The Kenyan coast has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world – no doubt about that. Couple this up its affordability, a range of activities to do, hospitable locals and you get yourself the perfect holiday destination. Each town at the coast has its own unique history which inherently feeds to its character. Take Watamu for example, home to the clearest waters and snorkeling heaven; Malindi, home to Naomi Campbell & a couple of Italian millionaires; Mombasa, the city next to the beach.
Describing Diani is hard – definitely less mainstream than Mombasa and more lush & fun than Malindi and Watamu if you ask me. Diani is a dream – brings the ‘hakuna matata’ phase to life. If you want to unplug, sit back and appreciate life, day drink, dance the night away at the beach, get pampered to massages, eat local food, ride tuk tuks all day and enjoy the beautiful weather (that isn’t too humid), flirt with ‘jamaican’/digo beach boys, well this is the right place for you and here’s my recommended list of local activities.
1. Get a massage at the beach.
Getting someone to massage you at the beach in Diani shouldn’t be that hard. It seems like everyone is eager to anyway and its pretty normal to get people approaching you for this. Yes you could set an appointment with one of the 5 star hotels for this but where’s the fun in that? Now, I can’t vouch for their professionalism but it sure does look like a great way to end your afternoon, just make sure its done in public.
2. Eat fresh fish and mingle with locals at Bidi Badu
Bidi Badu is my most favorite place in Diani because of several reasons. One, it opens at 8 a.m so day drinkers are in luck. Two, it serves some of the tastiest swahili-inspired meals in this part of the coast, with fish, chicken and tamarind juice being house specialties. Three, it has an interesting crowd, best place to people watch – locals & interracial couples with alarming age differences. Four, cool graffiti on the walls with an outstanding Bob Marley mural. Five, you get to enjoy an unforgettable view of the Indian ocean . Shall I continue? The DJ spins a mean set and 40 thieves restaurant is a walking distance from here in case you are a hopper.
3. Dance the night away at 40 thieves.
All Nairobians visiting Diani will almost always make a stop here. This is one of those places where you will bump into ‘you guy my guy’ fellows. The drinks here will be a bit more expensive than at Bidi Badu but nothing you can’t handle. For some reason, the moon always looks beautiful here. What screams holiday more than dancing the night away with the moon, the beach, the waves by your side.
4. Visit Felix Fresh juice store for your Hangover fix
After a busy night of getting hammered, why not treat your body to some healthy freshly pressed juices. We discovered this place by fluke since it was close to the Airbnb listing I stayed at. The shop is located at the turn on Diani Beach Road to the airstrip. Mama Felix is warm, motherly and customer oriented. She knows her menu to the T and will advise which juice to take clearly stating each fruit’s benefits. She made me drink cactus juice guys – for 2 consecutive days!!! She started this venture with her disabled son and the business has been there for more than 10 years! Apart from the wide range of juices, she prepares viazi karai (best tasting potatoes). I assure you – nothing beats eating some hot viazi karai with ukwaju when nursing a hangover, thank me later.
5. Get creative things to do at the beach
We are lucky that the best things in life are free; the beaches being one of them. A day at the beach will allow you to swim, sunbathe, sleep, read a book, play dodge ball/foot ball/volley ball, ride camels, do photo shoots, yoga, build sand castles, write “I love you” on the sand and send pictures of it to your boyfriend……the list is endless, limited by your creativity.
6. Enjoy the cocktails and Ambiance at Sands at Nomad
The Sands at Nomad is decorated beautifully. Who knew colorful lesos, white walls and camping chairs could make such an Instagram-worthy view right in front of the Indian ocean. Known for it’s cocktails and pizzas, afternoon lazying around during your holiday has never been so relaxing.
7. Dine in a Cave under the stars
So here is a disclaimer – locals will rarely dine here. You might have to make reservations in advance because Ali Barbour Cave restaurant is booked all year round – which goes to show how special this place is. This intimate restaurant was built from a cave and the open top allows you to dine under the stars – literally. They also offer transportation to and from the restaurant if you happen to stay along Diani Beach road which is perfect. The sea food menu here is diverse and fantastic – I tasted crab for the first time and wanted more. It would be wrong, almost treacherous to go to Diani and not dine here. Its a special feeling – dining under the stars.
Have you been to Diani before? Share your experience with me about some of the places you enjoyed and why!
Concillier Kitungulu 