I have long longed to travel to the Kenyan coast for a while, having stayed in Nairobi as i attended my Masters, I always thought one of these holidays I would make a trip to the coast. It has been on my bucket list for a long time, but then traveling as as a student its next to impossible as we can all attest and life sort of has its own plans despite what we plans and so it remained an item on my bucket list. As luck would have it, a full circle moment came in this July, I had to make a trip to Nairobi to finalize my Masters more like paper work and thought this would be a great time to tick off this one item off my list.

Diani

Travel…

First leg of the trip started off early morning catching the SGR in the midst of a riot, I promise you it was no fun at all however its as if the universe knew and aligned things to work on the way they did. The train ride, though not my first one, was easily my best one yet. Within the 6 hours it took us to arrive, I got to reading and looking at the views on the way there to fill the time. On arrival at the station in Mombasa, we got transport to head to Diani and about an hour and a little more later we arrived at our destination. We had booked an Airbnb months prior and the joy of it looking exactly as it did on the app, was just everything. The service was neither here nor there so I wouldn’t mention it however the place was nice.

Dinning experience…

On the first night we had booked to dine at the famous Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant which i had seen a few months back from an IG post and loved, i happen to have a habit of saving spots i would love to visit for future use and this was one of those. The views were straight out of a movie, it takes you back in time and still gives you a feel of Greece, on first glance you would be hooked. On arrival, it really met my expectation, the scenery was absolutely gorgeous, it was around 6 so the sun was setting and the open cave gave you that view of the sky that was just magnificent and the evening settled in wit a clear blue sky and the lights in the cave came to life it was just beautiful. The food was also great, we had garlic oven baked oysters which were nice but my favorite was the main platter we shared with juicy steak combinations just wow and to top it off the cocktails were a 10/10. I would easily go back, again and again, for the food the scenery and the drinks, its got a romantic intimate vibe to it but don’t wait up on a partner to experience it i would say be it a girls trip, friend-cation or a solo-cation, this is place to experience.

Day two we had lunch at Salty squid Kenya a fun spot that is by the beach attached to a hotel and an antique feel to it. The menu was fun the cocktails were popping and colorful, the feel of the beach breeze and chatter all around you, good music and just being there was all great. Tried their garlic prawns for starters and goodness they were yummy, we both had chicken dishes creamy cheesy and mushroom, all delicious.

And our last dinner on the last night was at a fun spot, Apero’s Bar and restaurant, it was nice and calming, located by a shopping mall where in the night as shops closed the dinning tables extended to the doors of these shops, it gives a nice feel to shop and eat during the day yet good music and dining experiences at night. We had a seafood pizza and some more prawns because why not?

Beaches…

We all know the beaches in Diani are a sight and then some, with clear water and white sands they are as lovely as ever. I am not such a fish really, so I played it safe and swam more in the pool at the Airbnb than the beach really but getting to dine by the beach and then having a picnic by the beach at sunset was enough for me to experience the waters. Diani is warm but the feel of the breeze was more tan welcome since it was always sunny when we were there. I have often said I find so much peace by the beach, the way the sky and the edge of the water meet is just extraordinary, it shows how God truly is present in everything and how wonderful he is because who else would curate such surroundings? I also find so much calm and Zen like I can hear my inner thoughts in a calm manner just peaceful.

Mombasa

All the experiences….

The trip to Mombasa was more on a calmer side, after checking out we got to the road. During our stay in Diani we had befriended an amazing Uber driver, George. He was quite nice, not much of a talker but was interested in our Swahili and he came through a few trips we ordered on uber so we decided to ask him to drive us out to Mombasa. The ferry ride was also quite nice, we didn’t have to get out of the vehicle this time as opposed to our drive towards Diani and in a few minutes we had crossed over.

I got to seeing the slow way the city and its people are moving, its definitely giving coast vibes. We arrived at the Airbnb we were staying at and I must say this was my favorite place. Unlike Diani, this was a shared apartment, however when we arrived it was earlier than we were supposed to yet the host was kind enough to let us check in early. The apartments were nice, white with a finishing and decoration I can only describe as coastal. Serene, quite, with the view of the ocean rim from afar and the taste and smell of the ocean and salt in the air. We quickly checked in and then went to look around, they had more than one pool in style with a little bridge like in between, they had a gym and souvenir shop. The path behind the pool led to a view point where you could easily see the ocean and some side steps looking like your in ancient Greece that led to the beach, just beautiful.

Moorings, the revolving restaurant

After a long nap, yes that’s what you do when your pushing 30 or almost, you nap before any shenans, try it and thank me later…. We made our way to Moorings, we had researched it and mentioned it to our host who vouched for it. We wanted to join a cruise but since it was just the two of us that was impossible, we did however enjoy a good lunch by the revolving restaurant, truthfully I was lowkey stressed at first, but a few cocktails later I was good.

A trip to the one mall in Mombasa was way overdue, we took a trip there it was a little late so most shops were closed however we roamed around, the plan was that then grab food go back to their airbnb then go out, but lo and behold while we were looking around we found ourselves in a lounge on the top floor so as the saying goes “Mombasa raha” we sherehed till late and shout out to Edwin the Bajaji guy.

Wild waters adventures

The next day was a short one yet long, it was our last full day in Mombasa but then the effects of going out and about were showing. We had a nice warm afternoon at Wild Waters screaming our lungs out taking life threatening dives and swirls from tunnels as high as 3 meters, I am not sure what we were thinking!! The rain was what we needed after that but it didn’t spoil the fun, by the time we made it back to the Airbnb we were spent and a nap did save the day as usual.

Fort Jesus, Mama Ngina Drive, The famous Tusks & Street Food Bliss

Later that evening me, Hilda and Edwini took to the streets of Mombasa, we had a few minutes of visiting and learning all the history at Fort Jesus, not enough time honestly but i was excited regardless. Anyone that knows me knows my love for everything old history tales books antiques art, you name it, our guide was kind enough to take us through the important bits in such a short time, we got to also see the views from the highest point overlooking the ocean, beautiful just beautiful

We later made our way to Mama Ngina Drive, which was packed by the time we go there, when i say packed i mean humans, camels, horses, cars, ice cream bikes you name it… We then did a street food run right after that, I mean wo doesn’t love street food. Its giving Forodhani ya Zanzibar but not just all in one place like in Zanzibar which I think is genius btw, but regardless everything slapped. Then came the famous Mombasa Tusks, yes we went hunting them down I mean how else would I explain to my villages that i came all the way to Mombasa and didn’t see them ohh (its giving tourist but I dontcareeee)

Last stop that evening was food and vibes, we made it to Char-choma, a bar grill lounge vibe by te beach which did not disappoint at all. You get to choose what you want by visiting the butcher there and making your fresh order, we had a little bit of beef, chicken, prawns it was all just yummy, my mouth watered while i wrote that. Listened to music drank some Tusker ciders and just lived a little in the moment

Goodbyes Mombasa….

Our last day was bitter sweet, we got up and packed ready to checkout. Had a last stroll by the beach and a good swim before goodbyes, something along the lines of washing away all the city wahala! We had lunch plans before catching the SGR back to Nairobi. Seafood farewells at Sea Haven restaurant, a cozy family like spot that ha d the ocean view from a good angle. There is something a little guilty about eating seafood by the ocean but oh well man must chop, body no be firewood…

Just like that the coastal trip I have been wanting to take for ages, came and it was now time to say goodbye. I had a lot of still moments in this trip and just being grateful and in the moment. I look forward to the next time I visit the kenyan coast especially the places I have not been like Watamu, Kilifi, Lamu just to name a few.