Kenyan Coast Discovery

This 09-day Kenya beach hopping program is organized along the beautiful Kenyan Coast, amidst the beautiful waters of the Indian Ocean. Admire the underwater world of Watamu and Kisite marine parks with its unique creatures, swim with dolphins and turtles, marvel at the magnificent humpback whales when they are around. The warm waters of the Kenyan Coast offer great ocean diversity. This is an unpolluted environment, where marine life develops quietly and is well preserved. The area shelters healthy coral species, and a full range of tropical reef fauna, from microscopic life to cetaceans. You will be guided by professional marine conservationists who have been guiding marine expeditions around the world for decades and have in depth knowledge of the Indian Ocean. Stay in charming beach houses and discover the wonders of the blue ocean. A donation is made to marine conservation from each booking and each safari is carbon offset. This tour can be adapted.

09 Days – price available on request

Itinerary: Malindi, Watamu, Mombasa, Tiwi Beach

Included

Price is per person, based on two people sharing in a double/twin room
Accommodation with full board
Guided excursions and dives on a private boat
Diving equipment: tank, weights, BCD, regulator, wet suit, mask and fins
1 fluorescent night dive on a private basis with guide and equipment (tank, weights, Fluo torch, BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins)
Snacks and drinking water during dives
All the excursions mentioned in the itinerary on a private basis
All the transfers on a private basis
Entrance fees to all the mentioned national parks
All the diving & snorkeling equipment
All mandatory local taxes and tourist fees

Excluded

Visa, where applicable
International Flights (See Flights to Kenya)
Domestic Flights
Personal Expenses
Insurance (covering both travel and diving)
Tips & Gratuities
Meals not mentioned in the description

Diving Rules

PADI and DAN recommend a minimum pre-flight surface interval of at least 12 hours for single dives and 18 hours for repetitive dives or multiple days of diving
Bring your diving certificate and log book, if you have them
Ensure diving is included in the insurance coverage
Bring a dive computer and SMB
All dives are done with no decompression
Maximum dive time is 60 min depending on deco and tide, minimum interval surface time is 1 hour
Do not enter the water without the supervision of a professional instructor
Do not touch whales shark, turtles, and other animals – the acidity of our hands removes the protective mucus from their skin. Parasites can then attach them causing wounds, followed by necrosis and death
The place of corals and shells is underwater, they must be left there
Have a correct buoyancy and avoids touching the corals with the fins as this causes damage
No dangling gear (manometer, lamp, camera, GoPro) – everything has to be properly stored. A hanging manometer bounces from coral to coral, breaking branches throughout the dive
Avoid sun creams or anti-fog products for masks which are not reef-friendly
Follow the safety instructions of the instructors during the dives and when on board
Do not go on different paths other than the pre-established ones
Do not practice fishing

Flights

International flights are not included in the package price. We give you the freedom to book the flights yourself, use miles and choose your preferred airline, and if you are stuck we can help you find the right connections. Return flights to Nairobi start from £600 per person, depending on the connections and time of the year. A few airlines have direct flights into Mombasa from abroad. We can book domestic flights and trains in Kenya.

How to Book

Send us a message on WhatsApp or email us at kenya@boutiquetravelexperts.com to check availability, discuss your preferences and get a quote.

Prices are correct at the time of writing. We can tailor the program to suit your plans by changing the length of the trip or the order of activities. More days can be added. Other hotels can be chosen, according to your liking. You can also combine this trip with other sights in Kenya. For more travel inspiration check these itineraries.

When to Visit

Visibility is between 10-30+, but this is depending on the weather. The rainy season in Kenya is between January and April when the visibility will decrease. July and August is the coldest month with water temperature around 25°C. The hottest time is November to April with water temperature around 30-32°C. You won’t need a wet-suit which is more than a 3 mm thick.

During the windy season – July to September – it can be pretty windy and the sea is rough. During the Equinox the tide currents can be strong.

Best for:

Dolphins: year round
Green & Hawksbill turtles: year round (nesting and foraging)
Whale sharks: occasionally from February to March
Humpback whales: July to October (best in August to September). Only observation from the boat is authorized. It is prohibited entering the water with cetaceans.
Rays: October to March
Brydes Whale: October to April

Day 1 - Arrival in Malindi

Today you will arrive at Malindi Airport (MYD). You will be met and transferred to a beautiful Swahili style beachfront villa in Watamu. Relax at the pool in the middle of a tropical garden and enjoy idyllic views of the Indian Ocean. After lunch, discover the white sand beaches along the shore. For something more exciting, try the watersports in Mida Creek. Watch the sunset from the Lichthaus with a tropical cocktail, while discussing with the marine experts about sea turtles, marine mammals and the exciting conservation work they are doing in this region. Return to the house for a delicious dinner and listen to the sound of the ocean, as you drift off to sleep. Overnight at Santa Angela.

