Kikambala Beach

One of a string of excellent stretches of white sand which lie immediately north of Mombasa, Kikambala Beach is one of the quietest and the most serene.

Part of this sense of space comes from the fact Kikambala Beach runs for approximately 12 kilometres in total. Difficult to reach without your own transport or pre-arranged shuttle service, you’ll still need to be prepared for a walk of several hundred metres from the end of the road, which can be difficult in the temperatures around midday.

Its northern end is entirely untouched and unspoilt, while at its opposite side you can usually find one or two basic refreshment kiosks open – just listen for the music. It’s still advisable to take some refreshments with you in case they aren’t.

At low tide the water reveals corals a few metres from the sands, turning the reef into rock pools where starfish and other sea creatures are normally easy to find. Local boys operate semi-official tours of the corals, and as people who have spent all their lives in the warm waters, they know exactly where to look for interesting marine life.

Because of the corals and rocks, it’s not recommended that those unfamiliar with Kitkambala Beach swim there even at high tide.