How to spend 2 days in Diani

Travel Itinerary

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Itinerary by: Loice Ayub

3 years ago

Traveller

Duration: 2 days

Itinerary Contents

Day 1
Day 2

Itinerary Introduction

Diani is located in Kwale County, Kenya and is a top tourist destination mainly due to its white sandy beaches, clear blue waters, epic sunsets, culture, and last but definitely not least......food. So, if you're wondering where to go for your next staycation, or vacation where you can experience a warm climate, tasty foods, and friendly locals, look no further. The weather can be quite temperamental with showers every now and then, but the temperature remains rather warm. The town of Diani is mainly relaxational and so the recommendations are made based on the fact that you will want to relax and not engage in too many activities. There’s also the fact that culturally speaking, people from the coastal area are never in a rush, and tend to scorn those who are by invoking the proverb “Haraka haraka haina baraka” – (“Hurry hurry has no blessings”). Photo by Silas Baisch on Unsplash

Useful information about Diani

The language in Diani

The majority of the locals in Diani speak English fluently. Some locals speak Dutch, German, and even Italian, but for the most part, Swahili is the main language of communication.

Getting to Diani

There are several options to travel to Diani: 1. There are flights offered from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Diani twice a day which cost as little as $USD 110 for a return ticket. 2. You can fly from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Malindi (approximately $USD 120), then take a cab and cross the ferry to Diani (approx. $USD 50). 3. You can take a flight from Wilson Airport to Diani, flights are offered twice a day. Return tickets can cost as little as $USD 130. 4. You can take the train (Standard Gauge Railway) if you want to take the scenic route, to Mombasa. The train ride will cost as little as $USD 20 for a return trip. You will have to take a cab and cross the ferry, which will cost an additional $USD 50 approximately. NOTE: The flight prices stated will depend on how early you book your ticket and are therefore subject to change. For citizens, all you need to travel to Diani is your national ID card, foreigners will require their international passports for identification.

Getting around in Diani

Commuting can be done using the local “tuk-tuk” (pronounced “took-took”) or you can use an Uber. If you book a tour, transport is provided.

Making payments in Diani

The currency used in Diani is the Kenyan shilling, however, I shall be giving the prices of activities in USD; 1 USD = KSh. 100 approximately.

Recommended clothing for Diani

I recommend having a pair of comfortable shoes, sneakers or sandals, depending on your chosen activities. Keep in mind Diani has rather high temperatures sometimes soaring upwards of 32 degrees Celsius.

Diani - Travel Itinerary

Day 1

07:30 - 11:00

Shimba Hills National Reserve

Shimba Hills National Reserve, Kasemeni sinango rd Shimba Hills National Reserve, Kenya

I recommend taking a tour that has been organized by a tour company. Using one of the local tour companies may leave you taking the game drive perhaps with a group of strangers, but it is also a good way to make new friends from different places. Tour companies typically charge about USD $35 per person and arrange for a guide for the tour prior to arriving at the reserve. There isn’t much to see in the morning hours, unfortunately, as most animals are not yet looking for food. You may, however, glimpse the wild animals as they lie in the tall grass. After the game drive, you can take a hike guided and guarded by the park rangers to a location known as “Sheldrick Falls”. The water levels formed by the waterfall vary depending on the wet and dry seasons in the country. It’s easier to swim in the pool that’s been formed in the wet season (March – May and October – December) when the water levels are high enough to actually swim in. You may also decide to drive yourself through the game reserve. The costs involved should you choose this option include: • Fuel – USD $1.27/litre • Park ranger – USD $10; you may arrange for a guide at the entrance to the game reserve. This will, however, attract extra charges above the entry fees. • Park entry charges – USD $1 per child and USD $2.50 per adult for Kenyan citizens and USD $10 per child and USD $25 per adult for non-citizens. NOTE: Vehicle fees during entry are charged according to the number of seats in the vehicle, whether or not the vehicle is at full capacity. Images courtesy of Kenya Wildlife Service Shimba Hills National Reserve

Website

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Shimba Hills National Reserve
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	35.00 - 70.00 USD
Kids	10.00 USD	Under 18

Notes

Most tour companies tend to start off the game drive in the morning. The tour takes anywhere from 3 to 5 hours so that by the end of it you will have seen most if not all of the animals in the park.

