Diani Beach is located on the Southern coast of Kenya, directly on the Indian Ocean. Diani Beach is is an award winning beach with white sand, turquoise water, palm trees, sun. The perfect cliché.
A wide variety of water activities and sports such as swimming, snorkeling, diving, jet-skiing, sailing, kite surfing, fishing, dolphin watching and of course fresh, and deliciously prepared fish and seafood are all available. Local cuisine is Swahili which has traditionally been influenced by both Arab and Indian cultures.
Kenya is one of the major tourist spots in Africa and offers more much more than beach holidays. Nairobi, Mombasa and Lamu town are ideal for city trips. Various national parks offer “big game” safaris, on the vast and expansive savannas and around Mount Kenya. There are various offerings for all manner of tailored trips, day excursions and hiking. A tourist visa for 90 days can be obtained online in advance via the eCitizen portal at a cost of $51. A free extension of the visa up to 90 days (currently a maximum of 60 days is issued) is also possible online (via eFNS). Kenya is generally quite safe, for the current status we recommend consulting and following the travel advisory of your Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Flights from Europe go either to Nairobi or Mombasa. EgyptAir (via Cairo), EthiopianAirlines (via Addis Ababa), TurkishAirlines (via Istanbul) and sometimes with QuatarAirways (via Doha) all offer reasonably priced tickets. Nairobi is a good choice if you want to explore the interior of the country in advance or if the volume of your luggage is limited. Flights to Nairobi are often slightly cheaper than to Mombasa and a domestic flight in the low season from Nairobi to Ukunda Airstrip (Diani is part of Ukunda) costs no more than a taxi from Mombasa to Diani. However, baggage allowance may be limited on these domestic flights. Nairobi has two airports. International flights land at JKIA (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport), most (but not all!) domestic flights to Ukunda depart from Wilson Airport, which is about half an hour away.
The climate in Diani Beach is tropically warm all year round, but very pleasant thanks to the constant breeze from the sea. Daytime temperatures vary around 27°C, and as Diani is just below the equator, summer lasts from October to March. The “winter” in Diani is usually a bit better than the average Central European summer. Bonus for those who want to escape the winter darkness: due to the proximity to the equator, the days are always relatively the same length. Sunrise is always around 6:00 am, sunset around 6:00 pm +/- half an hour ### (not 15 mins). Night temperatures are around 25°C. We therefore recommend accommodation that is at least equipped with fans or better with air conditioning.
The prices are reasonable compared to Central Europe. A good dinner for two can be had for 25 – 30 €/$ including drinks. Hotels are available in the low season from 35 €/$ per night, fully furnished flats for a stay of more than 1 month from about 450 €/$ per month. Attention!: During high season normally from December, prices can skyrocket up to double or even triple that! We are happy to help you find accommodation.
For local mobility, tuk-tuks (Piaggo Ape tricycles) are available as taxis, which can usually take up to 3 passengers. Those who are even more adventurous can board a BodaBoda (moped taxi). Depending on the route and number of people, 0.50 to 1.50 €/$ per person will be charged. Ignorant newcomers are often charged 5 €/$. For those who prefer to drive themselves: everything from bicycles to eBikes, scooters, motorbikes (mostly up to 250 cc) and rental cars are available. An international driving license is recommended.
The usual credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted in most bars, restaurants and shops. In the worst case, you can use them to get cash at an ATM. If you are planning a longer stay, you should buy a Kenyan SIM card from Safaricom very early. Most money transactions are done through the connected M-PESA system, where money can be sent from phone to phone or to so-called Till and PayBill numbers for shops and restaurants. In some cases, these payments are free of additional charges. This mode of payment helps to ensure the risk of cash withdrawals is minimised.
In order to continue to be reachable from Europe, forwarding the local phone number(s) to Satellite.me is a proven VoIP solution.