Day 2 - Watamu

Wake up to the distant resonances of waves, sea birds and gentle rustling palm trees. Enjoy the breakfast on the veranda, with a view of the ocean. Head to the beach for stand-up paddling and if you are lucky, spend time with dolphins. Later on, board a private boat and head out for snorkeling over the coral gardens, marveling at the colourful variety of fish and sea turtles. Return to the shore for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Gedi Ruins and Arabuko Sekoke Forest. Spend the evening at leisure and enjoy a mouth-watering dinner with fresh seafood at the Crab Shack. Drive back to the house and watch the stars over the Indian Ocean. Overnight at Santa Angela.

Day 3 - Whale-watching

Today wake up early. Board a private boat in the company of a local scientist researcher, in search for migratory humpback whales, which are traveling through this region. The Humpback Whale Network is monitoring whales in Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique for a greater understanding of migration routes and patterns, whale behavior, population abundance, and threats. If you enjoy fishing (tag & release), try your luck and throw out a line or two. Return to the shore for a late lunch. Spend the afternoon relaxing, with a good book, swim in the pool and soak up the sun. Enjoy the sundowners and a surprise dinner in a special place. Overnight at Santa Angela.

Day 4 - Turtles

After breakfast, enjoy an immersive day with the experts from the Bahari Hai team, a marine conservation NGO from Watamu. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about inspiring sea turtle conservation. If you are very lucky, you can witness a very special occasion of nesting turtles or hatchlings. Also, learn about tagging birds and migratory routes. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool. Take a traditional Swahili dhow in the creek, enjoying sundowners on the Mida Creek, the home to rare black tip reef sharks. If you are lucky, join them for a swim. As the sun sets, head back to the jetty and return to the house for dinner. Overnight at Santa Angela.

Day 5 - Watamu to Mombasa

Last morning to enjoy Watamu then trasfer to Mombasa along the coast (1,5 hours). Visit the old town of Mombasa and the UNESCO Heritage site of Fort Jesus, one of the most outstanding examples of 16th Portuguese military fortification on the Indian Ocean coast. Later on, catch the ferry and head south to Tiwi beach, which has great vistas. Enjoy long beaches for walks and clear warm water to swimming. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. A scrumptious homemade dinner will be served. Savour the warm coastal breeze and sounds the night. Overnight at Sandarusi House.

Day 6 - Tiwi Beach

Wake up with the sound of the sea at your doorstep. Spend the morning exploring the exposed reef on the low tide. The ‘catch of the day’ straight from the ocean will be served for a delightful lunch. In the afternoon, explore the stunning the tidal mouth of Konga River, which is a dynamic ecosystem between open sea, entering fresh water and rhythmic tides with sandy bank and islands. It’s a great place to surf on the high tide. As the sun fades and the sky changes to hues of amber and dark blue, enjoy the traditional sundowners. Returning to the house in time for a beautifully laid out dinner under the stars. Overnight at Sandarusi House.

Day 7 - Kisite Marine Park

Wake up early and head to Shimoni to meet the marine conservation experts. Board the dhow and head out at sea, past Wasini and Mpunguti Islands, into Kisite Marine Park, one of the most rewarding snorkelling parks on the Kenyan coast. Unspoiled and beautiful, this park was established to protect the scenic islands, endemic marine animals and breeding migratory birds. The park encompasses three small coral islands, each with considerable areas of fringing reef. Lunch will be served on board, made of Swahili style crabs. Later in the afternoon return to the shore and head back to the house, just in time for dinner. Overnight at Sandarusi House.

Day 8 - Diving

An exciting day awaits you. After breakfast, boat a private boat and head out into the seas, looking for humpback whales and whale-sharks. Today you can go diving or snorkeling over the reef. It is a wonderful way to get to know the open ocean and its marine life. Later on, return to the shore and walk back up to the house for a late lunch. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the beautiful swimming pool. Today enjoy your last sundowners with a tropical drink and fresh dinner. Cherish these special moments at sea and memories of the beautiful creatures of the blue ocean. Overnight at Sandarusi House.

Day 9 - Departure

Today spend the morning at leisure on the beach. If your international flight is from Nairobi you can choose to travel back to Nairobi in several ways. One of them is taking the Madaraka Express train from Mombasa. There are three departures per day and you can enjoy lunch in Mombasa old town. Another way of getting to Nairobi is to fly from Ukunda Airstrip (UKA), which is very close to Diani Beach or from Mombasa Airport (MBA). There are also international flights leaving from Mombasa Airport directly. Choose the most convenient way. Depending on your departure flight, you will be transferred to the airport and onto your next adventure.