Shimba Hills National Reserve

11:30 - 12:00

Shimba Green Lodge

Shimba Hills National Reserve, Kasemeni sinango rd Shimba Hills National Reserve, Kenya

This is located within Kwale County and offers a gorgeous infinity pool where you can get a magnificent view of the wildlife. They offer food and refreshments and you can eat here or should you want to experience the local culture, you can visit one of the local restaurants scattered around. You can ask the guide for a recommendation as there are quite a number of local restaurants, too many to mention here. Image by JC_V from Pixabay

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Entry+Drink

Prices for Shimba Green Lodge
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	5.00 - 15.00 USD
Kids	0.00 USD	Under 3

Notes

I'd recommend getting some cold refreshments while here as at this point the hunger is setting in. Ask your local guide for the best local cuisine around if you truly want to experience the culture

Shimba Green Lodge

12:45 - 13:35

Tiki Bar and Restaurant

Diani Beach Road, Diani Beach, Kenya

Tiki Bar restaurant tends to stand out when it comes to food. Tiki Bar restaurant offers some of the best Italian, and local cuisine. Food does take a while to be brought out so (and I cannot emphasize enough) I recommend ordering for your food in advance so as not to be disappointed and “hangry”. Photo by Ting Tian on Unsplash

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Entry+Meal

Prices for Tiki Bar and Restaurant
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	10.00 - 25.00 USD

Tiki Bar and Restaurant

14:40 - 16:40

Deep Sea Diving, Diani Beach

Diani Beach, Kenya

Diani does have some of the most beautiful marine life I’ve ever seen. In order to deep sea dive, you’ll have to use a professional company located in Diani where you’ll be given a short course and instructed on what to do before you’re allowed to head out into the ocean. The company provides the various equipment and if you wear spectacles, they cater for that as well. You’ll be guided to various underwater destinations (including a ship wreck if it’s your lucky day) and you will get the chance to observe whales, dolphins, coral, and other marine life. Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Deep Sea Diving, Diani Beach
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	730.00 - 1230.00 USD

Notes

Be sure to wait a while after eating before you go deep sea diving 😊 just to be safe.

Deep Sea Diving, Diani Beach

17:15 - 19:30

Kongo River and the Colobus Seafood Shade Restaurant

Diani Beach, Kenya

You can grab a tuk-tuk from wherever you are to get here where the river meets the Indian Ocean. This location gives you an amazing and magnificent view of the Diani sunset over the horizon should you want to see it. You can take a ride on a canoe from one of the locals for a better view, at a cost of course. This cost will honestly depend on your negotiation skills. Grab a glass of wine if you want to sit on the sand bank and watch the delightful sunset. Seafood lovers can try the delicacies offered at the Colobus Shade restaurant. It offers some of the freshest and most affordable seafood at the Coast (they even offer gluten free dishes). As the restaurant is right on the beach, the seating is limited. I highly recommend a visit. The view from the terrace allows one to still observe the Kongo River meeting up with the Indian Ocean and continue your sunset watching. Photo by Pim Myten on Unsplash

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Entry+Meal

Prices for Kongo River and the Colobus Seafood Shade Restaurant
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	10.00 - 25.00 USD

Kongo River and the Colobus Seafood Shade Restaurant

17:15 - 17:30

Tiwi Beach

Tiwi Beach, Tiwi, Kenya

Camping on Tiwi Beach – carry your camping gear and get a cab/tuk-tuk over to Tiwi Beach. The sound of the waves lapping against the beach, and the wind in the palm trees in the night lulls you to a nice slumber. In the morning you can take a short walk along the beach and have a swim in the “Map of Africa” pool, which is a pool that is formed in the shape of Africa, jump off the nearby cliffs into the ocean, and overall have a great time. Keep in mind, as it is actual camping, you will have to carry food provisions and cooking equipment and be prepared to share the bathroom facilities (which are separate for males and females) with other campers. It is a great place to camp out with a group of friends. There is a restaurant close by should you prefer not to cook your own food, and the management also offers camping gear for rent should you need them. Also, as you are camping right next to the water, you have the option of buying fresh seafood from the fishermen. The price will vary depending on how good the day's catch was and your haggling skills, but, should not be too expensive. An example, the price of prawns ranges from USD $5 to USD $10 for a kilo. Photo by Fabe collage on Unsplash; Photo by Katsu Utaharu on Unsplash

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Tiwi Beach
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	4.00 - 8.00 USD	Plus fee

Notes

This is an alternative plan, should you be in the mood for a camping experience. The choice really is yours 😉. Either way, you'll have fun.

Tiwi Beach

Day 2

08:30 - 09:30

Colobus Conservation

MH47+6WQ Chuka, Kenya

Colobus conservation; Established in 1997 as a non-profit, the conservation was created for the protection, preservation, and conservation of the Colobus monkey and its habitat as the Colobus monkey is currently an endangered species. The organization is run with funds from donations, so should you feel like, you may contribute to the conservation of the monkeys. You can buy souvenirs from the shop that is on location. They do not open on Sunday but are open Monday through Saturday so if you desire to visit, you can work your schedule around this. You will not regret it as the monkeys are really quite adorable and cheeky. ENTRANCE FEES: Citizens: USD $2.50 Citizen Children age 7 - 11 years: USD $1.00 Residents: USD $5.00 Resident Children 7 - 11 years: USD $2.00 Non-citizens: USD $7.50 Non-citizens Children age 7 - 11 years: USD $2.50 Children under 6 years: free entry Children above 12 years: Pay as adults image from Colobus Conservation, Diani

