Kenya Coast Safari Activities

Beautiful beaches, superb diving and its own unique character combine to make the Kenyan coast the perfect end to a safari through Kenya. Go deep sea fishing at the home of the Striped, Black and Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Broadbill, Mako, Tiger and other sharks, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado, Giant Trevally among others. The scuba diving, snorkelling and tag-release sport fishing here is among the best in the world. The area’s secluded resorts and villas are the ideal place to relax after the rigours of a Kenyan safari.

With expansive, pearly beaches that are practically deserted, warm, azure waters just begging to be swum in, the odd beach boy selling juicy coconuts, and traditional dhows sailing past in the background, it’s not hard to see why the Kenyan coast has been enticing visitors for years on end. This is the perfect place to relax after a few days spent bumping along dirt tracks on safari, or to hone your kitesurfing, snorkeling, or scuba diving skills.

Deep Sea Fishing

If you are passionate about deep-sea fishing, the Kenyan coastline is famous for deep-sea fishing. Watamu is a focal point for fishing on the East African coast and a mecca for deep-sea fishermen. Many world and African records are held in Kenya. The best time for deep-sea fishing is from October to April. With a 480km stretch of coastline, the Indian Ocean waters have abundant fish, from big to small. Big game fishing safaris for marlin, kingfish, tuna and wahoo are done using fully -equipped crew boats. There are six types of billfish in Kenyan waters: striped, blue and black marlin, sailfish and broadbill swordfish, and elusive shortbill spearfish. Other fish include sharks, wahoo, yellowfin, and dorado. August to October are the best times to catch yellowfin tuna.

Note: Kenya operates a tag and release system. With boats departing early in the morning, trawl for bait and then head out to deep waters to wait for the big catch.
January and February are warm and dry months, favourable for scuba diving and snorkelling, and a fantastic time to swim with whale sharks and other sea creatures, including manta rays, sea turtles and dolphins.
July to September: sailfish and black marlin.
November to March: billfish season.
July to September: Humpback whale watching, encounter breathtaking sight of the migration of the majestic humpbacks along the Kenyan coast.

Scuba Diving

International (PADI) diving school offers equipment, training courses, and guidance on local reefs and (in some cases, wrecks). The Indian Ocean coast offers some spectacular dive sites and a wide selection of dive centres which accommodate complete beginners and those with experience. One can also participate in a “fun dive” down to 6 metres without experience with the help of a guide. Experienced and professional divers must carry internationally recognized accreditation from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), which are acceptable.

Diani Beach is famous for the most rounded diving in Kenya, with various reef and wreck dive sites and all-year-round turtles and dolphins sightseeing. There are also opportunities to spot whale sharks and manta rays between November and April. Watamu Marine National Park is ideal for egg-laying by the green sea turtles, which lay on the beaches at Watamu multiple times a year and are often seen around the reef. Nearby, Moray Reef has a breathtaking overhang dropping 28 metres to a sandy bottom. The fantastic coral is home to octopus, eel and enormous semi-tame moray. Migration of the whale sharks is sighted each year from October to February, with breathtaking views reported daily. Wrecks in Kenya include the purpose-sum MV Alpha Funguo in Diani, MV Dania in Mombasa and MV Fish Eagle in Kilifi.

Water Sports

Kenyan beaches have numerous outdoor water sporting activities, which include windsurfing, snorkelling, kite-surfing, jet-skis, glass-bottom boats, dinghies, boogie boards, water-skiing, pedallos, catamaran fun boats and ski-diving. Some of these activities come as part of the accommodation package, others come at an additional cost in resorts, and others are outsourced from third-party suppliers.

Several beaches in Kenya are excellent for kite surfing. You can hire surfing equipment. There are a few schools offering courses for beginners or intermediates or those seeking a refresher course in kite surfing. Che-Shale is one of the best places for kite surfing, with an open, empty beach with blowing winds of about 8-25knots. Kite surfing lessons are offered on 1:1 coaching. The beginner-friendly waters, wind conditions, and professional guidance ensure safe and fun learning. Some gears used include Ozone Kites, Crazyfly, Liuewe & Prolimit.

The Kenyan Coastline is a perfect holiday destination for windsurfing. Windsurfing has a long history in Kenya, with Diani Beach being a top destination for windsurfers. You can hire up-to-date equipment with boards and rigs from the popular brands Starboard and Severne. If you are inexperienced in windsurfing, you can sign up for beginner and intermediate lessons and learn how to surf on the white-sanded Galu beach.

Fort Jesus

Take a trip down to Fort Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the edge of a coral ridge on the Old Port of Mombasa. It is one of the most remarkable and well-preserved examples of 16th-century Portuguese military fortification and a landmark in the history of this unique construction. The Fort was built by the Portuguese from 1593 to 1596 and designed by Giovanni Battista Cairati, a leading military architect under King Philip II of Spain and Portugal, to protect their trade route to India and serve their interests in East Africa. The Fort was built in the shape of a man from an aerial view and is almost square with four bulwarks at its corners.

