Renting a car is not really necessary if solely visiting Diani Beach, many of the accommodations are concentrated along the beach where there are plenty of public transport options to choose from. If you plan to see more of Kenya and the surrounding area renting a car would make sense. Cars can be rented from the airports If you choose to drive from Mombasa just follow the A14 directly to Diani Beach.

There are hundreds of taxis in Dianai Beach with companies such as Chideri, the rates are around Ksh1000 per mile. The main places to find taxis are at Barclay’s shopping center, Bazaar, Petro, Diani Shopping Center, Ushago, and the area around Nomad Hotel. The Chideri Taxi Service phone number is 254-720-950-578. There are also services such as Uber, and Taxify available.

Yes walking around Diani Beach is possible with short distances between beachfront accommodations, shopping opportunities, dining, and nightlife all within walking distance. Diani Beach boasts a long stretch of white sand beaches and walking along the beach or water is very relaxing. Many attractions are within walking distance in Diani Beach.

There are options to take boat rides when in Diani Beach, take a guided tour to Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park by dhow (boat) cruise from Shimoni town. There are opportunities to see dolphins, turtles, fish, and beautiful coral reefs with options for snorkeling.

Diani Beach is considered a safe city, it is significantly safer than rural areas. Take the necessary precautions when sightseeing, be sure to keep your eyes open and your wallet out of sight from pickpockets, especially in crowded areas. At night stay in well-lit and populated areas, and use reputable transportation companies instead of taking rides from strangers. Violent crime, theft, and pickpocketing are common throughout the country. Avoid traveling alone, especially at night.

There are some great shopping opportunities in Diani Beach including the Diani Shopping Center set in the heart of Diani Beach, a one-stop shopping destination located near Beach Road. There is a collection of shops here selling everything from bags to clothes, jewelry, and art, there are several small restaurants and coffee shops here as well. The Bahraini Shopping Center is a great place to shop, a modern shopping space boasting restaurants, tapas bars, grocery stores, souvenir shops, clothing stores, and many more. There will be people along the beaches selling souvenirs and trinkets, be ready to bargain and shop for Maasi crafts such as intricate beadwork at the Maasai village. The most popular souvenirs in Diani Beach are paintings, wood crafts, fabrics, kikoy, kanga, statues made of soapstone, handmade jewelry, and traditional African, Arab, and Indian clothes.

The official language spoken in Diani Beach is Swahili. However, English is widely spoken, especially in the service industry, it is taught in schools and used in government, business, and the media. Many people speak fluent English, especially in the service industry at hotels and restaurants. We recommend getting a good English-Swahili guidebook and learn the common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and numbers 1-10.

Diani Beach boasts a tropical climate with warm weather and two rainy seasons; April to May and November to December. The best time to visit is between November through mid-March, and then June to September. The climate during these months is perfect with little rain and lots of sunshine, the temperatures can still get hot with some humidity, but temperatures and humidity are at their highest from December to April when average daily temperatures are 88F degrees and higher. The month of October is a good month to visit. During the months of July and August average daily temperatures are around 80F and higher. The Indian Ocean temperatures are very warm all year round with average temperatures ranging between 78-84F degrees.

There are several unique and beautiful beaches to visit in Diani Beach including Galu Beach which is located 6 miles south of Diani Beach, this is one of the best beaches for watersports. Diani Beach is one of the most popular set in the heart of the town with opportunities to relax, swim, and enjoy watersports and beach sports and the beautiful blue waters. The beach here is protected by a shallow lagoon followed by a coral reef, which provides protection from the ocean, these islands also provide ideal swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving conditions. There are several restaurants in Diani that are situated right next to the beach.

Tiwi Beach is one of Diani’s hidden gems and features the Africa Pool, a magical pool that resembles the map of Africa and its surrounding islands, and a nice swimming spot. Other beaches that make up the unique stretch of sand in Diani include Kikondo and Chale. Chale Marine National Park and Reserve is located on Chale Island and is extremely popular with diving enthusiasts, and snorkelers to observe the exotic species of the Indian Ocean.

The currency of Diani Beach is the Kenyah Shilling (KES), the US dollar is not accepted. You will need to exchange your currency for the Shilling, which can be done upon arrival at the airport currency exchange desks or banks and specialized stores called Foreign Exchange Bureaus. ATMs can be found in Diani beach, tipping is discretionary and appreciated, and cash is usually preferred.

There are a number of places to choose from when it comes to dining in Diani Beach, there is so much choice and selection of restaurants. Some of the best dining opportunities can be found along Diani’s seafront serving some of the best food in town, there is a lot of delicious seafood to enjoy in Diani as well as traditional authentic Swahili dishes. Many of Diani’s restaurants offer relaxing atmospheres many with views of the beach and sparkling Indian Ocean with prime viewing for sunsets, and many offering live music and entertainment. There is basically everything from Japanese cuisine, to Chinese, Indian, Italian, and African, steakhouses, seafood restaurants, street food, cafes, and Swahili restaurants to choose from.

Some of the best Swahili dishes to try when in Diani Beach such as Biriani which is considered one of the finest delicacies in the Swahili cuisine. Biriani is a delicious rice and meat dish. Coconut curry served with fish or chicken. Katlesi is another fine delicacy made with mashed potatoes and eggs stuffed with minced meat.

The nightlife in Diani Beach is vibrant and laid back compared to Mombasa or Mtwapa, it’s more of a place to relax and enjoy some unique places to enjoy the evening. There are various beach bars, nightclubs, and more to explore in Diani, as well as many hotels, and resorts that offer live entertainment and music. Many of the destinations for nightlife can be found along Diani Beach Road, there is definitely no shortage of places for nightlife. The weekends usually bring out the beach parties along Diani Beach with bars, restaurants, cafes, and more offering evening opportunities.

In case of an emergency dial 112 or 999 for local police, an ambulance, or fire.

Hospitals:

Diani Beach Hospital tel. 254-700-999-999