The Best Beaches in East Africa – Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, Watamu, Lamu & Zanzibar.

Kenya has 563 km (333 mi) of beautiful shore to add to your safari vacation, as if our amazing collection of world-class wildlife parks wasn’t enough.

Crystalline sand beaches with names like Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, Watamu, and Lamu are more than just cool names; they’re also places where you can relax on empty beaches that hug the blue-green waters of the warm Indian Ocean.

What a great way to start your trip to East Africa while you wait for your safari journey. Take a break on our beaches after an African tour in one of our parks and listen to stories about lions, leopards, and elephants while you sip your drink on the warm diamond sands.

Along with that, we can take you to nearby Zanzibar to see its beautiful south coast beaches and the famous old parts of Stone Town.

At these golden seaside wonderlands, you can swim, snorkel, dive, sail, or just take it easy and enjoy the peaceful beauty that nature has given us.

East Africa’s Best Beaches

Best Beach Award Winner: Diani Beach

There were three times that Diani was named Africa’s best beach location. This means that a safari and beach vacation in Mombasa should be on everyone’s list of things to do. Diani’s waters are clear and shallow, making them great for swimming and snorkeling. The beach is clean and not crowded at all. Starfish, crabs, sea cucumbers, and a rainbow of bright tropical fish can be found in the water around its two coral reefs. The nightlife here is also very lively, with clubs and restaurants from all over the world. Diani Beach is the top jewel of Africa, so a vacation on Mombasa Beach is the best thing that can happen to a tourist.

Elephants in Shimba Hills National Reserve are only a short drive away, and Diani is a great place to start trips to parks like Amboseli and the Masai Mara.

Diani Beach—Things to Do

Colobus Conservation Center: This is a safe place for black-and-white colobus monkeys to live. It feeds animals that have been abandoned while they are being rehabilitated. You can visit the Center and also go on walks in the park that they plan.

Kaya Kinondo: This forest is holy, so you have to follow the rules before you go in: no hats or kissing, and a black sarong around your waist. Your guide will tell you everything, including the many kinds of plants that grow in this grove.

Water Fun: Diani has a lot of water sports to choose from, like swimming, fishing, and SCUBA diving. Have you ever kite surfed or jet skid? Why not try skydiving? You can bring out your daring side here.

Diani Beach—Accommodation

Malindi/Watamu – Twin Resorts

Both of these beach vacation towns are close to each other and have beautiful stretches of beach on the calm Indian Ocean. Malindi’s coastal national park and old town are worth seeing, while Watamu is a bit more laid-back.

There are great restaurants in both places, but Malindi’s focuses on Italian food.

The nearby Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve is a great place to start exploring. It’s a thick, green paradise of a jungle-like park where you can see lots of butterflies and see the last home of the tiny golden-rumped elephant shrew.

Malindi/Watamu – Things to Do

Visit Malindi Marine National Park to see green sea turtles, bright fish, and organ-pipe coral that live underwater. You might even see whale and mako sharks.

The Bio-Ken Snake Farm may not look like it, but it is a world-class center that studies snakes and their poisons. You can get close to the black mamba, the horned snake, the puff adder, and the black spitting cobra on this great tour.

Just like its name says, Watamu Turtle Watch takes care of the hawksbill and green turtle eggs that are laid on Watamu Beach. See turtles that have been taken in because they are sick or hurt and learn more about these interesting animals.

Malindi/Watamu – Accommodation

Mombasa – Kenya’s Coastal City

Immerse yourself in the different Indian, Swahili, Muslim, and Portuguese cultures that can be seen in Mombasa’s buildings, food, and traditions. Explore the back alleys and bazaars of Old Town, go for a sail in the evening on a real Arab dhow, or just take it easy on the famous coast’s warm sands. Since the Middle Ages, traders have taken camel rides on the beach. Where else can you do the same? This is the place to go on vacation, whether you want to see a lot of sights in a city or relax on the beach in Mombasa.

Mombasa is easy to get to from Nairobi. You can drive, take the train, or fly. We can take you on trips by car or plane to all of the parks from this city, which is Kenya’s second-largest.

Mombasa – Things to Do

Top Hotels in Nyali, Bamburi, Shanzu, Kikambala & Kilifi Beach

Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa
Voyager Beach Resort
PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort & Spa
Severin Sea Lodge
Serena Beach Resort
EnglishPoint Marina
The Shaza
Neptune Beach Resort
Travellers Beach Hotel & Club
PrideInn Flamingo Beach Resort
Nyali Sun Africa Beach Hotel & Spa
Silver Palm Spa and Resort
Kilifi Bay Beach Resort
Sun N Sand Beach Resort & Residences

Lamu Island – A UNESCO World Heritage Site

The beaches are beautiful, but people also come to explore the narrow back streets of Lamu Town, where donkeys make their way through the old Swahili village.

You might also get caught up in the mix of cultures that you see in Lamus’s buildings and way of life. For 700 years, traders from the Arab world, India, China, and Southeast Asia have been drawn to this island. A ban on cars adds to the old-world feel, which is why people and things are moved around on donkeys.

Nearby Shela Beach has a number of unique churches and is popular with tourists who come to try new-age food, do yoga, and sometimes see famous people.

Lamu Island – Things to Do

The Lamu Museum is one of the best in Kenya. It is right on the water and gives you a great look into Swahili culture. Find out how boats are made in the area and about the work of Lamu artists, whose intricate carvings can be seen on many of the doors in the area.

Lamu Market is full of locals and live music. You can buy fruits and veggies as well as the fresh seafood caught that day, like tuna.

Shela Beach: The long, clean beach here are a nice break from all the action in Lamu.

Lamu Island – Accommodation

Zanzibar Island – A Palm-Fringed Adventure

The beaches here are beautiful, with miles and miles of fine, white sand and blue water. Plus there are lots of them to pick from! At the nearby coral gardens, you can swim, fish, and see some of the most beautiful marine life in the world. This one-of-a-kind island has some of the best beaches in the world.

Dolphins like to swim in groups, and you can find them near the shore. Zanzibar, whose real name is Unguja, is a paradise that is easy to get to. We can take you there before or after your tour in Africa.

Zanzibar Island – Things to Do

Stone Town in Zanzibar City is one of the oldest Swahili towns in East Africa. Its old area is called Stone Town. Enjoy its narrow streets and lovely buildings. There is also a lively and tasty street food scene.

The House of Wonders — This beautiful building with staircases was built by a sultan in the 1800s. It stands tall above the town near the water. The old front still looks great. It was the first building in this area to have power and running water, which were big deals back then.

Gardens at Forodhani – The gardens are a cutely designed public area with a restaurant, cafes, and food stands that people come together to use. A stay here is a classy way to fit in with the locals.

Zanzibar Island – Accommodation

Dongwe Beach

• Zawadi Hotel Zanzibar
• Dongwe Ocean View
• Sands Baobab Beach Zanzibar
• Sultan Palace Hotel Zanzibar
• Baraza Resort & Spa Zanzibar
• The Palms, Zanzibar
• Breezes Beach Club & Spa

Nungwi Beach

• Bluebay Beach Resort
• Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort
• Double Tree Resort By Hilton Zanzibar-Nungwi
• Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar
• Amaan Nungwi Beach Resort
• Essque Zalu Zanzibar
• Nungwi Dreams by Mantis
• The Zanzibari

Stone Town

• Jafferji House & Spa
• Park Hyatt Zanzibar
• Tembo House
• Mzingani Seafront
• Double Tree By Hilton Hotel Zanzibar-Stone Town