef – for macro photography

- Kinondo Reef – for large pelagics and shoals of smaller fish

- MV Dania – Cargo vessel sunk as a dive site in 2002

- MFV Funguo – 400 ton fishing trawler sunk as a dive site

Eat

At all tourist places you will find a wide range from high end restaurants with international food to cheap local diners with typical African coastal dishes.

Drink

In all bars, restaurants and hotels you will find the world wide known soft drinks, a good beer (Tusker) and most of the famous spirits. Good wines you will get only in upper class restaurants or in the big hotels. Bottled drinking water is available everywhere in the touristic areas.

Stay safe

Especially the south coast and the cost around Mombasa are safe for tourism. North of Malindi towards the Somalian border safety conditions vary and actual information should be looked up on embassy web sides

Go next

• Nairobi
• Tsavo East National Park. Tsavo East is generally flat, with dry plains across which the Galana River flows with swampy marshland.
• Tsavo West National Park: Tsavo West is characterized by a hilly arid landscape. This park is dotted with volcanic cones; dramatic, black lava flows; and a number of rocky outcrops.