Where does Diani Beach fit on your Kenya adventure?
Diani Beach works best at the end of your Kenya itinerary, serving as the perfect counterpoint to days spent tracking wildlife and exploring rugged landscapes. Most travelers use it as their final destination, allowing 3-5 days to unwind after an active safari.
Diani connects easily with Kenya's safari destinations. A quick one-hour flight from Nairobi's Wilson Airport lands you at Ukunda Airstrip, just minutes from your beach resort. This eliminates the need for long road transfers when you're ready to switch from game drives to ocean views.
Photos from Diani Beach
The stunning white sands of Diani Beach
Stretches of white sand, as far as the eye can see
The perfect beach getaway
Windsurfing over the cool waters of Diani Beach
Relax on a kayak or take a tour around the coast
Camel rides on the white sands of Diani Beach
There's plenty of water-sports to choose from here!
Kenyan sunsets like no other on Diani Beach
Popular Trips to Kenya
The tours below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
When to visit Diani Beach
Kenya's Indian Ocean coastline enjoys a tropical climate with consistently warm temperatures throughout the year. The mercury hovers around a pleasant 27°C, dipping slightly in July and reaching its peak of 33°C in March. What makes this coast particularly appealing is the ocean temperature – it never drops below 25°C, even in the coolest months, and reaches a balmy 29°C during April.
December to March represents the prime beach season, offering hot, sunny days with minimal rainfall. February stands out as the driest month with just two rainy days on average, making it our top pick for diving and snorkeling when ocean visibility reaches its peak. This period also coincides with excellent whale shark sightings, particularly from January through March.
July to September brings cooler, more comfortable temperatures while maintaining dry conditions.
The long rains from mid-March to late May can be intense, with May seeing up to 19 days of precipitation.
Where to Stay at Diani Beach
Waterlovers Beach Resort is a jewel on Diani beach. With the pool overlooking the ocean, it provides stunning panoramic views of the coast. The founders of WaterLovers Resort were so inspired by the atmosphere of the area, that they created this place from scratch. Its location means it has prime wind conditions and water temperatures for watersports.
Kinondo Kwetu Lodge is a postcard-perfect lodge situated on a private stretch of white sands south of the beautiful Diani Beach. A popular spot for some R&R after a safari in the mainland. This lodge isn't just perfect for honeymooners and couples, but Kinondo Kwetu is also a personal favourite of the King of Sweden.
The Sands at Nomad is a boutique resort and an ideal escape on Kenya's breathtaking Diani Beach - relax at the resorts luxury spa and indulge in their first-class dining one day, explore the untouched reefs whilst scuba diving the next. This option is perfect for families.
The Zubeida is another beautiful boutique resort - this getaway boasts stunning views over the ocean and offers an array of activities for all the family. Experiences everything from whale watching to luxury dining to indulgent spa days.
Things to do at Diani Beach
Diving, snorkelling & water sports
Marine parks have been established all along Diani Beach - these are areas of protected waters that conserve marine life and the ecosystem. They're well worth a visit, and a great place for snorkelling and diving.
Kenya is one of the few places in the world where reef sharks are seen frequently. These waters are also home to the endangered Green and Hawksbill turtles which can be seen whilst exploring under the surface. When visiting, remember to bring an underwater camera!
Diani Beach is one of the greatest water sports destinations in East Africa. Kayaking, jet-skiing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, paddleboarding and scuba-diving are all possible - whatever your pace or skill level, you'll find something to experience at Diani.
Windsurfing over the cool waters of Diani Beach
Brilliant says
For shark spotting, visit between October and April when Whale shark sightings are the most common.
Shimba Hills National Reserve
Shimba Hills National Reserve is a small rainforest park located just 15km from Diani Beach.
The 300km² protected sanctuary is home to numerous elephants, mongooses, monkeys, the endangered Sable Antelope, as well as countless bird species.
Be sure to visit Mwalunganje Elephant Sanctuary within the reserve. Suitable for all ages, it's an informative elephant haven, providing information on how they support animal welfare and local communities. The sanctuary was originally formed to create pathways for the herbivore giants to roam undisturbed amongst the entire nature reserve.
The sanctuary plays a vital role by reducing human-elephant conflict and ensuring balance in the threatened ecosystem, as well as protecting elephants from poachers.
Elephants are an icon of the continent
Kitsite-Mpunguti
Kitsite-Mpunguti Marine Park, just 50km from Diani beach, is a protected sanctuary of coral reefs and small islands inhabited by dolphins, turtles, birds and uncountable fish.
It's is a great hotspot for diving, snorkelling, and island bird watching, and it provides easy access to the Shimoni caves - ancient coral caves home to bats and the location of sacred worship by local communities.
This 39km² underwater sanctuary is located on the southern coast of Kenya, near the Tanzanian border. You can visit the marine park all year round. However, we recommend visiting between October to April when the waters are much clearer due to calmer seas.
Shimoni Caves - photo courtesy of Enzi Museum
Other Activities
Sky Diving: Diani beach offers some of the finest scenery in the world and skydiving onto the beach has become a large attraction amongst tourists who want to see the landscape from a birds-eye view at 12,000 ft.
Deep-Sea Fishing: The availability of fish depends on the season, temperature and bait available. For most fish, the best months to take this trip is between September to April.
Glass Boat Tours: An incredible day out for those who prefer to stay dry but still want to experience the vast ecosystem. Sail on a glass-bottom boat and see schools of colourful fish swim beneath you. Learn from guides about marine life and the local myths of the Indian Ocean.
Wildlife
There are five main species of primates living in the Diani area: yellow baboon, Angolan Colobus, vervet money, the Sykes monkey and bush-babies. These can be spotted all around the region.
The Angolan Colobus is a rare species in Kenya. More than 400 have been identified in the Diani area, one of the highest concentrations in the country.
The Colobus Conservation team have worked hard to ensure the protection of the species by providing food, a safe environment and protection from pouching.
Dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, and whales are often spotted in the deep blues off the Kenyan coast.
A friendly visitor at WaterLovers Resort
Discover Kenya
The tours below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
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