North Coast Beaches

Known collectively as the north coast, simply because they are north of Mombasa, they include Shanzu, Bamburi and Nyali Beaches. There are many tourist hotels and this is the most heavily built up and developed tourist area.
Stretching many miles they all have beautiful white sand and warm tropical seas with many boating and water sport facilities. You are not far from interesting cultural town excursions and entertainment. These beaches, justifiably, made the Kenya coast famous during the 60s and 70’s.

Shanzu, just south of Mtwapa, is about 8 miles from Mombasa. Bamburi Beach, midway is about 4 miles north and Nyali Beach starts immediately north of Mombasa Island. All these beaches are within residential areas and close to shops, banks, post offices and other such facilities.
Many hotels in this area were built during the 70s and 80s, a period of rapid tourism expansion and the better ones have been extensively renovated in recent years. Many are contracted to major charter operators from across Europe. Diving and kite boarding schools operate from most hotels. You can book dhow trips, go looking for dolphins, hire jet skis or take the family to water slides. Some hotels have casinos. Haller Park is near.

Urban planning has not always functioned well in Kenya and the roads from the airport leading to the hotels have become crowded, and the traffic sometimes crawls. However the beaches remain lovely and the staff are friendly.
Mombasa has three golf courses. One is on the island with spectacular views over the old harbour entrance. Nyali golf course is very popular. The latest addition is a superior development 20 kms north of the Island at Vipingo Ridge where golf houses are for sale.

South Coast Beaches

To reach the south coast, you have to cross the Likoni channel by car ferry. The ferries run day and night and are inexpensive.

Known collectively as the south coast, simply because they are south of Mombasa Island, this is a stretch of beach that is about 50 kms long! The beaches are Shelly Beach, Tiwi, Diani, Galu, Masembwene and Shimoni.

The closest to Mombasa, called Shelly Beach is in the most heavily populated area known as Likoni. The turn off is shortly after the ferry crossing.  The beach is not as attractive as in the past. All places have their loyal following and Shelly is still popular with some.

It’s a 20 km drive (along a good tarmac road) to the turn off to Tiwi, a small private beach area that is a mix of residential houses and a few tourist hotels. This is life in the slow lane and fairly isolated.

Further south, about 30 kms south of Mombasa, the Diani Beach is the heart of the south coast and has, arguably one of the finest of many Kenya coast beaches, because it is very wide and beautifully fringed with palms. There is a selection of lovely hotels far away from the city. Shops, hospitals, real estate agents and curio sellers are well spread out along miles of tarmac road adjacent to the beach road. Diani has its own small airfield at Ukunda, with regular flights to Nairobi and to the game parks.

Small boutique hotels are becoming popular. Anywhere on the Kenya coast you are not far from a deep sea fishing organisation, a dive company and plenty of water sports and dhow trips. Shimba Hills game park is a short distance away and makes an attractive days outing for game viewing close to the beach. The wildlife is somewhat seasonal but even an ‘’off’’ day is pleasant in the cooler air of the hills and one can stay overnight in tree lodge.

Diani has an 18 hole golf course attached to Leisure Lodge and it is possible for any one to play with payment of a modest greens fee. Colubus Monkeys are a lovely sight in long black and white fur and a Trust has been set up to look after their dwindling numbers.

Galu Beach is southerly an extension of Dinai with less hotels and more private homes, and cottages for rent, the occasional restaurant and a Meditation retreat. The beach is sublime.

Further south and via a dirt road, lies the sleepy village of Masembwene, with minimal development but plenty of raw beautiful nature. This area is waiting for investors to be opened up. The small Chale Island, has to be reached via a road only useable at low tide. This is a Robinson Crusoe experience with tents on the beach. Very laid back. Naturally the beach is pristine.
More remote and normally visited by up market clients by light plane, the Funzi Island is an even more exclusive (and expensive) Robinson Crusoe experience known as  Funzi Keys. Highly recommended for deep pockets.
The most southerly tourism beach area is at Shimoni, where caves used by the old slave trade can be seen. Not a place of big hotels but rather homely beach cottages, this is home to some of the best deep sea fishing in the Indian Ocean. It is also home to Dhow trips, swimming with dolphins and superb sea food lunches on Kisite island close to the Kisite Marine Park.