Diani, Kenya Digital Nomad Guide – Work and Travel in 2025

Located on the coast one hour south of Mombasa, Diani aka Diani Beach is one of the best places in East Africa to visit as a digital nomad. It is safe and has good 4G+ coverage.

For accommodation there is a well set-up coliving and a broad range of Airbnbs. It has over 80 restaurants of all cuisines, a good number of good coffee shops and two large supermarkets. Transport is easy with plentiful tuktuks, motorbike taxis and long-term rental scooters available.

It’s a brilliant kite spot six to seven months a year (Jan-Mar, Jun-Sept) with around ten kite schools, it also has all year round diving with three PADI dive schools and provides easy access for safaris and other adventures up and down the coast.

All our guides are updated with feedback from nomads and local operators so that we can give you real info about destinations, not just what ChatGPT can tell you

Snapshot: Diani at a Glance

Vibe, who it’s for, ideal stay length

If you like morning runs, beach walks, watersports and interacting with the local community in a safe beach community then Diani is a good fit.

Like most of Africa you are not going to find hundreds of nomads. However, you should be able to find some community. Whether through the coliving / coworking, weekly salsa / karaoke or just making friends with beach boys.

Safety

Diani & Galu are both safe places to walk around during the day on the beach and tourist town. The locals are generally friendly and speak a good level of English. In the evening we would recommend taking transport especially if you’re off the main road or walking alone.

Ukunda, which is situated behind Diani on the main road is also reasonably safe. We would generally reccommend getting a guide or going with at least two people if you’re planning on going to local markets.

Reports from solo female travellers is that other than slightly elevated attention on the beach from beach boys, offers of marriage are not uncommon albeit in jest, there have not been any incidents or issues reported to us in the last three years.

Typical monthly budget range

The main factor that will impact accommodation cost is air conditioning. As it’s humid and coastal you’ll probably want it. You’re looking at $600 to around $1,200 for a month in a well set-up Airbnb.

Meals out are as low as $3 in local restaurants and generally hover around $12 for a main course and a drink in more touristy spots.

Internet speeds, power reliability

The town has good 4G+ coverage everywhere except on the beach itself which is often just out of range due to the lower level.

Attitudes to nomads and tourists

Generally tourists are very welcomed on the coast including Diani. Locals are happy for tourists of all kinds and there’s no anti-tourism movement in Kenya. Police are generally friendly and do not harass tourists.

Where Is Diani & How It’s Laid Out

Diani is the name referring both to Diani beach as a general area but it is made up of two main beach areas and one town area.

• Ukunda – This is the local town area by the main road consisting of local markets;
• Diani Beach – The main established tourist area stretching from the Kongo river estuary down to around the Baobab hotel;
• Galu / Kinondo – This is the area south of the Baobab hotel and is generally slightly less developed but also a little more up and coming;
• Tiwi Beach (north side) – Much quieter and home to a few hotels, a dive centre and a popular tourist spot ‘African pool’;

When to Go

Diani is an all year round location. Restaurants, coffee shops and accommodation are generally open year round. Depending on whether you prefer the busy bustle of high-season or the calmness of the rest of the year.

• Peak season is December-January making up the Kenyan summer holidays and July-August are also quite busy with the western summer holidays.

• Rainy season – The only months that are really damp are April and May when it can rain quite a lot throughout a lot of the day. In November there is usually some rain but it’s more monsoon’ish with rain for a few hours in the morning.

© WeatherSpark.com

Work Setup

Internet & SIMs (mobile data, hotspots, Starlink options)

The best option in Kenya is Safaricom. Airtel is cheaper but their coverage is less good as are their speeds. With Safaricom for $24 you can get a 40GB data bundle that will give you 50-200mbps in most places.

You can get SIM cards as a tourist at official Safaricom shops only, there is one on the first floor at the Carrefour supermarket.

Power cuts & backups (what to expect)

Overall the power in Kenya is pretty stable however planned power cuts during the day and unexpected power cuts of up to two days do happen.

Despite the power cuts the internet infrastructure is all on redundant power set-ups. Cell towers and fibre optic infrastructure have solar panels, batteries and generators.

Most popular coworkings, cafes and hotels have generators. For the hotels there might be a small fee or minimum spend, not normally more than $15 a day.

