Region
Coastal Kenya
Pick one coast base for 3–5 nights; Diani for beaches, Mombasa for city and transport, Lamu for a car-free town.
Key facts · Kenya
- Best months
- Oct–Dec
- Currency
- Kenyan shilling
- Language
- Swahili and English
- Plugs
- G · 240 V
- Time zone
- East Africa Time
Rules in force · 9Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a mult…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- East Africa ↗Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a multi-country trip: Uganda and Burundi check it for all arrivals, and a stop in Kenya or Ethiopia makes the next border ask for it.
- East Africa ↗Advice for Ethiopia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan and the Congo border areas can change within days; read your government's page the week you fly and before every regional flight.
- East Africa ↗Price park, reserve and permit fees before comparing lodges: they are charged per person per day, often with VAT, and are fixed whatever bed you choose.
- Kenya ↗Apply for the Kenya eTA only on the official portal (etakenya.go.ke) at least 3 working days before you fly; lookalike sites charge double. Most African passports have been exempt since 2025.
- Kenya ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention and check whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for your route, including transits.
- Kenya ↗Plastic carrier bags are banned; leave shop and duty-free plastic bags behind before you fly in.
- Kenya ↗Light aircraft to the parks have strict baggage limits, usually soft-sided bags only and a low total weight (often around 15 kg); confirm the limit with your operator and leave a hard case in Nairobi.
Coastal Kenya is a 500 km strip of Indian Ocean shoreline split by Mombasa: the south coast has the widest beaches and clearest reef water, the north coast near Mombasa has the most restaurants and activities, and the far north (Kilifi, Watamu, Malindi, Lamu) is quieter and slower. Almost everyone flies into Mombasa (MBA) and stays put. Moving between bases costs half a day each time, so two bases in a week is the practical maximum.
Sleep
Which bed, for how many nights, and what to do from it
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- Diani BeachCity guide
Long white beach, reef, dive shops, south coast.
Best Jul–Sep, Dec–Mar
JFMAMJJASOND - KilifiPlanned
Quiet creek town between Mombasa and Malindi.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- MalindiPlanned
Italian-influenced town, marine park, Marafa canyon nearby.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Day trip
- MtwapaCity guide
North coast nightlife and restaurants, 30 min from Mombasa.
Best Jul–Oct, Dec–Mar
JFMAMJJASOND - MsambweniPlanned
Quiet south coast beach beyond Diani.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Night sequences
- 4 nights
- Diani 4 (beach, reef, Shimba Hills day-trip)
- 6 nights
- Mombasa 1 + Diani 4 + Mtwapa day-trip
- 7 nights
- Diani 3 + fly or bus north to Watamu/Malindi 3 + Mombasa 1
- North of Malindi toward the Somali border, security conditions vary; check your embassy's current advice before travelling there.
- Matatus are cheap but drive aggressively; use them only for short hops and never at night.
- Motorbike taxis are the cheapest option and the most dangerous; avoid them on main roads.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimba Hills National Reserve | Diani Beach | 90 min | unknown | Sable antelope and forest; go early, gates close in the evening. |
| Mtwapa | Mombasa | 45 min | unknown | Restaurants and bars; check last matatu or take a taxi back. |
| Msambweni | Diani Beach | 60 min | unknown | Quieter beach south of Diani; few services. |
Bags between cities
Hotel-to-hotel transfers along the coast are usually arranged by the hotel or a Diani-based operator; a door-to-door minibus Mombasa–Diani or Mombasa–Kilifi costs roughly KES 1,000 — check.
When and how
Months, arrival and passes
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mombasa | go | go | go | × | × | ok | go | go | go | ok | × | go |
| Diani Beach | go | go | go | × | × | × | go | go | go | ok | ok | go |
| Lamu | go | go | go | × | × | × | × | × | × | go | go | go |
| Mtwapa | go | go | go | × | × | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | go |
| Kenya (country-wide) | go | go | ok | × | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coast (Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, Lamu)Indian Ocean shoreline | hot | hot | hot | wet | wet | ok | ok | ok | ok | best | best | best |
- Coast (Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, Lamu)
- April–May are the wettest months; sea is calmest October–March. Sea temperature runs about 25 °C in August to 30 °C in March. Whale sharks and manta rays visit November–February; humpback whales July–October.April–May are the wettest months; sea is calmest October–March. Sea temperature runs about 77 °F in August to 86 °F in March. Whale sharks and manta rays visit November–February; humpback whales July–October.
December–March and July–October are the driest and busiest; book beach hotels ahead for the Christmas and New Year peak.
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mombasa (MBA, Moi International) | North coast (Mtwapa, Kilifi) | taxi or hotel transfer | ~45–90 min | Most visitors fly into MBA; taxis and pre-booked transfers meet arrivals. |
| Mombasa (MBA) | South coast (Diani, Msambweni) | taxi, hotel transfer or Diani operator pickup | ~90 min with the Likoni ferry | The Likoni ferry crossing can add time at peak hours; many Diani hotels offer pickup. |
| Nairobi | Mombasa | flight (~1 h) or the SGR train from Nairobi Terminus | flight ~1 h; train ~6 h | Flying is the default; the train is cheaper and runs on a fixed schedule — check times. |
| Lamu | Mombasa or Malindi | flight | ~1 h 30 to Mombasa | Lamu is far north; flying is far quicker than the long road route. |
Regional passes
Marine park entry fees
checkDiani-Chale, Kisite-Mpunguti, Watamu, Malindi and Mombasa marine parks charge separate entry; pay at the gate or through your dive shop.
Dive packages
checkMulti-dive packages at Diani and Watamu usually beat single-dive prices; confirm what the fee includes (gear, park entry, boat).
Eat and move on
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Swahili coastal dishes (pilau, biryani, coconut curries) | Mombasa old town, Malindi, Lamu | Cheap local diners sit alongside high-end hotel restaurants; lunch is the value meal. |
| Grilled seafood and fish | Diani, Watamu, Malindi | Ask the price per kilo before ordering; it varies by catch and season. |
| Tusker beer and soft drinks | Bars, restaurants and hotels coast-wide | Widely available; good wine mostly in upper-class restaurants and big hotels. |
| Bottled drinking water | Tourist areas everywhere | Available in all tourist areas; drink bottled or treated water. |
Go next
Nairobi
flight ~1 h or SGR train ~6 h
Most coast trips start or end with a night in Nairobi.
Nairobi area
flight to Nairobi then road
Gateway to the Rift Valley and the safari circuit.
Tsavo East National Park
plannedroad from Mombasa or the Nairobi–Mombasa highway
Planned. Flat dry plains and the Galana River; pairs with a coast stay.
Tsavo West National Park
plannedroad from Mombasa or Nairobi
Planned. Hilly arid country, volcanic cones and lava flows.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source