Chale Island
The beautiful Chale Island is one of the must visit destinations in Diani Beach, Chale is rather a headland than an island located at the northern end of Msambweni Bay in Kwale County in Southeastern Kenya.
Chale Island is situated about 12 kilometers from the gorgeous Diani Beach.
The stunning Chale Island is known as a sacred Kaya (forest), the island is fringed by coral reefs and a tidal saltwater lake surrounded by a mangrove forest. Chale Island also offers a diverse mixture of indigenous and tropical flora that attracts a wide variety of fascinating insect and primate life.
Chale Island is a dreamy Island Holiday destination with a relaxed and warm welcoming people and has a straight out of La La Land vibe in addition to breathtaking shoreline, atmosphere, resorts and waters.
Geography of Chale Island
Chale Island is located 50 kilometers/ 2 hours drive south of Mombasa on the East coast of Kenya, due to the geography of the island it is possible for guests to often combine trips to Chale Island with Amboseli national park and Masai Mara national reserve.
Weather at Chale Island
In Chale Island, the summers are cool and windy. The winters are long, very cold and extremely windy and it is also partly cloudy year round.
Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 39°F to 66°F and is rarely below 32°F or above 72°F.
Why visit Chale Island (Attractions at Chale Island)
Chale Island is the only island of its kind in Kenya, the island is covered in jungly forest and fringed by powdery white sands, coral reefs and tidal saltwater lake surrounded by rippling mangroves.
Chale Island is a stunning romantic destination and its visitors are free to wander around and discover the indigenous forest, flora and fauna of the island or dive in the depths of the translucent waters and immerse yourself in the island’s superb nature.
Marine life at Chale Island
Chale Island hosts the Mtunbawe reef at the Chale Marine Park which is an underwater oasis abundant with fish life, the reef offers divers the chance to see rarely spotted marine life
The Weedy scorpionfish is one of the rare marine species you will find at Mtunbawe reef, the weedy scorpion fish is a distinctive-looking fish covered in weed-like appendages with an upturned mouth, tentacles on the nose and skin flaps covering its body.
Other marine creatures in the waters of Chale Island are the paddle flap scorpion fish – a fish that can walk, they are also able to walk and swim around using their pectoral fins which give the appearance of walking.
Wildlife at Chale Island
Chale Island hosts abundance of wildlife throughout out the island including troops of monkeys and baboons, bush babies which are heard crying in the night. There are also small antelopes, butterflies and many bird species including African Fish Eagles, Palm nut vultures, and herons among others.
Activities to do at Chale Island
Kayak around the island
During your Kenya holiday Safari at Chale Island, you can paddle on your own in a group or tandem with a partner and explore the island’s intricate waterways and crevices.
Spa Treatment
Relax and indulge with a revitalizing massage as you watch Colobus monkeys swing from the trees of an ancient Mangrove forest. Holistic spa treatments are perfectly designed to pamper and uplift you.
Diver’s Corner
Enjoy dive encounters with schools of snapper, guitar rays, stingrays and a host of smaller inhabitants on the stunning reef at Chale Corner.
Visiting The Mangroves of Chale
Board a motorized dinghy and discover the mystical, sea-dwelling mangroves, this intricate forest is a heaven for a local wildlife from sea eagles, hawks, herons, fish and crab.
Sundowner’s experience
A holiday to Chale Island cannot be complete without a sundowner’s experience where you get a chance to sit back, relax and toast to the gorgeous early evening sky as the sun begins to descent on the horizon.
How to get to Chale Island
Chale Island is accessed by road, boat and by plane.
By Plane – Chale Island is situated approximately 3 hours away from Nairobi including one hour’s domestic flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Ukunda Airstrip followed by a 30 – minute drive to Chale Island
For guests from Aboard majorly from European and other African airport offer direct flights to Nairobi with international flights arriving via Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) for visitors.
Jomo Kenyatta International airport (NBO) is located 15 kilometers/9 miles southeast of Nairobi, international travelers will need to have a Kenya Visa to enter the country and internal air connections to Ukunda are available.
By road – from Mombasa, it is a road journey of approximately 2 hours followed by a short boat ride to the island.
Accommodation at Chale Island
Chale Island measures 1.2 kilometers long and 0.8 kilometers wide north – south orientation, the island is divided into two parts that is the Hotel, the main beach and immediate surrounds and the forest and wildlife.
Accommodation at Chale Island include
- The Sands at Chale Island Hotel – a stunning private resort with a magical fusion of comfort with elegance and romance.
BEST TIME TO VISIT CHALE ISLAND
Chale Island can be visited all year round, however the best time of the year to visit Chale for warm – weather activities is from early July to early September.
