Kenya: Safari Guide + Diani Beach
- Aube Vandingenen
- Feb 5, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 4
Kenya is by far my favorite destination. I’ve been here four times, so we can say I am an expert. If that’s not enough, my mom has a small and beautiful hotel with five rooms at Diani Beach, so if I don’t know something, she does. I fell in love with this country in 2018, so I will give you my perfect itinerary.
Flights
Depending on where you’re flying from, you should arrive in Mombasa. A tip when you are passing through Ethiopia: Make sure you have bought some food because it’s expensive and not good in the airport. If you smoke a lot, I don’t like advertising this, but it is very cheap to buy in Ethiopia.
Arriving in Mombasa
There are several ways to get to Diani Beach; I always take a taxi but book it beforehand. Check with your hotel if they have an airport shuttle. If you would stay at my mom’s place, 'PeeKAboo,' they can arrange this. The trip can take in between 1 hour and 2 hours, depending on the ferryboat.
!! Tourist trap alert: Avoid letting people carry your luggage at the airport if you don’t want to pay. Often, they’ll ask for money, and since you might not have Kenyan Shillings yet, they may request 5-20 euros, which can be a significant amount for locals.
Day 1: Arrival at Diani Beach
After a taxi ride through Mombassa and Diani Beach you probably already had some first (shocking) impressions. Kenya is a poor country and Mombassa is a busy city, the combination can make it impressive, especially if it’s your first time in Africa.
Take your time to arrive at the hotel/hostel and don’t do too much today. After a whole day of traveling you are probably very tired. Enjoy the beach and go eat at Asha Beach Boutique Hotel where they offer BBQ with a beautiful view on the beach on Fridays!
Day 2: Exploring Diani Beach
Time to start the trip. If you are a fan of sunrises, go watch the sunrise at Diani Beach and get back to the hotel to eat some good breakfast. Go exchange currency at a nearby bank. (Ask your hotel for the best place to go).
If you are a beach and pool person, walk around the beach and discover one of the prettiest beaches in Africa. If you want to discover more of the local life, take a TukTuk to Ukunda, a local market with everything you can think off. As a tourist, I love buying my bracelets and sandels there, it will be way cheaper than buying it at Diani Beach.
End your day with some amazing dinner at Sails, with again, a view on the beach, perfect to watch the sunset.
Buying souvenirs, driving in a tuktuk and getting cash
Day 3: Wasini and Funzi Island Adventure
The perfect day trip from Diani Beach allows you to snorkel and explore the underwater life.
Thanks to my mom’s hotel there, we know people who organize this. We recommend the guide Mohamed; he is very personable and ensures a fantastic day. Unfortunately, there is no website; you’ll have to find him at the beach. Be cautious, as many people sell this tour, so make sure you don’t fall into a tourist trap.
You’ll get picked up at your hotel in the morning and be taken to Wasini Island for snorkeling. Afterward, you’ll head to Funzi Island to enjoy local fish and explore the island. Of course, there’s a boat ride through the mangroves, and you might even spot crocodiles.
For dinner to end your day, consider Apero, a great restaurant run by a Belgian expat.
Day 4: Chill day before the big day
Tomorrow, you are leaving for your dream safari, so make sure you have everything ready. Here is a list of what you need for your safari. After packing, treat yourself to a massage; Diani Beach has amazing masseuses. If you are staying at Peekaboo, you must get a massage from Lilian or Judith. While writing this, I am craving those massages.
If you like watersports, check if it’s possible to do some kitesurfing, depending on when you are in Diani Beach. If you want to enjoy the sun, you can visit Safari Beach Hotel and relax on their sunbeds.
A must-do for dinner is ‘Ali Barbour’s Cave’; you’ll absolutely need a dinner reservation, and this one will be your most expensive night, but it’s still European prices, so nothing to worry about! So if you appreciate good food and special restaurants, this is the one that you can’t miss.
