27 Inspiring Things To Do In Diani Beach 2024

27 things to do in Diani Beach explore Kenya’s best-loved beach. Find out what to do, where to eat, where to sleep, and the best day trips to take from one of the most beautiful beaches in Africa.

Diani Beach has been awarded the best beach in Africa for 5 years in a row. It’s easy to see why. The beach is the epitome of a paradise postcard. Diani Beach has miles of snow white sand, the pristine waters of the warm Indian Ocean, and a paintbox of jewel colours seen in the flicker of fish, of butterflies and flowers and monkeys. Although it is the biggest tourist beach in Kenya, Diani still works on Kenyan time. There are no high-rise hotels, flashy shopping malls or supercars. Diani is thatched huts, Swahili inspired boutique hotels, palm trees, cocktails, and days spent out on the water, but despite its laid back feel, there are still plenty of things to do in Diani Beach.

8 Things to do in Diani Beach, Kenya

Scuba Diving in Diani

Kenya has world-class dive sites all along its fabulous coastline, see my diving in Kenya blog. There are several dive schools in Diani Beach: Diving the Crab at Nomads, Diani Marine and Ocean Tribe, and all of them will take experienced divers out beyond the reef to dive with whale shark, dolphins, turtles, rays and even humpback whale depending on the time of year. 

Inexperienced divers can choose from taster sessions or a range of formal PADI qualifications. Many dive shops close during the rainy season which is April to June. November to February is the season for whales and whale sharks in Diani. 

Colobus Conservation

Visit Diani Beach Colobus Conservation Centre for a guided tour through the forest where a troop of Colobus Monkeys live. I love these black and white monkeys with their long, bushy tails. Learn all about the threatened primates and the work that the Colobus Conservation does to keep them safe from road accidents and poaching. If you are a monkey lover, then you will be pleased to spot, vervet, sykes and baboons within the grounds. 

Ride a Camel

A trip to Diani isn’t complete without a camel ride along the beach. The kids love it and I’ve seen many terrified adults cling on as the camel lowers them precariously toward the ground. Pay 500 bob / 5 USD for 15 minutes – you’ll find the camel guy all along the beach as he walks the entire length throughout the day. 

Go Kitesurfing 

When the wind picks up, you will see kite surfers all along the Diani Beach coastline. With shallow waters and consistent winds, Diani is one of the best places to kitesurf and learn to kitesurf in Kenya. Kenya is famed for its ancient shipping routes and relies heavily on the two winds, the Kusi which blows up from the south from April to September and the Kaskazi which blows over from India from December to April. Hop over to H20 Extreme at Kenyaways or Quest Kitesurfing at Diani Sea Lodge. Both are great choices for accommodation and lunch. 

Go Horse Riding

In the same way that the camel guy walks along the beach, you will find the ‘beach boys’ trying to offer beach rides, but for safe riding with horses that are well cared for and loved, then head to Kinondo Kwetu. You can have a lesson in the paddock, ride along the beach, or venture into the sacred Kaya Forest. Go early – the sun can be hotter than Hades – but this is a wonderful thing to do in Diani Beach.

Visit the Kongo Estuary and Kongo Mosque

The Kongo Estuary flows into the Indian Ocean where Diani borders Tiwi. The flat still waters of the estuary are stunningly beautiful, with little sandbars and shallow pools. This is a calm place and the best place to SUP (stand up paddleboard) in town. The 16th century Kongo Mosque is the last remaining ancient Swahili structure in Diani and is one of the less well-known things to do in Diani, but worth the trip.

Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest 

Kaya Kinondo is one of several sacred forests in the area. Kaya means sacred, and this ancient forest belongs to the local Digo tribe. It is said that before entering you must wear a black sarong, promise not to kiss anyone, or to take any vegetation-not even a leaf. The forest feels ancient, many trees are up to 600 years old with one palm reputed to be over 1000. Go with a guide and learn about the history of this revered place, including the many medicinal trees.

Shopping in Diani Beach

Food and drink: Heading to the supermarket may not top your list of things to do in Diani, but we all gotta eat. Carrefour and Chandarana are the best places to shop for food and drink in Diani. Both supermarkets are big name brands in Kenya and stock many familiar brands from abroad.

Souveniers: Visit the Bombolulu Workshop at Diani Beach Shopping Centre. The cultural centre is a programme of the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya, and all profits go to help the charity. 

Kazuri Beads sells handmade beads that are made into jewellery. You can pick up baskets, clothes, jewellery and crafts at the stalls along Diani Beach Road. 

Clothes: Bikinis, swimming costumes, sarongs, dresses and shirts can be found at the boutique shops at Sands at Nomads and Kenyaways. Check out the stalls along Diani Beach road which sell kaftans, trousers, t-shirts and kikoys at cheap prices. There are similar stalls along the beach – the biggest is outside Nomads. 

Pharmacies: The best are at the Diani Beach Shopping Centre or Goodlife Pharmacy next to Carrefour. 

3 Day Trips From Diani Beach, Kenya 

Mombasa Old Town and Fort Jesus

At first glance, Mombasa is a stinking hot, sprawling city that is best avoided, but scratch the surface and you’ll find ancient delights and heaps of shopping bargains.

Head onto Mombasa Island and spend the day visiting the 14th Century Fort Jesus and shopping for souvenirs in the rambling, antique-filled streets of Mombasa Old Town. Read my blog on things to do in Mombasa. Mombasa has some fabulous restaurants. I particularly recommend Tamarind.

