Mombasa Kenya-Mombasa Beach

On the most popular tourist beaches, there are many hawkers trying to sell their wares. Informal displays of carving, jewelry and bright cotton kanga are set out along the sand: a small shack professes by its sign to be a “massage parlor”. And women want to braid your hair with beads. As you stroll the beach, you are likely to be approached by friendly but persistent vendors. Some hotels employ security guards or police to try to discourage these hawkers. It is in advisable to walk along the beach displaying wealth with fancy jewelry or cameras.

Although the climate is generally easy to take all year long, the monsoon winds blowing across the ocean determine the seasons. The kaskazi is north-easterly and lasts from October to March. November is usually the month of occasional rains during the kaskazi. The kusi is the stronger and colder of the two winds, lasting from April until September. During this wind, rain is to be expected from May until June. Even during the months of “rain,” however, there are often fine days at the coast. Hotel rates are usually lower at this time of the year. Some of the hotels catering primarily to overseas tourists even close.

Over the course of the year, especially during the kusi, a great deal of sea-weed is washed up on to the coast of Kenyan beaches. The amounts and location of the weed can vary from day to day, affected by the winds and currents. There are occasions when there is so much seaweed that it’s difficult to walk on the beaches or to swim in the ocean. Several hotels employ staff to rake and burry the seaweed in the sand-this help, but it is still waiting for you in the water! Seaweed afflicts some beaches more than others. For example, Watamu on the north coast is badly affected, while Diani on the south coast is somewhat less so.

Sport fishermen from all over the world come to Shimoni in the south, where big game fishing for marlin and sail fish is at its best in the Pemba channel. However, many of the big resorts along the coast can give expert and novice fishermen an unforgettable day “hunting the big ones.” The North Coast, Watamu and Malindi are the “in” places to go, and there are many fishing tournaments.

Beyond the sybaritic beach experience, you can still see wildlife in nearby forested areas such as Shimba Hills National Reserve, Arabuko Sokoke Forest and the Tana River Delta. Africa Kenya Travel agent, specially trained hotel staff, and homestay hosts can help you arrange safaris into these areas.

In all ways, the island of Mombasa is the hub of the Kenyan coast. It is a major seaport. There is an international airport, the train from Nairobi brings many visitors to the Mombasa Railroad station, and Mombasa is where the road from Nairobi meets the coastal highway, Mombasa, separates the north coast from the South Coast.

The south coast is reached by crossing on the Likoni ferry. There are a string of resorts on a series of beaches, the best known and most developed being Diani Beach, south of Diani is less developed.

The north coast has concentrated groupings of hotels near Mombasa, Malindi and to a lesser extent, Watamu. Farther north towards the Somali border are the Islands of Lamu Archipelago. The ancient Swahili town of Lamu is well known and often visited by tourists.

The Kenyan coast is popular destination for package tours from Europe. Resort management and clientele often reflect specific nationalities, with Germans and Italian predominating.