List of Kenya Best Beach Destinations
Kenya has some of the most fascinating and historically significant coastlines in East Africa, if not the entire Africa. Kenya’s coastline is a treasure trove of breathtaking beaches, where powdery white sands meet the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.
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Whether you’re seeking a romantic escape, a family-friendly retreat, or an adventure-filled getaway, Kenya’s beaches offer something for everyone. From the vibrant shores of Diani to the secluded serenity of Watamu, each destination promises a unique blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and unforgettable experiences. In this ultimate guide, we’ll take you on a journey through the top beaches in Kenya, revealing the best spots for relaxation, water sports, and soaking up the tropical paradise.
[blockquote align=”none” author=”Jawaharial Nehru”]We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.[/blockquote]
Get ready to uncover the coastal gems that make Kenya a must-visit destination for beach lovers!
1. Diani Beachline
Best beach for long walks and watersports
About 30km south of Mombasa, Diani Beach is a long-time tourist favorite, with a long stretch of soft, powder-white sand, and an exceptional and vast option of hotels, hostels, and serviced beach villas, in addition to numerous restaurants and bars. Diani is popular for basically all the popular beach activities, including standup paddle boarding, kitesurfing, kayaking and deep-sea fishing. You can even go skydiving for views from above.
Diani is a dream destintion for divers and snorkelers, with lots of dive sites less than an hour away by boat. Reef sharks are a huge draw, as is spotting threatened hawksbill and green turtles. From November to February, you may see whale sharks. For kids, glass-bottomed boat trips offer a simple look of the underwater world.
If you’re after a safari fix, the park of Shimba Hills National Reserve is 16km (10 miles) inland, and it’s home to elephants, monkeys, mongooses, bird species, and the threatened sable antelope. Inside the reserve is the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, developed for elephants to stroll around this area easily.
Accommodation and Lodging: Kinondo Kwetu, The Sands At Nomad, Swahili Beach, Baobab Beach Resort & Spa & Leopard Beach Resort and Spa
2. Watamu Beachline
Best beach for snorkeling and marine life.
At 108 kilometres north of Mombasa City, the coral gardens of Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve are home to parrotfish, angelfish, three species of turtles, and many more uncountable marine species, making this an underwater paradise.
If you visit Watamu in between November and February, there’s a likelihood of seeing whale sharks and angelfish. Between July to October is the season for humpback whales. Tour operators can organize for you kitesurfing and other water activities.
Watamu beachline consists of three bays — Watamu, Blue Lagoon, and Turtle– and they’re all white-sand, aquamarine, coconut palm-lined natural marvels. What makes this area especially unique are the close-by wetlands and mangrove forests– the Arabuko Sokoke Coastal Forest is one of the biggest systems of coastal forest in Africa and a flourishing environment for wildlife, including evasive elephants, different reptiles and amphibians and the adorable-looking Sokoke scops owl.
While Watamu is still a reasonably sleepy beach town, a growing number of hotels have actually put it on the tourism map, including the popular Hemingways, aptly named as a tribute to the US author spent his time here engaging in deep-sea fishing. Others, such as Ocean Sports & Turtle Bay have actually raised Watamu’s profile as a watersports destination; the hotel’s activity center can arrange scuba dives, fishing trips, kayaking, and windsurfing lessons.
Major accommodation options at Watamu: Hemingways Watamu & Turtle Bay Beach Resort
3. Kenyatta Beach
Kenyatta is a public beach situated in the Bamburi Area, Mombasa. The beach brings in numerous Kenyans and worldwide tourists as it is constantly dynamic with activities. Although the beach experiences some disadvantages such as overcrowding and contamination, it is good for fun activities like swimming with friends and family.
The beach is an ideal place to enjoy playing in the sun and surfing with other travelers. You will see lots of suppliers hawking sodas, ice cream treats, and other treats. Watersports and cruising trips are popular activities on this beach.
4. Kikambala Beach
Best beach to experience the local atmosphere
About 33km (21 miles) north of Mombasa, Kikambala Beach is not the most accessible spot– the road ends a few hundred meters away from the beach — but if you like peaceful sands and snorkeling, it’s worth the effort. The sand is blinding white and at low tide, you can stroll out to the reef. It’s a popular beach with the local community, that makes it particularly atmospheric at the end of the day, with children kicking soccer balls around and individuals relaxing with cold beers at small beach kiosks.
5. Bamburi Beach, Mtwapa
Camel trips, snorkeling, scuba diving, and reef? Sign us up. Bamburi Beach, in Mtwapa area, is home to these activities and more. The beach, on Kenya’s northern coasts, is lined with beachfront hotels, eateries, and bars with views of the sea. Kick back in the golden sand and enjoy the appeal or immerse yourself in the clear blue-green water. Bamburi Beach is a go-to tourist destination in Kenya, so don’t expect to be alone while trying to enjoy it. On the other hand, a beach this popular must be good.
