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Diani Beach
Beach in Kenya

Diani Beach

Diani Beach is a beach on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya.

Plan a trip to Diani Beach→From Nairobi

It is located 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Mombasa, in Kwale County.

Get in

Getting to Diani Beach

If you come to Kenya for the first time, it is better to book a package tour. Then you don't have to worry about anything and you can get to know the country and its peculiarities in peace. If you liked it and you want to come back, then it is cheaper to book your individual flight and hotel or holiday apartment.

See

Worth seeing

  1. 01
    Colobus Conservation

    Diani Beach Road, Diani Beach, enquiries@colobusconservation.org.

  2. 02
    Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest

    This is a special forest which can only be visited with a guide.

  3. 03
    Komboza Cave

    Entrance is directly between "Spice Bar" and "Asin's Hotel" on the beach road near Southern Palms beach resort.

  4. 04
    Slave Caves

    The Slave Caves are in Shimoni, the start and finish point for trips to Wasini Island.

  5. 05
    Three Sister’s Caves

    Just before reaching Shimoni, near Fikirini village, there are the three Fikirini caves or “Three Sister’s Caves”, one of them quite big with thousands of flying foxes and bats.

  6. 06
    Shimba Hills National Reserve

    Shimba Hills National Reserve is one of the largest coastal forests in East Africa.

Do

Things to do

Golf. Leisure Golf Club is part of the Leisure Lodge. Quad Trips. Drive with quads on a guided trips on dirt roads through small villages and beautiful scenery. Kite surfing (at Nomads and Galu Beach). Mwazaro Beach is also a well known spot for kite surfers. Diving. There are two big diving schools at Diani Beach, Diving The Craband Diani Marine Snorkelling. The best places are Kisite Marine Park and Wasini Island.

  1. 01
    Coral
Eat

Where to eat

There is no reason to be afraid to go out of the resort at night for visiting clubs or restaurants. For security, take a taxi from the hotel and back, not Tuktuk or motorcycle. Every restaurant will call a reliable taxi to bring you back after dinner. All pubs and bars serve decent food (see drinking) and there are a lot of small good restaurants.

  1. 01
    Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant
  2. 02
    Sails Beach Bar & Restaurant

    Seafood, European, vegetarian.

  3. 03
    Nomad Restaurant

    Italian, bar, pizza, seafood, sushi, European, international, gluten-free options, 7AM-10PM.

  4. 04
    The Edge Beach Restaurant

    Seafood, barbecue, European, African, vegetarian.

  5. 05
    The Blue Marlin Beach

    Seafood, barbecue, European, African, vegetarian.

How locals move

Getting around Diani Beach the local way

Almost everyone reaches Diani through Mombasa: cross the Likoni ferry (free on foot, vehicle fares revised in 2026 and still contested) or drive the Dongo Kundu Bypass around it, then matatu or taxi 30 km down Ukunda Road; a domestic flight lands at Ukunda's own airstrip, the SGR ends at Mombasa Terminus with the coast road still to come, and once on the beach road it's matatu, tuk-tuk or boda-boda with almost no published local fares.

  1. 01
    Likoni ferry, Mvita to Likoniferry

    Mvita (Mombasa Island) across the Kilindini channel to Likoni on the mainland, where Likoni-Ukunda Road runs on roughly 30 km south to Ukunda and Diani

    Where
    Walk onto the ferry ramp on either side, Mvita or Likoni; foot passengers and cyclists board free and are not searched for a ticket. Vehicles queue separately on the approach roads and pay at a booth. The old operator site kenyaferry.co.ke no longer belongs to Kenya Ferry Services and now redirects to an unrelated quiz page, so do not trust it for current information; phone the ferry directly on +254 20 2118344 or +254 723 664000.
    When
    Continuous, 24 hours, boats leaving every few minutes at busy times
    Fare (2026)
    Free for pedestrians and cyclists. Vehicle tariffs were reportedly revised in May 2026, but the exact new fare schedule by vehicle class could not be confirmed from a source this search could open.
    Takes
    The crossing itself is a few minutes; the wait to board a vehicle varies from minutes to hours depending on the time of day
    Season
    Year-round; queues are worst in the morning and evening commute and on holiday weekends
    Booking
    None for pedestrians; vehicles pay at the booth on the day

