Beach Vacations

Although East Africa is better known for its amazing safaris," it also boasts exotic island and beach getaways. Frequent short-haul flights, often on low cost airlines, connect East African hubs such as Nairobi and Dar es Salaam to beach destinations. You can expect accommodations for every budget, ranging from simple and cheap guesthouses to luxurious resorts, in better known beach vacation spots in East Africa. Avoid the rainy season if you don't want to be stuck all week in your hotel room.

Kenya Beaches

The Kenyan coast is lined with pristine white sand beaches fringing the warm inviting waters of the Indian Ocean. Here the wilderness meets the sea, and the ocean itself holds a world of spectacular coral reefs teeming with life and colour. The coast is a place with a long and exotic history, its calm blue waters the traditional passage of the Arabian Spice Trade.
No visit to the continent of Africa is complete without a visit to the coastal Indian Ocean beaches and the adjacent romantic islands. After your safari, take a few days to relax at the warm tropical beaches and explore their surroundings. You can also visit the beaches exclusively but remember to take a Safari Excursion into the mainland. Remember to visit one of the following coastal destinations on your trip and it will definitely spice up your African Vacation.
Kenya has 536 kilometers of coastline on the Indian Ocean. Her coral reefs are spectacular and are regarded by divers as one of the world’s top three diving destinations after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea. There are numerous off shore islands, including Kiwaiyu, Pate, Manda, Lamu, Mombasa, Chale, Funzi and Wasimi. You may enjoy lying by the beach, big game fishing, wind surfing and snorkeling. The coastline of Mombasa is lined with pristine palm fringed beaches, and the calm inviting waters of the Indian Ocean. The beaches are broken by the wide mouth of Kilifi Creek, whose azure waters are a popular port of call on the international yachting circuit. The beaches of Diani, Nyali, Vipingo, Kikambala and Shanzu are home to a wide range of resorts with fine cuisine and services. Offshore reefs are alive with coral, myriad fish, sea turtles and dolphins. Both outer and inner reef walls offer world class diving with spectacular coral gardens and drop offs, and Kenya's best wreck diving on the MV Dania. The Kenya Coast line is divided into four main areas:

1.    Mombasa, Kenya – South Coast Beaches

The coastline south of Mombasa is a tropical paradise of palm fringed white sand beaches, where the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean meet beautiful coral reefs. The beaches are bordered by lush green coastal rainforests with prolific birdlife and variety of wildlife including baboons, rare colobus monkeys and even leopard. A wide range of World Class resorts, centered around Diani Beach allow visitors to relax and enjoy this natural paradise with the best standards of accommodation, service and cuisine. Further south, the small fishing village of Shimoni is home to a series of deep mysterious coastal caves that stretch from the sea to deep into the jungles. Historically, these caves were long used as a refuge for Dhow Sailors, Arab slavers and explorers. Shimoni is also an excellent base for big game fishing in the waters of the Pemba Channel. Whether you are looking for a base to actively explore this fascinating region, or just somewhere to unwind and find peace, Kenya’s south coast has everything you could wish for.

2.    Mombasa, Kenya – North Coast Beaches

The coastline North of Mombasa is a world of enthralling history and natural beauty. The coast is lined with pristine palm fringed beaches, and the calm inviting waters of the Indian Ocean. The beaches are broken by the wide mouth of Kilifi Creek, whose azure waters are a popular port of call on the international yachting circuit.

The beaches of Nyali, Vipingo, Kikambala and Shanzu are home to a wide range of World Class resorts with fine cuisine and services. The peaceful beach havens of Mtwapa and Takaungu offer an ideal escape from the outside world, with endless deserted beaches. The offshore reefs are alive with coral, myriad fish, sea turtles and dolphins. Both outer and inner reef walls offer world class diving with spectacular coral gardens and drop offs, and Kenya's best wreck diving on the MV Dania.

3.    Lamu Island, Kenya

Lamu is an archipelago off the coast of northern Kenya by the Somali boarder. Lamu is also the name of the main island and the biggest town. In Lamu there are no cars, just donkeys, which are used for both transportation and labor. A donkey sanctuary, a home for old and sick donkeys that are no longer able to work, is one of the sights in Lamu town, which also boasts beautiful carved Swahili doors. The beach is just outside of Lamu, in Shela village. Shela is just starting to get discovered by the international jet set. Princess Caroline of Monaco owns a beachfront home right by the luxurious Peponi Hotel.