Practically what this means is there’s always a coffee shop, restaurant, hotel or coworking with internet no matter what. If you have a phone and a good power bank you’ll be fine in most places.

Product recommendation: Anker 737 Power Bank, UGREEN Nexode Power Bank

Best Cafés & Coworking for Getting Stuff Done

• Skippers Coliving – They have an air-conditioned coworking which in low season has passes available for non-residents;
• Kokkos Coffee Shop – One of the more popular spots in town by Chandarana supermarket. They also have a sister branch at Diani Shopping Centre;
• Tightlines bar – Lovely quiet bar inside Safari Beach Hotel, great breeze and brilliant beach view from the 1st floor terrace;
• Pallet cafe (Galu) – A popular spot, they have a few desks inside, good food and they’re right on the beach;

Where to Stay (Nomad-Friendly)

There’s a wide range of options available on Airbnb. The main factor on the coast is really whether you want a/c or not. There’s a price jump there if you do and you’re usually looking at $600-$1,200 a month all in.

Local long-stay options are available locally and can offer great value but we would not reccommend handing money over until you have seen in-person and don’t expect to see deposits back at the end of a stay.

Coliving & longer stays

• Skippers Coliving – A coliving on airstrip road that has seven double en-suite air conditioned rooms, as well as an onsite gym and coworking (both with a/c), they also have a brilliant pizzeria House of Woodfired;
• Simba Appartments – A well run apartment complex with a nice pool. Each unit is privately owned and they can be normally found on Airbnb. Most have a/c and fibre internet;

Splurge / beach resorts

• Pinewood Hotel – Located in Galu they are a small and well run hotel. They run regular refreshes of the rooms and so everything is generally in good condition.

Costs & Money

Monthly cost of living (solo nomad)

ATMs, cards, and mPesa

There are several banks across the town area which accept most international credit cards. Most tourist restaurants will accept cards. All ATMs have security so there’s a very low chance of any issues at ATMs.

mPesa a local payment method which is ubiquitously accepted. It can be enabled on your Safaricom number. When you get a local SIM, just add 1,000 ksh to your mpesa number when you buy the SIM. Can be topped up via Wise, or via agents at the main supermarkets.

Getting There

Flying into Ukunda (Diani)

Diani has it’s own airstrip/airport. It has several flights a day from both airports in Nairobi. If you’re travelling same day from an international connection it’s easier to fly from JKIA with JamboJet.

If you’re staying a night or more in Nairobi go from Wilson airport via Safarilink, it’s a blast from the past and a really cool experience.

Note: Flights to Diani cannot be found on flight aggregators like Kayak or Google flights, you need to check the airline sites directly. Also the local airlines are pretty flexible on flight changes with usually only a small fee to pay.

Via Mombasa (airport + SGR train)

Mombasa has an international airport with flights arriving from Frankfurt via Condor as well as Addis via Ethiopian.

The airport and train station are more or less next to each other and both are ±1h20 via taxi to Diani which costs 4,000-6,000 ksh. You can use Uber or pre-book. If taking Uber do not be surprised if they request cash rather than using the Uber app.

There is a train that goes 2-3 times a day from Nairobi to Mombasa which is quite affordable $8-$30. You must have an mPesa account in order to book and also must arrive at least one hour before departure.

Road options from Nairobi/Mombasa

Do not travel by road from Nairobi.

The Nairobi to Mombasa highway has frequent accidents. Coach, minibus and other drivers regularly drive in a fashion that would make your mother close her eyes and scream.

While there are efforts to upgrade the highway to a four lane road with a central reservation it will take several years to complete the project.

Getting Around

Tuktuks, bodas, matatus

• Tuktuks – Ubiquitous around Diani they’re generally quite affordable but you should make yourself familiar with rates by talking to whoever you’re staying with, local barman/barmaid etc;
• Bodas – Motorbike taxis, super popular everywhere, no helmets, flipflops. Surprisingly few accidents. Always wear at least a pair of trainers in case it all goes wrong;
• Matatus – A national network of minibuses that are privately run. They go everywhere, they are unscheduled and run once they’re more or less full. They are not allowed to overload and there are lots of police checks to ensure this. Super cheap $1 from Diani to Mombasa. Keep valubles to a minimum.

