The best things to do in Diani typically involve hitting the beach or exploring the area’s beautiful natural environment. This beach resort town along the south coast of Kenya is an incredible destination with so many exciting things to do and see.
Diani is home to luxurious resorts, beach villas, white sands, and other attractions popular with families, backpackers, honeymooners, and solo travelers.
If you love strolling along sandy beaches, swimming with dolphins, or taking nature walks, you’ll find many wonderful things to see in Diani. It’s also located close to small islands and coral gardens, making it a haven for water sports lovers.
1. Explore the Magnificent Beaches
One of the best things to do in Diani is to explore the many beaches. The small coastal town is home to several beautiful beaches and hosts numerous luxurious resorts. You can stroll along the beaches, sunbathe, relax, or enjoy delicious food and cold drinks.
Galu Kinondo is the best beach in Diani for watersports and relaxation, while Tiwi is perfect for an off-beat day out. If you love white sands and blue waters, head to the magnificent Diani Beach.
To add to the beach fun, several restaurants in Diani offer a wonderful dining experience. My favorites include the Nomad Beach Bar for seafood, and the romantic Ali Barbour’s Cave.
2. Discover the Local Lifestyle with a Local
Most travelers, including locals like me, get caught up in the charm of Diani Beach and forget to explore the area farther inland.
During my recent trip to Diani, I resisted the urge to confine myself to the beach and ventured inland. I wanted to see how people lived in that part of Kenya, their architecture, culture, and daily activities.
So, I walked along the streets of Ukunda, talked to local shopkeepers in Gazi, and marveled at traditional buildings in Tiwi.
3. Go on a Sunset Canoe Ride on the Kongo River
The Kongo River winds down between mangroves and drains into the Indian Ocean, separating Diani Beach and Tiwi Beach. This magical river is excellent for birders, nature lovers, and sunset chasers.
It has a wide upstream but becomes shallow towards the ocean, allowing people to access the two beaches easily.
The best way to explore the Kongo River is by joining this guided experience. The tour starts with a visit to the historic Kongo Mosque. You’ll then ride in a canoe, spotting various birds, learning about the area, and watching the sunset.
After the canoe ride, you can enjoy dinner at the Estuary Beach Lounge or share stories around a beach bonfire.
4. Swim in the Africa Pool along Tiwi Beach
Tiwi Beach may not be as famous as Diani Beach, but it’s just as beautiful and hosts one of the hidden gems in Diani – Africa Pool. This magical pool resembles the map of Africa and its surrounding islands. It’s visible during low tide and is a nice swimming spot.
While it’s possible to walk along Tiwi Beach to the Africa Pool, I highly recommend being accompanied by a local guide. During the walk, you’ll see coral cliffs, caves, and seashells, and spot other pools along the way.
Be aware that some stretches of this beach have many sea urchins. Therefore, ensure you wear shoes to protect your feet from their stinging spikes.
5. Sail on a Traditional Dhow to Wasini Island
One of the top highlights of my trip to Diani was visiting Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park, where dolphins, turtles, fish species, and beautiful coral gardens thrive.
The marine park is located off the coast and can only be accessed by boat. It has warm waters that are ideal for snorkeling and swimming.
The best way to experience this fantastic Diani attraction is by joining this guided tour. You’ll leave Shimoni town by a dhow (boat) cruise to Kisite Mpunguti, where you’ll go snorkeling and dolphin spotting.
Afterward, you’ll go to Wasini Island village for a seafood lunch and drinks before returning to Shimoni.
While still in Shimoni, I recommend visiting Shimoni Caves. These limestone caves were once used as waiting places for captured enslaved people before they were taken to the Zanzibar slave market and beyond.
6. Go Scuba Diving
If you’re looking for places to go scuba diving in Kenya, visit Diani. The beach town is welcoming to all types of divers, from beginners to experts. Its climate is also favorable, allowing you to enjoy diving all year round.
Diani’s beauty isn’t limited to what’s on the surface but also stretches into the vast world underneath. It’s home to several dive sites which host groups of rare fish species and attractive corals. These sites include natural reefs such as Galu Reef and purpose-sunk ships like the Waa Wreck.
7. Visit the Magical Funzi Island
Funzi Island is a fishing village in Kwale county. It’s surrounded by mangroves and has a beautiful beach along its shores. Although the island is less explored, it’s one of the best places to visit near Diani.
