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

Kenya Beach or Wildlife Safari?

Kenya's name as a famous travel destination is mainly derived from its reputation as the birth-place of wildlife safaris, and its numerous parks teeming with wild animals and birds; and enchanting landcapes, peoples and cultures. But unbeknownst to many, Kenya is also a well-established beach safari destination with stunning coastal beach resorts. 

Kenya's beaches are 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 delineates clear blue ocean waters and sank coral reefs with amazing marine life from green sea-side forests or urban centres and ancient villages. Travel fans' and expert lists of top beaches in Africa, and globally, often include some popular Kenyan beach resorts.  

Kenya's Beach Safari Hotspots  

The Kenya beach safari scene is divided into two zones or circuits ,  namely; the North-Coast and South-Coast.  Mombasa, a 1200-year-old island city and Kenya's second largest after Nairobi is the point of departure. Indeed Mombasa is Kenya's original beach holiday town. It is home to several beaches too, besides many unique attractions. Although it still pulls in its diehard fans and new  holiay makers, the City has over time grown more business-like thanks to its busy seaport. 

Each of Kenya's two beach circuits has its loyal band of fans, both local and foreign. As expected, each fan-base  is convinced and loud about the greatness of its choice. Diani is the hotspot in the South-coast. It is a powdery, white sand beach stretching for kilometres on end off Ukunda Town in Kwale County. It has on many occasions been voted as Africa's best beach destination.

Kilifi, Watamu, Malindi in Kilifi 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 spend time idling on the beach or hotel or enjoying 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 and 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 to Nairobi and an hour's drive 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 the Arabian 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 Mombasa's unique tourist sites!

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 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 about 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-Coast and Diani Airstrip the South-Coast.

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 about one hour on large comercial flights. It takes a little longer on small aircraft. Besides, local chartered flights will quickly connect you to other airports in Kenya from any of the coast. 

You may also travel to the region by road. Bus services vary from spartan to luxurious. The road trip from Nairobi to Mombasa takes about eight hours.Further, a standard gauge railway line provides an excellent overland link between Nairobi and Mombasa. The 495-kilometre-long rail journey between the two cities takes a leisurely five hours 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 and 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 you consider doing a beach safari in Kenya. For 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? Tell us in the comments section below. Or have you done a Kenya beach safari before? If so how did it go?