It is considered a masterpiece of late Renaissance military fortification. According to history, the Fort was captured and recaptured nine times by the Portuguese, British, and Oman Arabs. The Fort covers an area of 2.36 hectares and includes a moat and immediate surroundings. Fort Jesus is one of the most famous attractions in Mombasa. When you visit the place, you will learn about the history of the East African Coastline. A museum at the heart of the fort displays 42 Portuguese warships sunken during the Omani Siege in 1697, Chinese Porcelain, Persian amulets, and barnacled earthenware jars, among other things. Arriving at the Fort is advisable as it can get overcrowded. The tour will take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Pili Pipa Dhow Safari

Embark on an unforgettable adventure with Pilli Pipa Dhow Safari as we invite you to experience the breathtaking beauty of Kisite Mpunguti national marine park like never before. Our personalized and professional snorkeling and diving dhow safari is designed to immerse you in the wonders of the reef, all while ensuring your safety and comfort, you will be picked up from your hotel and drive to Shimoni Jetty, where you will board the boat. The staff will brief you about your tour to Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park as you enjoy some refreshments and bitings. The dhow experience is done in limited group sizes to minimize the negative effect on the reef and maintain the pristine ecosystem of the marine park. While snorkelling, you will be accompanied by guides who will help you spot incredible marine life. Look out for dolphins, stingrays, sea turtles, and moray eels, among other magnificent creatures and stunning coral after snorkelling activities. Later, proceed to Wasini Island for a mouthwatering food banquet.

Visit Gede Ruins

Pay a visit to Gede Ruins, a 12th-century Swahili medieval village mysteriously abandoned over 600 years ago in Watamu. Gede National Monument is a historical and archaeological site near Gede Town. Gede Ruins are relics of Arab settlements found along the East African Coastline. The Swahili people built the towns in the 15th and 16th centuries to facilitate trading with the Arabs and Indians. An estimated 2500 people lived in Gede around that time. In approximately the 17th century, the town was mysteriously abandoned. The ruins were rediscovered later in 1920 by the colonialists. Excavations commenced from 1948 to the 1980s, and the remains of several mosques, palaces, residential houses, and pillar tombs were revealed. Gede Ruins are hidden deep into the Abrabukoko-Soke Forest, and the site is very atmospheric and mysterious, with overgrown beautiful indigenous trees, baobabs, and tamarinds. Visiting the place, you will learn about the fascinating culture of the Swahili people. There are over 40 plant species, syke’s monkeys, golden rump elephant shrew, and the place is fantastic for bird watching. The Gede Ruins National Monument is open daily from 7 am to 6 pm. The town is about 120km from Mombasa by road and 16km from Malindi Town.

Mida Creek

Mida Creek is a tidal inlet expanding across an estimated area of 32 sq km from the Indian Ocean into Arabukoko, and it is a truly hidden treasure. The creek comprises various habitats influenced by the tide, including sandflats, mangrove forests, mud and shallow waters. Mida Creek is one of the most productive mangrove ecosystems in the world, and an International Birding Area with Arabuko-Sokoke Forest makes it a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The creek is a paradise for national waterfowl and a home for migrating birds from Europe and Eurasia to rest while on their journey or a place to escape from the winter. Over 170 Palearctic migratory bird species have been observed. You might watch Roseate, Lesser crested, Curlew Sandpipers, fish eagles, little stints, greater and lesser sand plovers, whimbrels, kingfishers, and dimorphic egrets and flamingoes, among others, with a pair of binoculars. Mida Creek is also a prime feeding and development area for juvenile green and hawksbill turtles. The mangrove channels are feeding and breeding grounds for many fish species, including the parrotfish, jacks, groupers, rabbit fish, snappers and barracuda. The best way to explore the creek is by boat during sunset when the water turns gold, and flocks of birds fill the sky as you enjoy your sundowner drink. The central waters of the creek are ideal for waterskiing and wakeboarding. You can also visit the Mida Creek Conservation Community, which runs a crab farm or enjoy sumptuous crab dishes, including famous crab samosas from a local crab shack restaurant on a deck built over the mangroves with spectacular views across the creek

Colobus Conservation Diani

Colobus Conservation is a non-profit organisation established to promote the conservation, preservation and protection of vulnerable primates like the Angolan Colobus monkey in response to an outcry from residents about the high numbers of monkeys killed in Diani beach while crossing the roads, about 55 monkeys are hit by cars each year while crossing the streets. Colobus Conservation mitigates this by building aerial ladders and painting speed bumps. Primate electrocution is another cause of about 20% of injury and death, and this is because the primates use the powerlines to move between tree canopies when vegetation is at its lowest. The organisation works with Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC)to insulate power lines and relocate transformers. Colobus Conservation works to treat injured primates. The young primates that have lost their parents are quarantined at the centre, where they re-learn the behaviours of wild monkeys, what foods to eat and how to interact with others. The process can take a while before being released back into the forest where they are safe. If you are interested in volunteering, there are spaces available. You can also adopt a monkey for $45, which will help care for an orphan. Upon adoption, you will receive an adoption certificate and a free entry certificate to visit your monkey whenever possible, valid for a year. You will also get a photo of the monkey and email updates on the progress.

When you visit the place, you will be offered guided tours through a nature trail for a personal introduction to a troop of wild colobus monkeys and others, which include sykes, baboons, and vervets. The place is open daily for guided-eco tours from Monday to Saturday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The non-resident entry rates for adults are approximately $10, and non-resident children pay about$5. Children below six years of age are free to enter. Donations are also accepted at the place and you can buy souvenirs for yourself, family or friends

Short Excursions / Safari Activities

A SAFARI is an exciting and adventurous way of seeing the ‘real Africa’ because it enables you to view a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat. As a result, going on a safari gives you an authentic experience of Africa. Safari activities or excursions as some may call them enables you to experience the local culture, enjoin in some of the local safari activities outside your safari itinerary. These safari activities/excursions helps you have a well grounded experience of the destiantions in which you are travelling. Meet the local people, sample local cuisines, indulge in cultural activities or even take a walk in the wild alongside the wildlife for a more intimate experience!

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Kenya Coast Safari Activities