Thrilling Adventures on Kenya's Coastline

So you want to visit the coast and are looking for new activities to try out?

Sure, you’ve always got your snorkelling, kitesurfing and dhow rides, but this time the Nomad team are showing you some of the lesser-known heart-thumping activities…

Forest Bike Tour and Sundowner by the River

Ride through the coastal mangrove forests as you explore Diani on a bike. The tour passes along Kaya Kinondo, a sacred forest of the Mijikenda who use it for prayer or community meetings. Learn about sacred trees and plants in the area before moving to the Kongo River Estuary; known for its spectacular sunset views. The tour also concludes with an hour-long canoe ride on the river through the mangrove forest.

Swimming with Dolphins

A must-try activity is to swim alongside the dolphins and be in their world even if for a brief moment. You can see the dolphins at Wasini Island which is about 18 km from Diani and opposite the harbour of the village of Shimoni. What’s more, most people who visit rave about the food on the island and if you’re lucky, you can also spot humpback whales!

Shimoni Caves

Speaking of Shimoni, take a stop at the Shimoni Caves. The caves, made from limestone, are located close to the ocean and are part of a community-operated museum. Learn about the history of the slave trade where slave merchants once used the caves as a holding port for slaves captured by their hunters. The caves are also used as a prayer site and sometimes, rituals are performed by the Kaya elders.

Camp or Picnic by Sheldrick Waterfalls at Shimba Hills National Reserve

Shimba Hills is the second largest coastal forest in East Africa, located 3 km away from Kwale town and roughly 2 hours away from Mombasa. There are 4 campsites in the reserve where you can stay and visit the famed Sheldrick Falls: a 21-meter-high drop of fresh spring water, and explore Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary which hosts the highest density of the African Elephant in Kenya. Why not support the elephant dung paper project while you’re there; an initiative by the Mwaluganje community where they use elephant dung to make paper. As you head to the sanctuary, you might pass Kaya Mtae, a hill clearing in a sacred forest where traditional spiritual leaders and elders still gather.

Check out the Africa-shaped pool at Tiwi Beach

In Kwale, make a stop by the secluded Tiwi beach. Unlike most beaches on the coast, Tiwi has ebbs with many smaller pools and is less frequented, which brings a private kind of vibe to your trip. It is a great snorkelling spot as there are coral reefs with a variety of marine life, and near the coral reefs is a pool shaped like the map of Africa! It is even reported that next to the pool, there is a cave you can swim through all the way to Madagascar. Pro tip: wear beach shoes as there can be quite a number of sea urchins.