Lamu is a place like no other, a peaceful tropical island where life is lived at its own relaxed rhythm, but a place whose history is as mysterious and fascinating as the winding streets of its medieval stone town. The island itself is a beautiful place of rolling dunes and endless beaches, where tiny villages nestle among coconut and mango plantations and lateen sailed dhows ply the waters. But Lamu’s real attraction is its Old town.

For the traveler, Lamu is a hypnotically exotic experience, made even more enjoyable by the relaxed and welcoming attitudes of the locals. To visit Lamu is to enter another world, and the visitor finds themselves becoming a part of this world. Life slows down, and long days are spent strolling along the waterfront, exploring the town or relaxing on the beaches.

Dhow safaris can take you beyond Lamu into the surrounding archipelago, where isolated villages, ancient ruins and a few luxurious and exclusive resorts lie hidden among the islands of Manda, Siyu, Pate and Kiwayu. This idyllic island speaks to the heart and soul, and a trip to Lamu is a romantic experience that can become a lifelong affair.

4.    Malindi and Watamu Beaches, Kenya

The small town of Malindi is at the centre of a strip of idyllic tropical beaches offering the visitor a range of world class resorts and quiet relaxing hideaways. Further south, the sleepy village of Watamu is fronted by wide white beaches. This tranquil haven is home to several well established resorts, and many private guesthouses scattered through the forest along the deserted shore. Malindi is also famous for deep-sea fishing as well as snorkeling and scuba diving at the Marina Marine Park. The park is a protected area that is home to two main coral reefs and colorful tropical fish. Glass-bottomed boat tours are also available for less adventurous travelers.
At Watamu a Marine National Park has been established, an ideal day trip for divers and snorkelers alike. Northwest of Malindi is the spectacular Marafa Depression, locally known as Nyari and popularly known as Hell's Kitchen. An extensive series of sandstone gorges and sheer gullies, this unique and otherworldly landscape has become part of local folklore.

Walk through the Arabuko Sokoke Forest in the Malindi - Watamu neighborhood and explore the mangroves by boat, dive on the reef or try your hand at big game fishing. At the North coast you have all these choices and more, with the space and freedom to relax, unwind, and soak up the atmosphere.

Tanzania Beaches: Zanzibar

The coastline south of Mombasa is a tropical paradise of palm fringed white sand beaches, where the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean meet beautiful coral reefs. The beaches are bordered by lush green coastal rainforests with prolific birdlife and variety of wildlife including baboons, rare colobus monkeys and even leopard. A wide range of World Class resorts, centered just off the Tanzania coast, Zanzibar Island boasts miles of golden beaches and is a superb holiday destination.
Just hearing the name Zanzibar (also called Unguja) conjures images of lavish palaces and exotic spices. Today the palaces of Stone Town are distant echoes of their former glory, and Zanzibar is better known for the unspoiled sandy beaches along its coast. Zanzibar is made up of two large islands and many small ones off the coast of Tanzania. The historic center of the capital, Stone Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is worth visiting if you need a break from lounging on the beach. It is famous for its architecture, a mix of African, Indian and Arab influences that is best exemplified by the many ornate carved wooden doors. Many visitors also elect to go on a spice tour, where a guide takes you into the interior of the island and shows you the spice plantations Zanzibar is famous for. A cruise on a dhow, a traditional boat, is an excellent way to see the coast of the archipelago and visit some of the more remote islands. Your captains will likely stop at a scenic beach for you to take a refreshing swim while the crew prepares a meal of freshly caught fish.
Because of its beautiful beaches, rich history and the architectural interest of Stone Town, Zanzibar Island attracts most of the visitors; but those with more time, seeking real isolation or excellent diving should explore Pemba Island to the North and Mafia Island to the South. Stone Town, the capital of the main island, is also a uniquely attractive location, steeped in history and known for its Swahili atmosphere. The islands are also good locations for water sports.