6. Shanzu Beach
A beach that’s the best combination of a built-up tourist destination and a tranquil waterside vacation– that’s Shanzu Beach. The beach, right off Kenya’s Mombasa-Malindi Highway, boasts miles of soft gold-colored sand and clear, refreshing blue water. The palm tree-lined beach gives you plenty of shade– simply watch out for falling coconuts from the coconut palm trees. Shanzu’s host of hotels, hostels, dining establishments, and bars imply that you don’t require to endeavor far to find a location to sleep, eat, or beverage, while the miles of coastline mean if your section of the beach gets too crowded, you can walk along the water in either direction till you discover a little more personal privacy for your stay.
Major Lodging Options in Shanzu Beach: Serena Beach Resort & Spa
7. Lamu Island, Lamu Archipelago
The best beach for experiencing Swahili culture
Slow pace rules on Lamu Island, and visiting his dune-dusted archipelago can seems like a step back in time—traditional dressing, use of donkeys for transport (cars for personal use aren’t permitted) and traditional trades such as woodworking and boat-building are still prevalent. This 13th-century port city of Lamu Town is among the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlements in East Africa, and you’ll see African, Asian, and European influences on the islands’ architecture, particularly the elaborate doors.
In addition to exploring the beaches (Shela Beach is particularly sensational), a sundown dhow boat trip around Lamu island and into the mangrove forests is a must. These perfectly carved standard sailing vessels were when utilized to ferry spices and other products between Africa, Asia, and the Arabian Peninsula. Today, they take individuals on sunset cruises, snorkeling outing, and even overnight trips where you can swim in shimmering phosphorescence and sleep on deck under the stars.
In Lamu Town, make a journey to Ali’s boatyard to see the FlipFlopi Dhow, the world’s very first recycled plastic sailing boat, part of a task to lower waste in seaside neighborhoods.
Lamu Lodging and Accommodation: Kipungani Explorer & Peponi Hotel
8. Nyali Beach, Mombasa
The finest beach for easy access from Mombasa City
When people speak about Mombasa’s beaches, they typically imply the long stretches that lie north and south of the city, such as Diani and Watamu. However Nyali, part of a larger suburb just north of main Mombasa Island, has plenty going on to match all visitors and it’s one of the most accessible and hassle-free stretches of sand.
Nyali’s long, white-sand beach has an excellent choice in terms of hotels. Resorts and dining. It might not qualify as the most stunning of Kenya’s beaches, but with the New Nyali Bridge connecting Nyali area to Mombasa Island, it’s easy to reach the Old Town and sights such as ancient Fort Jesus.
An excellent base is Tamarind Village, a trendy complex of serviced homes on Mombasa Harbor with gorgeous views over the water to Mombasa Island. Its white exterior and high arches are a style in tribute to traditional Arab architecture on the Swahili coast. Its popular, open-sided Tamarind restaurant is exceptional for seafood, and you can also book a trip on a dhow (conventional sailboat) for a crewed sunset cruise around the harbor.
The beach itself is close to Mombasa Marine Park, where you can go snorkeling. You might also decide to view the marine life through a glass-bottomed boat. Hang around off the water at Haller Park, Mamba Village Centre, or Nguuni Sanctuary. During the night, hit the club scene in Mombasa or Nyali.
Major accommodation in Nyali Area: Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa, Nyali Sun Africa Beach Hotel & Spa, Voyager Beach Resort & Prideinn Hotel Mombasa.
9. Malindi Beach line
Finest beach for Italian flavours
Malindi is one of Kenya’s a lot of appealing beach towns. While it has a primarily Muslim population, it’s also known as ‘Little Italy’ after the Italian-run Broglio Space Center opened in the late 1960s and a growing Italian neighborhood made a home here. While less Italian homeowners live here today compared to Malindi’s prime time, the town is still home to an above-average variety of Italian dining establishments, gelaterias, and supermarket selling pasta and Parmesan cheese.
Malindi has a long and charming stretch of beach, and while the town has actually a rather faded feel, that’s also part of the charm. Lodges and resorts line the beach road leading to Malindi town, consisting of the uncommon sculpture-park-meets-hotel, White Elephant, owned by an Italian art collector. 2 of the best Italian dining establishments in the location– Osteria and Baby Marrow– are also on this beach roadway.