    Sources: en.wikivoyage.org (2026-09) · confidence medium

  2. 02
    Dongo Kundu Bypass, ferry-free route around Mombasaservice status

    Miritini on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, north of Mombasa Island, across Kwale mainland via Mteza to rejoin the Mombasa-Lunga Lunga road toward Ukunda and Diani, avoiding Mombasa Island and the Likoni ferry entirely

    Where
    Drivers arriving by road from Nairobi or from the airport can turn onto the bypass short of Mombasa town rather than crossing the island and queuing for the ferry. It carries private cars, trucks and hire vehicles; no published matatu or bus service was found using it yet, so travellers without their own vehicle still cross by ferry.
    When
    Open to traffic continuously since it was reported as newly opened in August 2024
    Fare (2026)
    No confirmed toll as of this research. A tolling plan was approved by the Treasury's PPP unit around October 2025, but whether tolling has actually started, and at what rate, could not be confirmed.
    Takes
    Not stated; the point is avoiding the ferry queue rather than a shorter distance
    Season
    Year-round
    Booking
    Not applicable

    Sources: constructionkenya.com (2024-08-14) · confidence medium

  3. 03
    Matatu chain, Mombasa to Likoni Ferry to Ukunda to Dianimatatu

    Central Mombasa (Mvita) matatu stands to the Likoni ferry ramp; a second matatu from the Likoni side down Likoni-Ukunda Road (about 30 km) to Ukunda; a third matatu or shared vehicle along Diani Beach Road (about 5 km) to the hotels

    Where
    Board the first matatu at any Mombasa town stand heading for 'Likoni Ferry'; cross the ferry on foot; on the Likoni side, matatus signed 'Ukunda' or 'Diani' wait right by the ferry ramp; from Ukunda's town centre or roundabout, a further matatu marked for the beach road drops along Diani Beach Road near the hotels. No specific route numbers for this chain were found published anywhere.
    When
    When full, throughout the day; less frequent after dark
    Fare (2026)
    About Ksh 30 Mombasa town to the Likoni ferry, about Ksh 100 Likoni ferry to Ukunda (30 km), about Ksh 50 Ukunda to Diani Beach (5 km) - roughly Ksh 180 total, paid in cash to the conductor for each leg
    Takes
    Not stated for the whole chain; allow at least 1.5-2 hours door to door from central Mombasa including the ferry wait
    Season
    Year-round; the long rains (mid-April to late May) and short rains (October-November) can slow or flood sections of the Ukunda road
    Booking
    None, pay the conductor

    Sources: en.wikivoyage.org (2026-09) · en.wikivoyage.org (2026-09) · confidence medium

  4. 04
    Tuk-tuks on Diani Beach Roadtuk tuk

    Diani Beach Road and the lanes off it, between hotels, shops and Ukunda

    Where
    Three-wheeled cabin trikes wait outside hotel gates, at the Diani/Ukunda shopping centres (Bahari Plaza, Diani Shopping Centre, Ukunda's Naivas) and along the main road; flag one down or ask hotel security to call one. Agree the fare before boarding; no posted fare board exists.
    When
    On demand, daytime and early evening
    Fare
    No published fare specific to Diani was found. Wikivoyage's general description places tuk-tuks above matatu prices and below regular taxis for the same trip; ask locally or agree a price before boarding.
    Takes
    Varies by distance along the beach road
    Season
    Year-round
    Booking
    None, negotiate before boarding

