Kenya’s Masai Mara is one of the planet’s greatest safari destinations, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. Yet it’s easy to neglect the country’s heavenly coastline – perfect for a Kenyan beach vacation. Sitting at the same latitude as the Maldives and the Seychelles, Kenya is home to many fabulous tropical beaches, with hotels to suit everyone – from quiet honeymooning couples to families craving adventure. Here, we take a look at the top resorts in Kenya for every type of holiday.
WHERE ARE THE BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY BEACH DESTINATIONS IN KENYA?
Diani Beach
Diani Beach’s dazzlingly white sand and sparkling azure waters paint the picture-postcard image of paradise. Besides dozing on the soft sand or enjoying a swim in the calm waters, it provides a blissful backdrop for a whole host of exciting activities. Amongst these is simply journeying across the sprawling beachfront, which you can do on foot as well as on horseback. Fringed by a shallow lagoon and colourful reef, it’s also an excellent location to go snorkelling and scuba diving – lucky visitors may even spot the region's reef sharks or green turtles. If you’re looking to keep your head above water, kitesurfing, windsurfing, kayaking and paddleboarding are brilliant alternative methods of exploring the pristine coastline.
Lamu Island
Boasting a fascinating 700-year heritage, with inflections of Swahili and Islamic culture, Lamu Island has deservedly been UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. Lamu Old Town is a fantastic place to witness the island’s history and is brimming with shops selling local handicrafts and enticing seafood restaurants. You’ll also want to make the most of the waters surrounding the island by snorkelling over its vibrant reefs – home to all species of colourful reef fish (and occasionally the odd dolphin!) – or by venturing further out to have a go at deep-sea fishing. Perhaps the most magical way to explore the region, however, is during a peaceful dhow cruise as the sun dips below the horizon.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT KENYA’S COAST?
Kenya’s coast is at its best from late December to March and July to October, when the skies are clear, humidity is low, and the Indian Ocean is warm and calm. This makes it an ideal time for swimming, watersports, or simply relaxing on the sand. April and May are typically wet, while November is often unpredictable.
THE BEST LUXURY BEACH RESORTS IN KENYA
Kinondo Kwetu, Galu Beach
Owned by a gorgeous Swedish couple with three young children, Kinondo Kwetu is a fantastic family beach escape. Set on the popular Diani Beach, the hotel is cleverly cut off from the main tourist drag by a stretch of rocky cliffs, keeping the sands semi-private and pristine. After all the early starts on safari, many guests come here for some downtime – and there is no shortage of exciting things to do at Kinondo Kwetu. There are yoga classes on the sand, beauty treatments in the small spa and hammocks strung up between palm trees for snoozing in the sun. Play tennis, go riding along the beach, or take advantage of the Indian Ocean lapping at the doorstep – the hotel can also arrange water sports, boat trips and snorkelling on a nearby coral reef. Pitched at families, there are plenty of interconnecting guestrooms and villas with extra space for teenagers; but the hotel works just as well for couples too, who stay in thatched-roof cottages tucked away in private, peaceful areas of the gardens. A quirky blend of Scandi-chic and Swahili cool, it’s easily one of the best hotels in the Diani Beach area.
Alfajiri Villas, Diani Beach
For anyone seeking peace, privacy and uninterrupted quality time during their Kenyan beach vacation, Alfajiri Villas is the answer. Brilliantly designed and run by its Italian owner (an interior designer), this collection of three exceptional villas overlooks a wild stretch of Diani Beach. Each villa has a private swimming pool and direct beach access, plus a small army of staff on hand including a chef, butler, nanny and driver. Our favourites are the Cliff Villa; elevated high above the beach and boasting spectacular views over the rolling waves, as well as the Garden Villa which is ideal for those seeking total privacy and unrivalled beachfront relaxation. If there are just two of you, the Beach Villa makes the perfect honeymoon stay. Families and friends can relax with complete independence; delicious Mediterranean food is cooked to order, while guests have use of a traditional ngalawa sailing boat for trips out to a nearby coral reef. Excursions can be arranged to visit community projects in local villages, the nearby Shimba Hills for quad biking and mini safaris, or to the 18-hole championship golf course just a few minutes’ drive away. For a real post-safari splash out, this luxury beach resort in Kenya is about as good as it gets.
Manda Bay, Lamu
Renowned for its clusters of scarcely-visited paradise islands, lapped by gin-clear waters, the Lamu archipelago is a popular beachy bolt-on at the end of a safari. Set on a quiet, secluded bay sheltered by mangroves and a tropical reef, Manda Bay is one of the best examples of the region’s Robinson Crusoe-style luxury. Anyone who takes a ‘no shoes, no news’ attitude to their holiday will feel right at home. Thatch-roofed bandas with simple matted floors and pale driftwood furnishings spill out onto the soft golden sands, while days are spent out on the water, snorkelling, sailing, deep sea fishing and paddle boarding. In the evenings, everyone gathers at the big open bar for lively sundowners, before suppers on the beach of freshly caught seafood. Guests in search of more culture can wander along the bay to reach the extraordinary 9th century ruins of Manda Town, an ancient Swahili port, or hop in a motorboat and potter across to Lamu for a day exploring the ancient city.