10. Mambrui Beachline
If kitesurfing is what you are searching for, then this is the place for you. The Che Shale kitesurfing centre was the first on the Kenyan coast and is the supreme spot for novices and pros alike to get on a board and take pleasure in the warm wind and waves that lap this uncrowded beach. Although kitesurfing dominates this expanse of golden sand, it is likewise the best location to begin your shoes and indulge in miles of serene and deserted beaches. When legs are tired from a complete day in the waves, the rich background of coconut palms and indigenous greenery creates the supreme setting to unwind with a plate of fresh fish and a mixed drink as you enjoy little dhows cruise into the sundown.
11. Kilifi Beachline
Finest beach for cool, imaginative vibes
Kilifi is around 35km south of Watamu at the mouth of Kilifi Creek, with a primarily regional population of Giriama and Chonyi individuals from the Mijikenda tribe. Palm-lined Bofa Beach is a gorgeous area and home to the dynamic beach bar and kitesurfing centre, Salty’s Kitesurf Village. The south side of Kilifi Creek is home to the smaller sized Shauri Moyo Beach with more white sand.
The creek itself, an estuary of the Goshi River, is a haven for birdlife. Take a boat to the bird island in the middle of the creek to see fish eagles and flocks of southern carmine bee-eaters. Kilifi is also a great base for a trip to the Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve, among Kenya’s earliest marine parks. Take a boat to snorkel and dive amongst groupers, lionfish big rays, and whale sharks in season.
On land, Kilifi is home to the Mnarani Ruins, the archaeological remains of a centuries-old Swahili settlement on a bluff overlooking the creek. The website consists of 2 15th-century Mnarani mosques and a 900-year-old baobab tree.
12. Galu Beachline
Finest beach for eco-tourism and kitesurfing
Galu (often called Galu Kinondo) is often viewed as an extension of Diani Beach, and it’s another endless stretch of coastline south of Mombasa. This patch of sand is a little bit more remote and less developed compared to Diani, and there’s more seaside scrub. Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest is the last standing forest along the Kenyan coast, home to vervet and colobus monkeys, and it’s a sacred site for local neighborhoods.
While white sands are the biggest ticket at Galu, the eco-tours run by Colobus Conservation are worth paying attention to. The company was set up to protect these threatened primates and save their environment after locals voiced concerns over the increasing deaths of colobus monkeys on busy Diani Beach Road. Your cash spent visiting Galu will go a long way to supporting research study, education, animal welfare and environment protection.
Galu Beach is also popular with kitesurfers and paddle boarders, and the Polish-run KiteMotion kitesurfing school is a good starting point. Snorkelers and divers can swim amongst scorpion fish and moray eels, in addition to rarer fish such as sea horses and ghost pipe fish.
Lodging: Lantana Galu Beach Resort
13. Chale Island Beach
Kenya’s only personal island resort floats less than the length of a soccer field off the mainland but feels like a million miles away. Surrounded by coral reefs and covered in thick tropical vegetation, the island has one main beach in addition to a number of little secluded strands where yours are most likely to be the only steps in the sand. Except for amphibian fins, that is, because Chale is a nesting location for numerous types of endangered sea turtles.
The Sands at Chale Island Hotel curls around the primary beach on the island’s windward coast. Beach bumming is the main activity, however the resort can also set up snorkeling or scuba diving in Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park, kayaking in the nearby mangroves, catamaran sailing, deep-sea fishing, and expeditions up the coast to Diani Beach.
Lodging: The Sands at Chale Island
14. Tiwi Beach
This is a real surprise gem. This peaceful beach is often snubbed in favor of its next-door neighbor, Diani Beach, due to its absence of amenities. Besides the 4-star Tiwi Beach Resort, the only other accommodations are homes and guesthouses, with no bars and restaurants to hang out.
Tiwi makes up for this deficit by being one of the very best snorkeling spots– you can touch the coral reef as you stroll along the coasts of the beach. It is well-liked by residents, particularly those from Nairobi. What makes this beach more enticing is the lack of beach boys.
Accommodation: Amani Tiwi Lodge
15. Funzi Beach
Funzi is a perfect getaway beach for individuals seeking a private experience of the best Kenyan beaches. The beach lies on Funzi Island, which pushes the south coast of Kenya, 65 km from Mombasa and 35 km from Diani Beach. Funzi Beach will stun you with its unblemished tropical beauty, pulsating wildlife, and exclusive lodgings. It’s best known for its relaxation blend with culture, wildlife, and distinct landscapes.
You’ll find the supreme swimming experience on the natural sandbank just offshore from the town. The very best trips are the extraordinary crocodile safaris down the Ramisi River and the dynamic cultural trips in Funzi village.
Accommodation: Funzi Keys Lodge
