Kenya Coast

The Kenya coast feature some of the best beaches in Africa, ancient coastal towns and rich wildlife. With outstanding exotic locations including deserted or lively beaches, romantic islands, bays and easy assess to all national parks in Kenya, it is one of the  most unique holiday destinations in the world.

Kenya coast is excellent for holidays and offers an excellent location for romantic outdoor beach weddings.

Explore Kenya coast and its exotic beaches, bays and islands

The entrance to the coast is Mombasa. From here you can either explore the south coast across the ferry or the north coast through the Nyali bridge.

The south coast, starting from Mombasa is reaching as far as to Tanzania. This 135km long stretch is offering some of the best beaches in the World.

The north coast, stretching from Mombasa to Kilifi, offers ancient small villages and beautiful beaches in its 60 km stretch as well as the northeastern coastline does with its 130km long area from Malindi to Watamu.

The splendid 225 km long stretch of beaches and fascinating landscape is ended at its most northern part by the rural island of Lamu.

The Kenya coast province covers an area of 83,600 km² and has a population of approximately 2,500,300 inhabitants, mostly Mijikenda and Swahili, among others.

The weather on the Kenya coast

The Kenya coast is an approximately 500 km long natural strip with splendid white sanded beaches, remote islands, coral reefs, mangrove forests, lagoons, creeks, secluded bays, palm trees, turquoise Indian Ocean and a wide collection of luxury beach villas, resorts and hotels with excellent beach life, many tourist’s attractions, tours and endless possibilities for water sports.

Thanks to location on the equator, you will be enjoying pleasant tropical weather on the Kenya coast. The average temperatures range between 23˚C – 30˚C. The weather and temperatures are varying according to seasons.

The hottest time is from October to February and the coldest time is from June to September. There are 2 rainy seasons in Kenya, the big rainy season is from April to June and the small rainy season is from October to November.

Even though it is rainy season, it is usually not rainy the whole day and you will have many opportunities to enjoy the sun. The rainy season brings the rain and dry seasons brings wind. There are three dry seasons known as Kusi-from August till September, the Kaskasi-from March to July and Matahali season, starting in October till February.

The Kaskasi season brings the strongest wind and it is an excellent time for windsurfing and kitesurfing along the Kenyan coast. The local people divide the seasons into wet and dry.

The best beaches on Kenya coast

The 500 km long coastline, along the Indian ocean comprises of the south coast beaches and islands – Shelly, Tiwi, Diani, Galu, Funzi island, Chale island, Masambweni, Shimoni and Wasini Island and the north coast beaches, islands and ancient African towns – Mombasa, Bamburi, Nyali, Shanzu, Vipingo, Malindi, Kikambala, Kilifi, Watamu and Lamu.

The Kenya coast with its capital Mombasa , is one the most popular tourist destination in Africa for its natural, ancient and exotic beauty. Mombasa is one of the oldest human settlements of the eastern coastline of the African continent with outstanding historical sights and ruins. The coast comprises many luxury beach resorts, villas, cottages, restaurants, nightclubs, discos, activities, safaris, entertainments and much more.

How to get to Kenya coast

To get to Mombasa, you may take either a flight to its MOI International airport or you could set off on a beautiful 530Km long road safari from Nairobi. In case you fly to Mombasa or will take the road safari, you will have to cross the Ferry in order to enter the south coast.

History of Kenyan coast

The Kenya coast has very interesting and rich history – with a remainder of ancient civilizations, historical events and cultures, to be seen everywhere along the Indian Ocean shores. The entire coast is reflecting the influence of Africans, Persians, Arabs, Turks, Indians, Portuguese and the British.

For 2,000 years men from the Arabian Peninsula, China, Persia, and India have sailed the African coast to trade at the exotic islands of Mombasa, Lamu, Zanzibar and the many miles of African shoreline, the motherland of Swahili, what left spectacular influence in language, religion, architecture, history and goods.

The annual pattern of heavy rain winds resulted in some sailing ships having to stay in East Africa from October to April. As the ships were sailing from Arabia with the northeast monsoon the only way to return was with the southeast wind, which blows only from April to October. Once they would miss the southeast winds, they would have to stay in East Africa more than half a year!

This was about the time when the “Sawahili language” was shaped with Arabic influence. The name Swahili itself comes from the Arabic language and means “shoreline”.

Sailors have found the life in East Africa very comfortable and attractive; especially thanks to beautiful Bantu-speaking girls and many of them have settled down in this beautiful place. The Swahili language is 80% Bantu-the language of the homeland and mothers, and 20% Arabic-the language of the traders and fathers.