Day 5-8: Safari Adventure
Time for the once-in-a-lifetime experience, and, in my opinion, the best experience of my life. There are a lot of options, but the two main ones are going to Amboseli, Tsavo West and East, or going to Masai Mara. I can’t compare because I have only been to Amboseli, Tsavo West and East,
but I’ll tell you all about it.
Biggest difference between Masai Mara and Amboseli:
Amboseli | Masai Mara | |
Location | Southern Kenya (border with Tanzania) | Western Kenya |
Special event | View of Kilimanjaro | Wildebeest Migration |
Nature | Wetter, greener, more variation | Open and flat savannah |
Budget:
The budget for a safari can range from 400 dollars to 2000 dollars, depending on when you are traveling and whether you opt for a budget or luxury safari. It’s challenging to provide an average price as safaris are highly personalized experiences with variable costs. I can mention that a private safari for two people tends to be more expensive compared to a group of four or five, as the transport costs are divided. Luxury safaris, which typically include food, accommodation, transport, and a guide, may cost around 900 dollars for a four-day experience. Remember to tip the guide at the end of your safari.
The hardest thing is finding a good company for safaris. My mom tried many, and we concluded that Oranje Exclusive Safari is the best. I tried two different companies, and this one was ten times better. If you want me to put you in contact with them, feel free to contact me, and I can help you find your perfect safari choice.
Their jeeps are very good, with a fridge for drinks (included in the price), Wi-Fi when on the road (not in the safari parks), and excellent guides.
In my opinion, you should go on at least a four-day safari, more if you want to relax a bit more. I’ve been on the 4-day one, through Amboseli and Tsavo West and East, and I chose the luxury version. But even the ‘basic’ version is still very good. The difference is the place you sleep at.
The luxury accommodations are amazing, with different kinds of lodges. There are real buildings, but also tents, which is amazing. Most of the lodges have water around them, so during the night, and even during the day, animals come to drink, and it’s just magical.
One of the luxury accommodations
Kenya is very known for its safaris and nature, but don’t count on always seeing the Big 5; the rhino is very hard to spot in Kenya, and it’s a choice if you want to go look for them. I didn’t do it because, for me, there are enough other amazing animals.
Enjoy this safari; you’ll be tired because you wake up early and driving on African roads is very tiring, but it’s so worth it. Take those pictures and enjoy every second.
Extra: If you want to visit a Masai village, make sure you let your tour guide know and bring some cash. It’s nice to see but it’s never 100% genuine because they have seen quite some tourists.
Day 9: Back from the safari
Every time I am back from a safari, I am exhausted, and my back hurts like hell. So if there is one moment you should get a massage, it’s now!
Every time I planned something on this day, I ended up canceling it because I was too tired, so don’t plan anything and just go with the flow.
A good evening activity is to go to Stilts Backpackers where you can feed Bush Babies every night (you’ll have to check for the time). Make sure you are on time because when you’re late, they’ll be gone. The cocktails are very good there and pretty cheap. You can get dinner too; if you want dinner at the beach, you can go to Nomad.
! Make sure to wash your hands after, because the reason why their hands are soft is because they pee on it!
Day 10: Ocean Day
There are plenty of tours you can do from Diani Beach: Go dolphin spotting, fishing, snorkeling at Robinson Island with a guide (certain hours a day because it’s basically a sandbank where the boats go). Or enjoy some water activities like jet skiing, kite surfing, and diving.
Day 11: Motorbike Tour
This is an activity you probably should do through my mom's hotel because it is not an official tour. KEBENE family (children’s home), a place where they support, help, and house babies, kids, and young people that don’t have another place to go, they organize this motorbike tour. You’ll see Diani Beach in a different way, more in a local way. They’ll show you the KEBENE farm and eat very sober food. You’ll get to know more about their life and how they grow up.