Website

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Colobus Conservation
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	1.00 - 7.50 USD
Kids	0.00 USD	Under 6

Colobus Conservation

10:30 - 13:00

Robinson Island

Robinson Island, Kenya

This visit will greatly depend on the tide level. Most hotels along the beach offer a tour to the island for a fee of about USD $30 per person (The price really depends on the hotel you stay at, and whether or not it is peak tourism season. Some may charge upwards of $40 but you can try and haggle on the price) and they use a glass bottom boat so you can see the marine life as you go along. The sand bank at Robinson Island is so fine and it feels amazing to walk on. You can go snorkeling once you get to Robinson Island; you get to view the coral and other marine life in the ocean. Photo by Harshil Gudka on Unsplash

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Boat

Prices for Robinson Island
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	25.00 - 50.00 USD

Notes

At this point, you're probably getting hungry. Grab a bite to eat from one of the many restaurants along Diani Beach once you get back. The average cost should range between USD $10 to USD $25

Robinson Island

14:00 - 15:00

Quad-Bike Riding in Diani, Kenya

Diani Beach, Kenya

There’s a company in Diani that offers Quad-bikes and a guide through the dirt roads in Diani, through Shimba Hills, taking you through the local villages and cultural scenes that are often times missed by tourists. You will need a valid driver’s license before you can be allowed to drive the quad–bike. The tour company offers different tours ranging from 1 hour to a full day trip (9 to 10 hours), depending on what you wish to see. Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Quad-Bike Riding in Diani, Kenya
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	50.00 - 120.00 USD

Quad-Bike Riding in Diani, Kenya

15:30 - 16:30

Jet Skiing, Diani, Kenya

Diani Beach, Kenya

If you want a boost of adrenaline, you could choose to go jet skiing. Rentals can be found right next to the beach, where operations begin 3 hours before high tide till after the high tide due to the water amount required by the jet ski. Prices vary depending on the length of time and type of jet ski rented. Half hour – USD $60 to $70 One hour – USD $120 to $150; offers a guided tour along the coast with dolphin spotting Two hours – USD $250 to $310; offers a guided tour through the mangroves as well as dolphin spotting Photo by Ludovic Gauthier on Unsplash; Photo by Mansour Kiaei on Unsplash

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Jet Skiing, Diani, Kenya
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	60.00 - 310.00 USD	Plus fee

Jet Skiing, Diani, Kenya

16:30 - 17:30

Kite Surfing, Diani, Kenya

Diani Beach, Kenya

A number of hotels along the beach offer kite surfing where you are given a short course by the experts before they take you out into the vast ocean. They also offer tours along Diani reef and to places like Funzi island and Gazi bay, with cold refreshments included. Extra charges are included if you want food provided. The charges are at an average range of USD $30 to $70 per person with a minimum of four people. I’d recommend this for independent surfers. Photo by Renan Brun on Unsplash

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Kite Surfing, Diani, Kenya
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	30.00 - 70.00 USD

Kite Surfing, Diani, Kenya

17:30 - 18:15

Beach walks and Camel Rides, Diani Beach

Diani Beach, Kenya

Beach walks – you can hire one of the beach guides to show you the marine life around the ocean and safely take you through the sea urchins to the little islands formed while the tide is out. Don’t forget to try out some refreshing “madafu” juice (coconut milk) from the local vendors around the beach. Camel rides on the beach – you can opt to ride a camel if you want to avoid walking. It’s a rocky ride as the sun sets, sitting on these majestic creatures as they take you along the beach. The camel riding is at a fee, of course, but shouldn't be too expensive. Photo by Silas Baisch on Unsplash; Photo by Alin Meceanu on Unsplash; Photo by Harshil Gudka on Unsplash; Image by Herbert Aust from Pixabay

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Entry

Prices for Beach walks and Camel Rides, Diani Beach
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	5.00 - 10.00 USD

Beach walks and Camel Rides, Diani Beach

19:30 - 21:30

Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant

Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant Ground N/A Beach Road, Mombasa, Kenya

Ali Barbour’s Cave is a lovely 5-star restaurant for fancy dates or dinners. It was formed by coral reefs that formed a cave-like structure. Prices start from USD $10. The cave is estimated to be between 120,000 to 180,000 years old. It was naturally created from coral forming a series of interlinking chambers that are set about 10 meters below ground level with an opening to the sky. I recommend a dinner date here as the night lights are superbly magical and you have a view of the sky allowing you to look at the moon and stars as you dine. They cater all types of food, including vegetarian and seafood. Images courtesy of Ali Barbour website

Website

Article By: Loice Ayub

Price covers: Entry+Meal

Prices for Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant
Category	Price	Restrictions
Standard	10.00 - 40.00 USD

Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant

Privacy: public

Submitted by: Loice Ayub, 3 years ago

About the author

Loice Ayub

I love travelling. I love seeing new places and experiencing different cultures. Now thanks to this website I get to share my favorite places with the world. Hope you enjoy what I share :)