Another sunny day in Diani beach always feels like another holiday within a holiday with new discoveries so refreshing. Even when I thought I knew everything about Diani by now, I am still on the lane of discovery every time I visit this beach.
On my most recent trip to Diani beach , located on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya, 30 km south of Mombasa in the nearby Kwale County, I got rediscover another breath-taking experience. Sometimes going back to the same place over and over again can become routine then get really boring, but in this case my eyes and soul opened up with a new perspective whilst my horizons broadened beyond the blue sea, clear skies, white sand and tranquillity that keeps me calm.
Voted Africa’s leading beach destination for the third time running since 2015, Diani beach is about 10 kilometres long, from the Kongo river to the north and Galu beach to the south, adjacent to the town of Ukunda with a population of about 100,000 inhabitants.
It is just about 50 years ago, when Diani was a fishing settlement that saw a boom in the 1970’s when tourists travelling to Africa found Kenya as the ideal place to visit in consideration of the political security amidst political strife and war in other parts of the continent.
Here are my top 5 highs that keep me going back to this beach over and over again.
1. The warm blue sea
A beach is not just a beach, however for my great sea experience, the sea temperature is everything or nothing. With an average temperature of 28-32 °c, Diani maintains the perfect warm clear sea temperature for a great swim and chill in sea all day, everyday.
2. The finer white sands
Did I mention the white sands of Diani beach are almost as fine as powder, not the coarse type of sand you may find in most beaches. This makes it so easy to walk or lie on the beach bed so easy.
3. The Swahili dishes
The foodie in me is never disappointed in Diani as get drawn into the swahili dishes vibration that never disappoints. From one of my favorite dishes including chapati, mahamri, the baddest chai and kahawa masala, to biriyani and pilau, all through to the nazi wa Kamba and on and on. The ‘waswahili’ food rich in spice, flavour and of Arabic descent is a never-ending delicious feast on this coast.
4. Our Swahili culture
It’s less than home away from home the minute I check into the Swahili coast. Everyone seems happy, the food is great, the culture is rich, the sea brings calm and the music tops it all up. The Arabic culture has had the greatest influence in shaping Swahili traditions. One major legacy of the Arab culture is the prevalence of the Islamic religion among the Swahili people. Islamic traditions govern nearly every aspect of the Swahili tribe’s culture, including food, clothing and lifestyle..
Swahili art is magnificently expressed in the design of carpets, rugs, porcelain, and jewelry, all of which reflect some Asian influence. The Swahili also incorporate unique architecture into the design of their homes and mosques, with Lamu’s town being one of the best places to see and experience the finest Swahili architecture, art and crafts.
Poetic and musical expression are important elements of the swahili culture. Swahili music, Taarab which borrows heavily from Indian and Arabic melodies along with chakacha also play a big role in my music, KenSoul along with my chakacha play.
Swahili (Kiswahili) is the language spoken by the ‘WaSwahili,’ a language adapted from the Bantu and enriched with Arabic.
5. ‘Picturesque’
The breath-taking picturesque sunsets and sunrises, crystal clear sea bed merging back and forth into sea, the beautiful sun-kissed palm trees that stand so sassy, the artsy tree trunks buried under the sand, the sweet sea breeze that bounces back on your skin, what is there not to like about Diani Beach?
Along with the mysterious vibrant and colourful aquamarine that never ceases to amaze my visuals, I have learnt so much about exotic marine in this sea. These are just some of the elements that make my Diani experiences by the beach a spectacle.
If you have not made it to Diani yet, here is a great opportunity to look it up and take time to travel out to the beautiful Swahili coast of East Africa.
When it comes to accomodation,, if you are looking for a small intimate-yet-affordable boutique experience try Pinewood Resort & Spa on the south Coast of Mombasa, for 7-star luxury without compromising your African cultural experience try Almanara Luxury Resort and for a boutique home away from home experience, try Kinondo Kwetu situated far end of the remote Galu Beach, south of Diani beach.
Safiri salama,
Your fabulously,
Multidisplinary Creative Entrepreneur,
