5 things you need to know about Diani Beach
5 things you need to know about Diani Beach : Diani Beach is the ultimate destination for any traveler seeking for a more relaxed, less chaotic but still adventurous holiday, Diani Beach is a beautiful white silky sandy shores extending along the Indian Ocean Coast in Kenya with a magnificent background of forests with the sounds of various animals serenading.
Diani Beach is situated close to 30 miles South of Mombasa and it is offers a true tropical island vacation destination, the beach is vast, pristine and surrounded by coconut palms. The beach stretches around 17 kilometers of beautiful sand and blue waters.
As a traveler planning to visit Diani Beach for a holiday, here are the 5 things you need to know about this beautiful Beach.
The Indigenous people of Diani are known as “DIGO”
The Digi Community is the second – largest tribe of the 9 Mijikenda tribes and are the indigenous people of Diani with an estimated population of 400,000. The Digo people are concentrated on the southern coastal strip of Kenya especially Diani and the border of Tanzania.
The Digo People speak Chidigo which is a Bantu language closely related to both Swahili and the other Mijikenda languages, over 90% of the Digo people are islands.
Home to a sacred Forest – Kaya Kinondo
Kaya Kinondo is a sacred forest and one of the remaining patches of primary Coast Rainforest on the Kenyan Coast, the forest is situated in the very south of Diani (Kinondo). Kaya Kinondo Sacred forest in the Coastal region is originally known as home to the Digo people a community that migrated to the South Coast from Somali and Northern Kenya about 800 years ago following some ethnic tensions.
The Digo people built their homes known as Kayas and have since maintained this place as both a historical and cultural site, visitors learn more about the Digo community during the visitor to the forest and their cultural values. Expect your guide to point out various plants used in traditional medicine.
Dining in a cave at the Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant
Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant is one of the most unique romantic restaurants in Kenya and Diani Beach as well, the cave restaurant is located in a coral cave off Ali Barbour’s road and is believed to be between 120,000 to 180,000 years old.
On a typical evening, the restaurant glows in muted lighting of candles and your eyes will be drawn to the twin linking stars above, on your holiday to Diani Beach’s with sandy beaches you wouldn’t want to miss having a meal experience at Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant.
The Kongo Mosque is the oldest structure in Diani
The Kongo Mosque is the last remaining ancient Swahili structure in Diani and is believed to have been built using coral stones between the 13th and 14 centuries by Arab merchants.
The Kongo Mosque is also the oldest mosque in the whole of East Africa borrowing a name from the surrounding mosque, the mosque was previously known as Diani Persian Mosque, a name coined by the Arab Merchants who occupied the area then. Today, Kongo Mosque is more than a worship center as it is also an attraction visited by thousands of travelers.
Game drive near the Diani beach are offered Shimba Hills
Shimba Hills National Reserve is one of the largest coast forests in East Africa coming second to Arabuko – Sokoke Forest, the reserve is situated only 60 kilometers from Mombasa and is an ideal destination to visit during your holiday to Diani Beach and Mombasa as well.
Shimba Hills National Reserve is the only place in Kenya where you can spot the critically endangered Sable Antelope, other animals you can spot in the reserve include Giraffes, Leopard, Genet, Civet cat, Hyenas, Waterbuck, Bush pig, Buffalo, African Bush Baby, Bushbuck and many more.
Where to stay in Diani Beach
There are several accommodation facilities at Diani Beach and these include
- Baobab Beach Resort & Spa
- The Sands at Nomad, Diani
- Asha Boutique Hotel
- Diani Sea Resort
- Diani Sea Lodge
- Swahili Beach Resort
- Neptune Village Beach Resort & Spa
- Southern Palm Beach Resort