    Sources: en.wikivoyage.org (2026-09) · confidence low

  5. 05
    Boda-bodas on Diani Beach Roadboda boda

    Diani Beach Road and side lanes to hotels, for short hops

    Where
    Motorcycle taxis wait at the same shopping centres and junctions as the tuk-tuks; flag one on the road. Wikivoyage and most Diani hotel advice discourage riding them at night, and recommend a hotel-ordered taxi after dark instead.
    When
    On demand, daytime mainly
    Fare
    No published fare specific to Diani was found; treat any figure quoted for Mombasa town as unrelated to Diani distances and agree the price before riding.
    Takes
    Varies by distance
    Season
    Year-round
    Booking
    None, negotiate before boarding

    Sources: en.wikivoyage.org (2026-09) · confidence low

  6. 06
    Flights to Ukunda (Diani Airport)scheduled flight

    Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International, or Wilson for some operators) to Ukunda airstrip, on the inland edge of Diani

    Where
    Ukunda's own airstrip sits a few kilometres inland from the beach hotels; arriving passengers are met by a hotel transfer or taxi rather than public transport. Jambojet is the operator most consistently reported flying Nairobi-Ukunda; Silverstone Airlines and Sax Airlines are also named by Wikivoyage but both have had dead links since January 2023, suggesting they may no longer run the route. Jambojet's own current route listing, checked directly, did not show Ukunda at all, so this needs confirming with the airline before relying on it.
    When
    Not confirmed for the present timetable; historically several flights a day in high season
    Fare
    Not confirmed; Jambojet's route and fare pages did not surface Ukunda directly in this search
    Takes
    Roughly 1 hour from Nairobi
    Season
    Year-round, busier July-September and December-February
    Booking
    Online at jambojet.com if the route is current; check directly before booking

    Sources: en.wikivoyage.org (2026-09) · confidence low

  7. 07
    SGR Madaraka Express, then road to Dianitrain

    Nairobi Terminus to Mombasa Terminus (about 10 km west of Mombasa town), then matatu or taxi via the Likoni ferry, roughly 60 km on to Diani

    Where
    Board the Madaraka Express at Nairobi Terminus. At Mombasa Terminus, a connecting commuter shuttle bus and numerous taxis and matatus wait outside for the ride into central Mombasa or straight to the ferry; from there follow the matatu chain above or take a taxi the whole way.
    When
    Several trains a day each way
    Fare (2017)
    Economy about Ksh 1,000, first class about Ksh 3,000 as of 2017; current fares not reconfirmed
    Takes
    About 5 hours Nairobi to Mombasa Terminus; add 35 minutes for the connecting shuttle into town, plus the ferry and road journey to Diani
    Season
    Year-round; busiest around Kenyan public holidays
    Booking
    At Nairobi Terminus or via krc.co.ke

    Sources: en.wikivoyage.org (2026-09) · en.wikivoyage.org (2026-09) · confidence medium

  8. 08
    Shimoni-Wasini boat trips and Kisite Mpunguti Marine Parkboat

    Shimoni jetty (south of Diani, past Ukunda) across to Wasini Island and on to the Kisite Mpunguti coral gardens

    Where
    Travel agencies in Diani and Ukunda sell the day trip as a package that includes hotel pickup, the boat from Shimoni, and the marine park visit; there is no independent public boat service found. The Shimoni Slave Caves, the usual starting point, charge a small entry separate from the park fee.
    When
    Day trips, typically one departure window in the morning
    Fare (2025)
    Slave Caves entry about Ksh 400; the Kisite Mpunguti park entry fee could not be confirmed here. Kenya Wildlife Service raised entry fees across its parks from around 1 October 2025, but the specific new marine-park tariff by visitor category was not found in a source this search could open.
    Takes
    Not stated for the boat crossing itself; the full day trip runs most of a day
    Season
    Year-round; seas are roughest and diving visibility worst during the long rains, mid-April to late May
    Booking
    Through any Diani or Ukunda hotel or travel agency

    Sources: en.wikivoyage.org (2026-09) · en.wikivoyage.org (2026-09) · kws.go.ke (2026-09) · confidence low

