Diani Beach

Diani Beach is a major beach on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is located 30 km south of Mombasa, in the nearby Kwale County.

The beach is about 10 km long, from the Kongo river to the north and Galu beach to the south (the southern point of reference is an old Baobab tree).

It is adjacent to the town of Ukunda, the population of which nears 100,000 inhabitants. A small airstrip is located between the beach area and the Mombasa – Lunga Lunga road. The water remains shallow near shore, with some underwater sandbars near the surface that allow wading with a clear view of the sandy bottom.

Inland from the beach, there is extensive vegetation including numerous palm trees that cover the coastal areas, unlike the dry acacia trees of the mountainous Kenyan Highlands. The Mwachema River flows into the sea at Diani Beach.

The general area is known for its coral reefs, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and for the closely located Shimba Hills National Reserve, a wildlife reserve that looks out over the Indian Ocean.

Diani Beach has high-class restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and several shopping centres. It is also a popular kite-surfing location.