Get there via car or taxi – the journey is approximately 90 minutes

Visit Kisite Marine Park and Wasini Island

Nearly touching the southern tip of the Kenyan coastline is Kisite Marine Park and Wasini Island. Kisite Marine Park is one of the best places to dive in Kenya and Wasini Island is the archetypal tropical paradise; a teeny little island surrounded by white sand beaches. You will find a couple of restaurants and you can stay overnight in bandas, but most people head here by boat as part of a snorkelling day trip. 

The waters are crystal clear, the marine life is incredibly abundant, and this is one of the best places in Kenya to see humpback whales. Get Your Guide offers a great day trip to Wasini and Kisite Marine Park – see below.

Get there on a boat tour – or get a taxi down to Shimoni and jump on the ferry. 

Visit Shimba Hills National Park 

Shimba Hills is a verdant wildlife park about half an hour outside of Diani. The 350 sq km part is an equatorial rainforest and home to over 700 elephants, the rare Sable Antelope, leopard, lion, buffalo and some more unusual, tropical animals. We drive through Shimba Hills on the way to the coast and, whilst much is made of its cool climate, in reality, it can be boiling in the jungle-like park. Shimba Hills presents a wonderful opportunity to get out of Diani and experience something different. It’s one of my favourite things to do in Diani Beach.

Get there via a tour – or if you have your own car Shimba Hills is easily reached just 3km from Ukunda Airport. 

8 Places To Eat in Diani 

Eating and drinking is always going to top the list of things to do in Diani. Whether you want to spend your holiday sipping cocktails at Nomads or eating ceviche at Kenyaways, there’s plenty of places to each in Diani.

The Salty Squid at Kenyaways.  

The Salty Squid occupies a prime beachfront location at the Galu end of Diani Beach. Beautifully decorated, the best part about this restaurant is its proximity to the beach. Food is fresh and always delicious – I love the tuna carpaccio, but they also offer a variety of tacos, burgers, Asian pork dishes, and a selection of salads or lobster, prawns. I have stayed at Kenyaways and loved it, read my blog on Kenyaways 

Leonardo’s 

Leonardos is an Italian restaurant that does excellent pizzas and the most incredible Dawa cocktails. We kept going back for the cocktails alone. It’s in a small mall on Diani Beach road so doesn’t benefit from the sea breeze but they give you lots of fans to keep you cool. Leonardos, Diani is an easy, relaxed place to enjoy pizza, pasta and cocktails. 

Ali Barbours Cave Restaurant 

Read my blog on Ali Barbours – Kenya’s most fantastical cave restaurant. Set in the naturally formed coral cave, slightly back from the sea., steps descend beneath the earth where an opening in the roof allows for dining by candlelight and starlight. The food is mediocre, not bad, but you aren’t going there for the food, anyway. Sadly, Ali Barbour’s sister restaurant Forty Thieves is now shut. 

Shashin- Ka Japanese restaurant 

Sashin-Ka serves the freshest sushi and sashimi in town. Beautifully presented in traditional style by Japanese chefs.

Nomads 

Nomads is the beachfront bar of the Sands at Nomads hotel but it is open to all visitors. Arguably THE place to be in Diani, it’s a beautiful open-air building right on the beach, and the perfect spot to sip cocktails and watch the kids play on the sand. 

The menu is wide and varied. They do some fabulously huge pizzas that my kids always love, an assortment of fish dishes including sushi, freshly caught lobster, prawns octopus and calamari. I am pleased to see a few Swahili dishes on the menu, the taffi curry is delicious. 

Kokkos

Kokkos is a coffee shop/restaurant that does excellent coffee and a decent lunch or breakfast. They have yummy cakes, sandwiches, pasta, burgers and salads – enormous milkshakes. This is my favourite brunch place in Diani.

Sails 

Sails Diani Beach, on the southern end of Galu, is strikingly beautiful, but it is the only restaurant on this list I have never been to. Part of the Almanara resort, Sails always seems to be shut when I try to go there, so do phone up before. I have walked past it many times and always want to go in. Shining white with huge sail-like canopies, my husband has been and said it is one of the high-end places to eat in Diani, and it has a focus on seafood. 

8 Places To Party in Diani Beach

I’m older than the winds of time, so you won’t find me at any nightclubs in Diani, but apparently clubbing till 3 am is one of the best things to do in Diani Beach. I’m told that the following are the best places to party in Diani. 

Bars: Apero, Tiki bar, Havana and Piri Piries – are bars that also serve food 

Clubs in Diani. Tandoori, Manyatta, Shakatak and Coral Bay – clubs for a wild night out.

Where to stay in Diani Beach

I wrote a blog on the best places to stay in Diani Beach.

My tops picks are:

$$$ Swahili Beach – For that big resort experience

$$$ Sands at Nomads – Luxury Boutique Hotel

$$$ Southern Palms Resort Diani – All Inclusive Resort

$$ Kenyaways – kitesurfing hotel

Further reading

Travelling Around Kenya – how to get around Kenya

Where to stay in Tiwi Beach Kenya

Vipingo Ridge Kenya: all you need to know

Watamu beach Kenya: an insiders guide

Watamu hotels and villas : where to stay in Watamu

21 of the best restaurants in Nairobi

15 Best day trips from Nairobi

best hotels in Nairobi – what’s hot and what’s Not

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