Kenya · East Africa
The Kenyan coast.
The coast is Swahili rather than safari — a distinct culture, architecture and cuisine along the Indian Ocean.
Photo Derricks Nature Book / Unsplash
Diani and Watamu are the usual beach extensions, and Lamu, a Swahili town and World Heritage Site with no cars, is the one that stays with people. The coast is typically added after the safari rather than before it.
How do you get to the Kenyan coast?
Mombasa has the coast's international airport, and domestic flights from Nairobi reach Mombasa, Ukunda (for Diani), Malindi (for Watamu) and Manda Island (for Lamu). Many travellers fly straight from a safari airstrip to the coast. From Manda, Lamu is a short boat ride across the channel.
What is Lamu like?
Lamu Old Town is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili town in East Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are almost no cars: people get around on foot, by donkey and by dhow, through narrow lanes of coral-stone houses with carved wooden doors.
Diani or Watamu: which beach?
Diani, south of Mombasa, is a long white beach backed by forest, with the most choice of places to stay. Watamu, to the north, sits beside a marine national park with coral gardens and turtles, and close to the Gede ruins of a medieval Swahili town. Both are on the reef-sheltered Indian Ocean.
Is the Kenyan coast or Zanzibar better after a safari?
The Kenyan coast is the easier finish to a Kenyan safari, with direct flights from the parks and no border to cross. Zanzibar pairs naturally with a Tanzanian safari. Both offer Swahili culture, dhows and Indian Ocean beaches; Lamu is quieter and more traditional than either.
How long should you spend on the Kenyan coast?
Three to five nights, after the safari rather than before it. Lamu rewards at least three.
What is there to see in the Kenyan coast?
Sample journeys that stop here
- The Best of East Africa →Embark on an unforgettable journey through East Africa's most iconic destinations, where extraordinary wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultural heritage await. From thrilling Big Five safaris and the Great Migration to pristine beaches and authentic local experiences, this carefully curated adventure showcases the very best of East Africa in one remarkable journey.
What does the Kenyan coast pair well with?
- The Masai MaraThe Mara is Kenya's flagship reserve and the northern extension of the Serengeti ecosystem, which is why the migration reaches it.
- Amboseli and the southern parksAmboseli is elephant country beneath Kilimanjaro, and gives the single most recognisable view in East Africa.
- Laikipia and the northern conservanciesLaikipia is a plateau of private and community conservancies north of Mount Kenya, and the centre of Kenyan rhino conservation.
- Zanzibar and the coast, TanzaniaZanzibar is the standard finish to a Tanzanian safari — a Swahili archipelago with a World Heritage capital and a long history of its own.
Planning
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