  9. 09
    Long rains and heavy-rain road disruptionservice status

    The Ukunda road, Diani Beach Road and the wider Kwale road network

    Where
    Kwale's roads, including the routes matatus use between Likoni, Ukunda and Diani, have been reported flooded and impassable during heavy downpours; travellers relying on matatu or tuk-tuk connections should build in slack during the rains and ask locally rather than assume the timetable above holds.
    When
    Seasonal
    Fare
    Not applicable
    Takes
    Long rains mid-April to late May; short rains October-November
    Season
    Mid-April to late May, and October-November
    Booking
    Not applicable

    Sources: en.wikivoyage.org (2026-09) · confidence medium

Not yet confirmed: Vehicle fares for the Likoni ferry after the May 2026 revision could not be confirmed by vehicle class; kenyans.co.ke published a full list on or around 23 May 2026 titled 'Full List of Updated Likoni Ferry Prices - KPA', but the article itself could not be reached (its search and sitemap tools do not surface individual stories). Ask at the ferry booth or via KPA.; Daily Nation reported around 25 May 2026 that a Likoni ferry charge hike 'sparks uproar' among motorists, and separately, around 6 March 2026, that Mombasa drivers still prefer the crowded Likoni ferry over the Sh40bn Dongo Kundu Bypass. Both claims came from Google News listings only; nation.africa blocks automated access outright (403 on every path tried, including its RSS feeds and Googlebot user agent), so neither claim could be verified against the original article and both are omitted from the options above.; Whether the Dongo Kundu Bypass has begun charging a toll, and at what rate, is unconfirmed; a Treasury unit approved a tolling plan around October 2025 but no source found confirms tolling actually started. Check with KeNHA before assuming it is free.; No matatu route numbers or operator names were found for the Mombasa-Likoni-Ukunda-Diani chain, despite this being the main way most travellers reach Diani without a car. Ask at the Likoni ferry ramp for the current vehicles and destinations.; Tuk-tuk and boda-boda fares specific to Diani Beach Road could not be found anywhere; do not assume Mombasa town fares apply, distances and pricing on the coast road are different. Ask hotel staff for a going rate before agreeing a price.; Current flight service to Ukunda (Diani) airstrip is uncertain: Jambojet's own online route list did not show Ukunda when checked, and the two other airlines named by older sources (Silverstone Airlines, Sax Airlines) both have dead links since 2023 and may no longer fly there. Confirm directly with an airline or a Diani travel agent before planning around a specific flight.; SGR fares (Ksh 1,000 economy, Ksh 3,000 first class) are from 2017 and were not reconfirmed for the current price. Check with Kenya Railways or krc.co.ke.; How Mombasa Terminus connects onward to Diani specifically (rather than to Mombasa town) was not detailed anywhere found; the assumption is matatu or taxi via the Likoni ferry or the Dongo Kundu Bypass, not a direct link.; The Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park entry fee by visitor category (citizen, resident, non-resident, child) could not be confirmed after Kenya Wildlife Service's October 2025 fee increase across its parks. Check kws.go.ke or with a Diani travel agent before budgeting a Shimoni-Wasini day trip.; Car and scooter hire in Diani could not be confirmed beyond dead-link Facebook pages named by Wikivoyage (a scooter and quad rental page); ask hotel concierge or look along Diani Beach Road for current rental shops and rates.; The Lunga Lunga border crossing to Tanzania and onward transport to Tanga were not researched in enough depth to include as an option; no current bus timetable, fare, or crossing conditions were confirmed. Ask locally in Ukunda or at a Diani travel agency about current buses toward the border.; The Ksh 30 / Ksh 100 / Ksh 50 matatu fares quoted here come from Wikivoyage's page text, which is not dated at the section level; treat them as approximate and expect some year-on-year increase.; the-star.co.ke was reported by Google News (undated in the listing, surfaced September 2026) to have run a story headlined 'Heavy rains paralyze transport in Ukunda, Diani'. The-star's site is a JavaScript app with no working search or wp-json endpoint reachable here, so the article could not be located or verified and the claim is not used above beyond the general, sourced Wikivoyage note on rainy-season travel..

The field note on Diani Beach reads this entry in full, one option at a time, with every source beside it.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.