Day 12: Colobus Day
If you’re a fan of good coffee, start your day at Pallet Cafe Diani (Galu Beach), and after that, go to the Colobus Conservation. An organization that rescues monkeys and bush babies that are severely injured, a very interesting visit in my opinion. Of course, very important for the community and organization because tourists can bring money in to save these little ones.
Price: 1000 Shilling (6 euro) for adults and 750 Shilling (4,50 euro) for kids under 12.
If you want to continue your day of visiting, you can always check if it’s possible to visit the KEBENE family. They have a ‘family day’ every Saturday, so that’s the day you can visit them. If you want to help them out or help a child out, check out their website; they can use every little help.
Dinner tip: Colobus Shade, a local fish restaurant (make a reservation).
Day 13: Shimba Hills Waterfalls
I haven’t done this one, but it seems very nice. Get on a nature hike of 25 km to Sheldrick’s Falls in Shimba Hills, guided by a ranger. You’ll see the beautiful waterfalls and amazing nature. If you are a fan of hiking, this is a good activity.
Day 14: See you Soon Kenya
Farewell Kenya, or see you soon. I hope you fell in love with this country as much as I did. Kenya has a combination of nature and relaxing. If that’s what you love, this holiday is for you.
What do you need on a safari:
- Hat, cap, something to cover your head
- A jumper: Safaris can get very cold, especially on morning safaris
- Avoid wearing white or black, as it gets dirty or hot
- Sunscreen
- Long pants for dinner at night
- Passport
- Camera/phone
- Power bank
- Some cash
- Good, closed shoes
- Swimwear
- Binoculars (=verrekijker)
Where to stay:
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you're looking for an all-inclusive hotel, there are plenty of them at the beach, or full pension. If you want something smaller, you should go to the next road. There are plenty of small hostels and hotels that are way cheaper.
My recommendation is, of course, my mom’s place: Peekaboo. It has 5 rooms; the rooms are 50 euro for single use and 55 euro for two people, breakfast included, it’s best to book directly through their website. Aircon is 5 euros a day, to avoid unnecessary use. It has a pool, and it’s almost private because it’s so small, with the possibility to eat dinner for a small price and get the best massages of Diani Beach.
When to go to Kenya:
The best months to go to Kenya are from August till February. Sometimes July is fine too, but because of climate change, the weather is very hard to predict.
November-December: The hottest months
End of July - August: End of the rain season, it starts getting hotter, perfect for people who don’t like 35 degrees.
Low Season | High season | |
When | November to February | July to October |
Weather | Hot with afternoon thunder and rain from time to time | Cool and dry |
Game Viewing Highlights | Migrant birds arrive – perfect time for birdwatching Birthing season – lots of baby animals around | Wildebeest Migration river crossings |
Landscape | Lush and green | Dry and dusty |
Wildebeest Migration | No | Yes |
Tipping in Kenya:
Tipping is not mandatory, but if the service was good, it’s customary. It’s not like the US, but if you can, tip around 5-10% or more if the service was excellent (This doesn’t count for tuktuks).
Kenyan Shilling
At the moment (February 2024), 100 Shillings is equivalent to around 6 euros. Normally, it's around 9 euros, so it's a very good time to visit Kenya and enjoy a more affordable experience.
Transport
When in Diani Beach, your mode of transport will be ‘tuktuks,’ which are the perfect way to get around for around 50 shillings, equivalent to not even 40 cents!
Health precautions:
Check with your authorities what vaccinations you need before you visit Kenya. Also, Malaria pills are very much recommended; keep in mind that some people get sick because of the pills. You start taking them two days in advance, so you might feel a bit sick the first day.
In high season (wetter season), always use your bug spray to avoid a lot of bites.
Don’t approach monkeys while you are in Diani Beach; they can scratch you, and they carry illnesses.
When on safari, always listen to your guide.
This is the end of my safari itinerary and Diani Beach. I hope you’ll fall in love with Kenya, just like me. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. This is the place I know most about and know some people! Enjoy!
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