Car/scooter hire

Scooters and small motorbikes can be hired for around $140-$200 a month. Depending on the rental shop little to no documentation may be required.

There are some police checks on main roads though they rarely pull over tourists wearing helmets.

Driving in Kenya would be similar to India in as much as large cars will regularly drive motorbikes, scooters cyclists and anything else on the road into the dirt.

If you’re familiar with that kind of driving style then you’ll be fine. If you’re not be very careful.

Eat & Drink

Local Swahili food to try

• Beef Pilau – Beef and rice dish, not spicy very popular and very common;
• Ugali – Staple food, available everywhere and very chepa;
• Chapati – A type of locally baked naan, super tasty;
• Mandazi – Baked good you will find at almost every street stall, try one you might like it;

Groceries, markets, and delivery

• Chandarana – Local supermarket chain with a large centrally located location. Well stocked, efficient check-outs and very friendly team;
• Carrefour – The French supermarket chain are in Kenya and have a reasonably large store in Diani including croissants, baguettes and a broad selection of european goods;

Restaurants

Most restaurants do not require booking in advance except Mid-December to Mid-January where booking at least a 2-5 days in advance is reccomended.

Fitness & Wellness

Gyms & classes

• Bold Gym – Popular well set-up gym with plenty of equipment and classes;
• Rox Park Gym – Well set-up gym;
• Safari Beach Hotel – Good gym with daily / weekly passes available;

Yoga, massage, recovery

Running & cycling notes

Morning is the best time to run, just at sunrise around 6am it’s quiet, cool and you’ll spot a good number of morning joggers.

If cycling be careful on the main road especially at peak times as drivers are generally not considerate to other road users. It’s advisable to ride on the second row roads as they are unpaved and less busy.

Beaches & Water Conditions

Best beach stretches for swimming/quiet/work breaks

You will never really be alone in Kenya. While the beaches are very quiet by modern standards it can be tricky to find beaches where you can read a book without being bothered.

There are two good spots though. The beach area south of Pallet Cafe is generally quiet and you’ll only see local fishermen or kids. The other quiet spot is Tiwi beach which is very quiet and you’ve got little chance of being bothered.

Reef, tides, and basics for first-timers

Diani has a natural reef around 1.5km-2km from the beach. This provides a really nice natural barrier from waves. In some sections there are a lot of urchins to be careful if walking around.

Water temperature is from 25C-29C.

Things To Do

Kitesurfing, diving/snorkelling, SUP

There are no fewer than ten kite schools in Diani and Galu with at least three that are IKO recognised. If you’re a complete beginner head to one of the IKO schools as they have excellent safety standards.

Especially as there are no safety boats in Diani.

If you’re a proficient rider (IKO K and higher) then the local schools often have older kit but cheaper rates.

OceanTribe, The Crab, and Scuba Duka are great places to book scuba diving lessons and offer all year round options and club options for regular divers.

Shimba Hills & Mwaluganje

There is a national park behind Diani. They have a broad selection of wildlife including the only Roosevelt’s sable antelope, elephants, giraffes, leopards, buffalo, and various primate species such as the Coastal Black and White Colobus Monkey.

Mwaluganje elephant reserve has been closed for a while but we’re hopeful it will re-open one day.

Wasini & Kisite Marine Park, Chale Island

There are two popular places to take boat trips the most popular being Wasini Island / Shimoni. Located about one hour south of Diani operators usually will pick up from your hotel and provide a full day of boat visiting, snorkling lunch and a tour of the historic slave caves. Coral Sprit is a very good option.

Chale island has a private hotel, for a fee you can get a lift to the hotel and spend a day on their very quiet beach and have a lovely lunch in the restaurant. Nice for a little treat.

Kongo Estuary

The Kongo Estuary is the final section of the Kongo River, where it meets the Indian Ocean. The lilac water has a calming effect. Canoe rides up the river are incredibly tranquil, where you can lay back and let your hand run against the flow.

The area is peaceful and has one of the oldest mosques on the coast. When you’re there, make sure you catch a few sunrises and sunsets spiritually uplifting start or end to your day.

Sunset dhow/creek trips

There are various local sailing boat (dhow) trips on the go organised usually ad-hoc on the beach. Make sure you’re clear on what you’re getting and negotiate hard

Nightlife & Community

Bars and nightlife

There is no shortage of bars or nightlife in Diani. Popular nightclubs include Full Moon and Manyatta. On the bars front there are too many to name.

