Kenya Beach Safaris - It's More Than Sun and Sand

Kenya Beach or Wildlife Safari?

Admittedly, beach holiday tourism in Kenya trails wildlife safaris to fame. However, holiday time spent on a Kenyan beach is not any less enchanting than visiting Masai Mara or any other game reserve. Indeed, a significant portion of tourists choose to enjoy the two kinds of safaris in one go! 

Many visitors are surprised that Kenya has tens of splendid beaches of all known colours, shapes and sizes: Their powdery soft-sand landscapes vary from white to golden tones of various shades. They dot a picturesque 590-kilometre-long Indian Ocean coastline that stands between clear blue Indian Ocean waters and sank coral reefs with amazing marine life; and green sea-side forests or urban centres and ancient villages on the other.

Kenya's popular beaches often get mentioned whenever travel fans and experts compile their lists of top beaches in Africa, and globally.

Kenya's Beach Safari Hotspots  

The Kenya beach safari scene is divided into two circuits or zones, namely the North-coast and the South-coast. Each of the two zones has its loyal band of pilgrims, both local and foreign. As expected, either band is convinced and loud about the greatness of its choice.

Mombasa, a 1200-year-old island city and Kenya's second largest after Nairobi is the point of departure. Mombasa is the original Kenya beach holiday town. It has beautiful beaches too besides many unique attractions. However, Mombasa has grown more business-like with time thanks to its busy seaport. But, it still pulls in its diehard fans as well as new holidaymakers.

Diani is the hotspot in the South-coast. It is a long white sand that stretches for kilometres on end beside Ukunda Town in Kwale County. Diani has been voted as Africa's best beach destination many times over.

Kilifi, Watamu, Malindi in Kikifi County and Lamu in Lamu County are the stars in the north.

What to do on Kenya's Beaches

Holiday life along the Kenyan coast moves at a modest pace. You may choose to spend your time relaxing on the beach or hotel, or doing water sports. Sailing, game fishing, windsurfing, water skiing, kite surfing, scuba diving and snorkelling are popular among the more adventurous visitors. Skydiving and paddle boarding count among the trendier things you can do.

If you prefer not to play on the water, you can play golf on courses situated along the coastline.

Evenings are spent sampling urban life or enjoying musical and cultural shows that some of the tourist resorts provide.

Excursions Away from the Beach

Should you desire time off the beach, there are many sites to visit. These include marine and wildlife parks as well as ecological, cultural, and historical sites. The Shimba-Hills National Reserve on the South Coast is a famous elephant and bird watcher's hotspot. Tsavo National Park is the largest wildlife park in Kenya and home to the big five and more. It is a mere two-hour drive from Mombasa on your way road to Nairobi and an hour away from Malindi. Most visitors who seek time away from the beach love to do their excursions at Tsavo and Shimba Hills.

Fort Jesus, a last-stand military fort built by the Portuguese 400 years ago as they battled Arab armies for control of Mombasa,   is a popular tourist site in Mombasa City. There are old Swahili villages and iconic mosques, churches and temples to visit in the city too. A marine park and a world-famous ecological park also make it to the long list of unique sites in the city!

How to Get to Kenya's Beach Resorts

All the resort towns are easily accessible from Nairobi and other parts of Kenya, and even from abroad.

Malindi is 120 kilometres from Mombasa. Watamu is even nearer at 100 kilometres. Lamu is 140 kilometres north of Malindi and 342 kilometres away from Mombasa. You get to Lamu by air. Diani in the South is only 30 kilometres away from Mombasa. That is half an hour's drive after you cross the Indian Ocean from Mombasa Island at the Likoni channel.

There are two airports and two airstrips that serve tourists in the region. Mombasa and Malindi airports service both local and international flights. Malindi Airport and Lamu Airstrip serve the north and Diani Airstrip the south.

Kenya Airways, Ethiopian, South African Airways and Qatar Airways are among the airlines that fly to Mombasa from abroad. Chartered airlines from Europe fly to Mombasa and Malindi airports too.

There are daily local flights to all four resorts from Nairobi. Flight time between Nairobi and any of the two circuits lasts for about one hour. It is a little longer on small aircraft. Besides, local chartered flights will quickly connect you to other airports in Kenya from the coast.

But you can also choose to travel to the region by road. Bus services vary from spartan to luxurious. The road trip from Nairobi to Mombasa takes about eight hours.

A new standard gauge railway line provides an excellent overland link between Nairobi and Mombasa. The 495-kilometre-long journey between the two cities takes a leisurely five hours by rail and cuts through beautiful landscapes and wildlife parks.

Kenya Beach Safari Accommodations

Hotel and dining services are of a fairly high standard. Accommodations include hotels, holiday apartments and homestays. There are luxury as well as clean mid-range and budget hotels and restaurants.

More about Kenya Beach Holiday Destinations

That's our 'intro' to Kenya beach safaris. Hopefully, it will help consider doing a beach safari in Kenya. For detailed posts on Kenya beach holiday hotspots, please read our posts on Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Watamu and Diani.

What more would you like to know about beach safaris in Kenya? Ask us in the comments section below. Or, have you done one before? What were your highlights?