 Three things that make my knees go weak: clear turquoise waters, white sands and palm trees. Instagram posts about Diani Beach ticked all these boxes, making Mombasa my first Kenyan love. Had initially planned to visit this county(which happens to be the smallest in Kenya) back in Summer 2017, but other destinations had to be prioritised due to hectic price inflations in that period. I did not mind postponing my trip as patience always pays off and as such it did in September 2018. Off peak season meant I would have more to spend on the things I like without any compromise. Eager as ever, wrapped up my Lamu stay and flew out to the place of iconic elephant tusks and Blue and White buildings:  REQUIREMENTS
Changed my initial dates, so that I could stay at Sultan Saka House. Spotted this rare find on Airbnb, had an exchange with the welcoming owner and just knew I had to stay there. Had the entire open-plan fortress to myself. Contemporary Swahili design perfection is what I got, with an infinity pool, jacuzzi and massage facility as bonuses. Details, details, details! A private chef came at an additional cost, but proved to be more cost effective than eating out. Bonded with the House Manager and the rest of the awesome staff, they made my stay special. Nowhere else to call home in Diani.  CURRENCY R1 = 6,77 Kenyan Shilling $1 = 100,91 Kenyan Shilling *Dollars and Kenyan Shillings are widely used. Best to have cash on you as most establishments are informal. TRANSPORT For convenience, booked a short direct flight from Lamu to Mombasa via Fly540. Mombasa town and Diani Beach were both busy, with an endless supply of Taxi Cabs, Tuk tuks, Matatus and Boda Bodas ready to get people from point A to B. *Do note that tax is not fixed for each trip as it varies.  WEATHER Average temperature of 29°C in End September – early October, meant a bit of rainfall for Diani Beach. This only lasted a few hours a day, as the weather was mostly sunny. Light coverup recommended for the cool evenings. FOOD Chef Evans at Sultan Saka House prepared traditional dishes for me, everything from chapati to fish stew and breyani. He did a great job at putting a twist on what would usually be consumed as meat dishes, as I only consume seafood. Everything turned out to be yummy! Took extra servings of chapati, which is like an Indian roti just softer and flakier.  ACTIVITIES Admiring views at Diani Beach is a must! While you’re there you can pop into Safari Beach Hotel (hotel closed, but bar still operational) to book a beach chair and sip on a refreshing drink. Multiple operators offer jet skiing coupled with dolphin watching, just got to take your best bet on the one who is seemingly reliable and live a little lol Camel riding is available and can be booked from Forty Thieves Beach Bar and Bistro, which also happens to be a splendid place for snacks and drinks.  SHOPPING Beach Road is where one would go to find goods, as it has a long stretch of street markets. Did not get anything of extreme uniqueness at these markets, but tis worth a visit as different things were on display from wooden ornaments to Kikoyi. One point of interest for me along the same walking path was AfricArt Decor, it had amazing baskets on sale and I could not resist adding more to my collection.  This specific Kenyan coast experience meant lots of beach time for me. Treated it as a way to unwind, appreciate beautiful views and get some stillness. I caught up on some reading, took long walks, made friends and savoured every bite of my chow. Really cannot wait to go back! 
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