Chill spot and Amigos are good locally run options for a sunset beer.

Nomad groups & how to plug in

Join the coliving at Skippers, a fitness class, a dive/kite school like H2O and you’ll make some friends quickly.

Safety & Etiquette

Beach hawkers & polite no’s

There are plenty of beach sellers. Mostly not to relentless. If you politely and firmly say no they will generally move on. The local for no thank you is ‘Ha-pa-na as-an-te’.

Dress norms, checkpoints, and common scams

Unlike a lot of the coast Diani is pretty easy going when it comes to dress. It’s tourist orientated and the Kenyans from Nairobi show no limits on the beachwear so you should be safe.

In restaurants generally it’s expected to wear at least a t-shirt and shorts.

Common scams are paying for trips and the seller disappearing. If you are going to buy from beach boys choose ones that are permanently located in front of beach hotels as they are less likely to disappear.

Health & Medical

Hospitals/clinics and pharmacies

• Diani Beach Hospital – A good well set-up local 24/7 hospital with a solid senior medical staff for emergencies, CT/MRI and dentist all-in-one, reasonably priced – Call: +254 700 999 999; +254 722 569 261; +254 735/7 223 223; +254 40 3300150/1;
• Aga Khan Mombasa – The nearest major top-level hospital is Aga Khan, you can get transfered their by helicopter assuming you have bought the relevant cover (±$20 a year);
• Axita Pharmacy – Located opposite Chandarana on the first floor above Diani Enterprises hardware store (near Kokkos). It is the place to go if you’re worried about anything. They will do malaria tests and provide solid advice without messing you around.

Note: It’s pretty common practice in Kenya for clinics to overcharge tourists (and locals) and get them to take unnecessary often quite expensive tests. Be aware of this and always ask for costs upfront. It will not be perceived as rude it’s fully normal to do.

Travel health basics

Malaria

Should I take malaria pills while I’m in Kenya? This is the question that comes up most often.

The answer is up to you. Malaria can be quite serious especially if you’re older or have medical conditions. You should always get advice from a medical professional.

If you’re in country for 2-3 months, popping pills every day might not be your idea of fun. If you’re only around for a week and don’t want any risk of ruining your $10,000 safari then it’s a no brainer.

It is usually not a big issue if caught early and treated. So unless you are in extremely remote villages with no access to medical care then your risk is probably quite low.

People also ask about mosquito nets. They won’t make a difference to you… You’re not going to catch malaria in bed you’ll catch it a bar or nightclub.

Get mosquito repellent there’s loads available in supermarkets and pharmacies.

Yellow Fever, Thyphoid etc.

Yellow fever is no longer mandatory to enter Kenya from the EU.

However, if you’re planning on travelling around Africa then get a Yellow Fever vaccination, they now last your lifetime and it’s required if you’re entering to/from a country where it has been present in the last ± 5-years.

Typhiod, Hep A, Polio, Tetanus, Measles

No mandatory but unless you’re not keen on vaccinations won’t hurt. Rabies is also a popular recommendation though we have not had any reports of rabid animals in Diani.

Entry & Stay Options

ETA/entry requirements overview

Visas are very simple. Apply online, you will need a confirmation for your first nights stay. Onward travel not usually needed for UK/EU/US/CA travellers.

When you arrive at customs tell them how long you’re staying e.g. 10 weeks and they will issue a 3-month tourist visa into your passport.

Extensions

Only the Kenyan single entry visa can be extended not the EAC or East African Visa. This is done online and is automatic to a total usually of five months. If you’re over that visa runs are possible and common.

Frequently Asked Questions about Diani

Is Diani safe?

Diani beach is generally safe. You have to be mindful of the beach boys and venturing alone to secluded areas at odd hours, just as you would anywhere else that isn’t your home.

How far is Diani from Mombasa?

It will take you an hour and a half from Mombasa to Diani by car.

Can you swim in Diani beach?

Yes, you can. The water is very shallow near the beach, but you can walk out a bit farther to find deeper waters. Farther out is also where the water is much cleaner and less sandy.

Is there Uber in Diani?

Yes, there is Uber in Diani. Other car-hailing apps like Bolt and Little are also available in Diani.