The best way to experience Funzi Island is by joining this tour. It includes cruising between mangroves, experiencing the beach, a ride along the Ramisi River to see crocodiles, and a village tour.
8. Explore the Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest
Kaya Kinondo Forest is one of the eleven forests along the Kenyan coast and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The forest holds the remains of fortified villages built by the Mijikenda people during the 16th century.
This forest grove is considered a sacred abode of the Mijikenda ancestors, and it’s used as a place of prayer and a source of traditional medicine.
So if you’re still looking for more things to do in Diani, head to Kaya Kinondo Forest. It’s a nature lover’s paradise, a center of rich history, and a place for a memorable cultural experience. It’s undoubtedly one of my favorite attractions in Diani.
9. Visit Colobus Conservation Center
Colobus Conservation Center is one of the organizations dedicated to the preservation of primates like the Angolan colobus monkey. Located along Diani Beach Road, the center leads the way in conservation through reforestation, education programs, and animal welfare.
Diani is home to several primate species, including colobus monkeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, and Syke’s monkeys. Most of these primates are endangered and require protection.
Plan a visit and learn about the centers’ efforts to rescue, rehabilitate, and release primates into their habitats.
The center is open for guided primate eco-tours from Monday to Saturday between 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
10. Visit the Bora Bora Wildlife Park
Bora Bora Wildlife Park is one of the best places to visit in Diani for lovers of nature and wildlife. The park is in the same ecosystem as the Kaya Kinondo Forest – a sacred abode of the Mijikenda community.
If you’re looking for a place to relax, take nature walks, and watch wildlife, go to Bora Bora. You’ll also learn about various types of trees in the forest trail and their traditional medicinal uses.
Besides wildlife like giraffes and zebras, the park is home to Syke’s monkeys, crocodiles, and various bird species. It also has a beautiful tented camp where you can stay during your trip to Diani.
11. Explore Chale Island
In addition to Wasini and Funzi, there’s one more secluded island near Diani worth exploring – Chale Island.
Chale is a private resort island situated off the coast that’s easily visible from Gazi Beach. It features a small stretch of unspoiled beach, spectacular coral reefs, and forests of mangroves.
The island also hosts the luxurious Sands at Chale Island. This beach resort is the only accommodation facility on the island. It’s beautiful and features elegant rooms, a restaurant, and amenities for a romantic getaway.
12. Join a Tour of Shimba Hills National Reserve
Less than an hour’s drive from Ukunda town is the Shimba Hills National Reserve, one of the best things to see in Diani and also one of the best day trips from Diani Beach.
This game reserve comprises a diverse habitat, including giant trees, grasslands, forestlands, and scrub areas. It also holds one of the largest coastal forests in East Africa, only second to Arabuko Sokoke.
Shimba Hills is a great destination if you want to escape the beach for a day. It offers visitors a memorable wildlife experience with sightings of animals such as elephants, giraffes, and the rare sable antelope.
It’s also home to the spectacular Sheldrick Falls and a variety of bird species.
The national reserve is easily accessible by road from Diani
13. Take a Day Trip to Mombasa City
I recommend taking a day trip to Mombasa. The island city is located about 30 kilometers from Diani and has plenty of tourist attractions.
There are various places to visit in Mombasa such as the Fort Jesus Museum and Wild Waters. You can also join an exciting food tour, experience Mombasa’s vibrant nightlife, or explore the old town on foot.
The city has some beautiful beaches too. It’s home to the famous Pirates Public Beach, the alluring Nyali Beach, and the less crowded Shanzu Beach. You’ll also find great resorts, restaurants, and shopping centers close to these beaches and attractions.
14.Take a Glass bottom ride to Robinson Island
By now, you should know that Coral reef tourism is on the rise; tourists globe over are being awed by coral sites. Robinson is a small island rich in coral, and as such it is one site you will find fish of various colors and species.
From most hotels in Diani the island is less than 30 minutes on a boat ride, this makes it a perfect location for snorkeling, glass boat excursions and other water sports adventures for half-day tours.
Robinson’s accessibility is subject to tides, under high tides the island gets submerged hence explaining why it is not inhabited by humans unlike the other 3 islands of Diani.
