Kwale County
Diani Beach
Source: Kenya News Agency (kenyanews.go.ke) (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
Photo: FredD · CC BY-SA 3.0 · original
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About Diani Beach
One of Kwale County's top tourism sites, known for its white sandy beaches.
Source: Kenya News Agency (kenyanews.go.ke) (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
Highlights
- White sandy beaches, among Kwale County's top tourism sites
- Diani Airport, where direct flights from Nairobi resumed after its runway was rehabilitated in 2022
- Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park, further south in Kwale County
- The Dongo Kundu bypass to Mombasa, open since August 2024, avoids the Likoni Ferry
More photos of Diani Beach
See all 4 in the gallery ›
Suggested time
At least 2 days
KenyaPlus editorial guidance for a comfortable visit, not an official rule.
Confirm before booking
- Ferry or bypass travel times from Mombasa
- Marine park fees and tide-dependent activities
KenyaPlus does not yet hold verified data for these.
When to go
Rain affects travel in Kenya, especially on unpaved roads. Here is the yearly pattern and the current forecast for Diani Beach, both from the Kenya Meteorological Department.
- January: between the rains.
- February: between the rains.
- March: long rains.
- April: long rains.
- May: long rains, expected peak.
- June: between the rains.
- July: between the rains.
- August: between the rains.
- September: between the rains.
- October: short rains.
- November: short rains.
- December: short rains.
- Long rains
- Short rains
- Between the rains
- Expected peak (2026 outlook)
A summary of Kenya's national rainfall pattern from the Kenya Meteorological Department: long rains March to May (with the peak in April inland and May on the coast, as KMD expected for 2026) and short rains October to December. Other months are shown as between the rains. Rain varies by year and place, and between-the-rains months can still be wet.
Forecast: October–December 2026
For Kwale County, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains starting in the 2nd to 3rd week of October and ending in the 1st to 2nd week of December.
Source: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
A seasonal forecast, not a guarantee. KMD also issues monthly and weekly updates.
Kenya's rainy seasons
March to May is the main rainfall season — the “long rains” — over most parts of Kenya.
Information status: VerifiedSources: Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2026 season (KMD/FCST/01-2026/SO/01) (opens in a new tab); Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2025 season (KMD/FCST/01-2025/SO/01) (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
For the 2026 long rains, the Kenya Meteorological Department expected the peak in April over most regions, and in May along the coast.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
October to December brings the “short rains”, a major rainfall season in Kenya.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
More in our guide: Best time to visit Kenya.
Park entry fees
Information status: VerifiedDiani-Chale and Kisite-Mpunguti marine areas — daily entry
Per person, per 24 hours. Children under 6 enter free.
| Visitor | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| East African citizen | KES 500 | KES 250 |
| Kenya resident | KES 675 | KES 350 |
| African citizen | USD 15 | USD 10 |
| Non-resident / foreign visitor | USD 25 | USD 15 |
Official KWS tariff "Conservation Fees 2025", supplied by the KenyaPlus owner and checked on 17 Oct 2026.
- KWS marine protected areas share one rate.
- Boat and water-sport charges are separate.
- Entry is charged per person and is valid for one visit of up to 24 hours.
- Children aged five and younger enter free; the child rate covers ages 5–17, and students up to 23 on an organised visit from their school or college.
- Kenyan citizens aged 70 and over and persons with disability are exempt.
- Vehicle charges are extra (from KES 600 a day for a vehicle with fewer than 6 seats), as are camping and activities.
Guides for Diani Beach
Diani and the south coast
Getting to Diani by air or road, the Dongo Kundu bypass and the Likoni Ferry, and the Kisite-Mpunguti marine park.
Best time to visit Kenya
Kenya's two rainy seasons, when the wildebeest migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara, and what that means for planning.
Getting around Kenya
The Nairobi–Mombasa train, domestic flights from Wilson Airport, and realistic road times between Kenya's main destinations.
Mombasa: Fort Jesus and the Old Town
Fort Jesus and Mombasa Old Town, arriving by air or train, and getting on to the south coast.
Shimba Hills: rainforest and sable antelope near the coast
A green, hilly reserve 30 km from Mombasa — Kenya's last breeding sable antelope, Sheldrick Falls and coastal rainforest.
Things to do in Diani Beach
Photo: N Beenay · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Coast and sea
Snorkel coral reefs with turtles and reef fish
Kenya's oldest marine parks at Watamu and Malindi.
Where: Watamu · Malindi · Diani Beach
Photo: FredD · CC BY-SA 3.0 · original
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Coast and sea
Unwind on the white sand of Diani Beach
Kwale County's white-sand beach, with direct flights from Nairobi.
Where: Diani Beach
Where next from Diani Beach
Close by
Photo: Mutisya Maingi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Shimba Hills National Reserveunder 1 h by road (estimate)
Photo: Bahnfrend · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
Resized to 1,920 px wide and metadata removed; displayed cropped to fit. All photo credits
Mombasaunder 1 h by road (estimate)
Photo: N Beenay · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Watamuabout 2½ h by road (estimate)
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If you like Diani Beach
Photo: Ruslik0 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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MalindiAlso good for beach
Thinking of visiting Diani Beach?
Add it to a plan and run the Trip Reality Check.
Sources
- Kenya News Agency (kenyanews.go.ke) (opens in a new tab) — Governor pledges to focus on sustainable tourism (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- The Star (Kenya) (opens in a new tab) — Tourism boost as Diani re-opens for direct flights (2 Nov 2022) (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- ATC News (opens in a new tab) — Kenya Wildlife Service launches new jetty as gateway to Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park (30 Jun 2017) (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- The Eastleigh Voice (opens in a new tab) — Dongo Kundu highway opens, promising tourism boost for Mombasa and Kwale (7 Aug 2024) (checked 16 Oct 2026)
Spotted something out of date? Tell us — we check corrections against the source before changing anything.