About Water Lovers Beach Resort
Perfectly placed on Diani Beach, WaterLovers offers peace, tranquility and very good food with comfortable suites and attentive, friendly service.
Truly a “toes in the sand” spot, WaterLovers has a casual ambience that’s in tune with its Indian Ocean setting. Turquoise highlights define this intimate boutique hotel, from beach towels to day beds, menus to cushions, and of course the turquoise waters beyond. From the grounds, the “walls” onto the beach seem to be of infinity sand: the whole blending almost seamlessly together. Coconut palms sway above comfortable sun loungers, swing chairs and hammocks, with thatched parasols and an attractive turtle-shaped pool whose bronze tiles tone with the whole.
When the wind is light, climb the look-out tower to get the best of the breeze – or lounge in a day bed while the occasional colobus monkey swings in the trees overhead. Indulge in a spot of snorkelling and you may spot striking red starfish among the seagrass, or paddle a kayak out to the reef at low tide and land on what feels like your own desert island. Small fishing boats and outriggers bob around in the waves, perfect perching spots for swift terns and sooty gulls.
Back on dry land, it’s time for a cool drink, snacks at hand, before settling down to dinner overlooking the Indian Ocean. If relaxation is taken seriously here, so is the food!
Our view
WaterLovers has a loyal fanbase, with an international clientele that has supported it since it opened, and through the changing fortunes of the Diani Beach scene. It remains a much-loved and well-managed beach property with a casual ambience and attentive yet friendly service, well-located for shopping, eating out or excursions further afield.
Accommodation
10 rooms
Children
Good for all ages
Open
Open 1st June to 30th April
Activities
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Scuba-diving
Snorkelling
Watersports
Traveller reviews of Water Lovers Beach Resort
8 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 5 Nov 2024, 7 nights
"Water Lovers Beach Resort review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 29 Sep 2024, 2 nights
"Water Lovers Beach Resort review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 12 Sep 2024, 4 nights
"Water Lovers Beach Resort review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 29 Jan 2024, 4 nights
"Water Lovers Beach Resort review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 24 Oct 2022, 5 nights
"Water Lovers Beach Resort review"
Overall rating: Good
Arrived 12 Sep 2022, 4 nights
"Water Lovers Beach Resort review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 13 Jun 2022, 4 nights
"Ideal for rest and relaxation"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 18 Jan 2022, 4 nights
"Water Lovers Beach Resort review"
Overall rating: Excellent























Expert Africa's gallery
When we travel we take lots of photos ourselves to give you a real and un-edited view of the holidays. See our 77 pictures of Water Lovers to get the candid view.
View galleryHolidays visiting Water Lovers
Just ideas, we'll always tailor-make a trip for you


Elephant Safari
10 days • 3 locations • 1 country
NAIROBI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT
This example of a mid-range Kenya safari and beach trip explores the wildlife of Tsavo West's volcanic plains and woodlands, Tsavo East's immense plains and the white-sand beaches and lush environment of Diani Beach.
Visiting Tsavo East, Tsavo West and 1 other area
US$5,850 - US$6,290 per person
Water Lovers Beach Resort: Our full report
Water Lovers is a small, mid-range boutique hotel close to the heart of Diani Beach.
Built and opened in 2008, it is set on a lovely, beachfront site shaded by coconut palms, flamboyant and neem trees and a venerable old baobab.
Set behind imposing wooden gates, WaterLovers is accessed along a short unmade-up track off the main Diani Beach road. From the reception area, home to an intricate antique swing seat, equally imposing yet free-standing wooden doors open to reveal beautiful grounds where tropical succulents flourish beneath the trees. Wooden walkways wind through the small grounds, just proud of the soft-white sand that makes the property feel like an extension of the beach beyond.
WaterLovers' accommodation is made up of eight suites, a villa that sleeps up to eight guests and a penthouse that also sleeps eight.
The suites are set in pairs around the grounds, one on the ground floor, the second above (accessed by an outdoor steps), all with white-painted walls and a thatched roof. Each has sea views from the balcony, where comfy chairs invite relaxation, though the open design means that the balconies are not entirely private.
Inside, the suites are relatively modest in size and – with traditional wooden doors and shutters and dark ochre walls – almost womb-like in feel, despite big plate-glass windows. Central to each is a large four-poster double bed draped with mosquito nets beneath an overhead fan; there’s air conditioning too. As some of the suites have an additional single bed in front of the large glass window, single, double, twin or triple occupancy is possible – though note that the “twin” option has one person in the big double bed, the second in the single.
Locally sourced organic toiletries are provided in the bathroom, which is equipped with a hot shower, toilet and twin terracotta basins, along with colourful bathrobes, matching beach towels and a roomy beach bag. In the cupboard, there's an umbrella, a hairdryer and a very small digital safe. Each room has an adaptor plug for charging batteries, and a mobile/cellphone, fitted with a Kenyan SIM card, allowing you to make local calls for reservations, taxis or excursions. You’ll also find a speaker system to enable music to be played from your own phone.
For families, or groups of friends, it’s worth considering the thatched Birds Villa, set peacefully at the back of the property. Sleeping up to eight guests on two floors, it has a traditional feel with plenty of dark wood, its own dining table, a proper open-plan kitchen and a tree-shaded private terrace.
Rather lighter and more contemporary in style, the two-storey Penthouse above the restaurant sleeps up to eight in three double bedrooms, with a larger fourth room (with a true “wow” factor!) that leads out to a superb balcony, and can take two beds. A dining table, decent kitchen area, TV and speaker system and even gym equipment complete the package.
Aside from a small but very well-stocked shop, and an equally small but personal spa, where a single massage bed lies beneath a cooling fan, most of the communal areas at WaterLovers are in the open air. Dining tables on an open-sided terrace form a simple restaurant, with roll-down blinds in case of a tropical storm. Breakfast and lunch are usually taken here, away from the monkeys, but dinner tables are often set out on the sand, facing the beach. Tucked away to the side, a bar serves soft and alcoholic drinks throughout the day. Enjoy them on one of the carved bar stools, or find yourself a sunlounger, day bed, or hammock by the beach, and dip into a book from the hanging shelves.
With bronze-coloured tiles, the fresh-water free-form swimming pool blends into the setting rather than dominating it. On the practical front, suncream and aftersun are provided, alongside a poolside shower for washing off salty water.
For guests who’d like to explore beyond a quick dip in the ocean, the hotel has masks and snorkels that can be borrowed free of charge, as well as kayaks, which are ideal to paddle along the shoreline or out to the offshore sandbank at low tide. Alternatively, when the tide is high enough, you can go out to the reef on a glass-bottomed boat, or rent the services of a local boatman with an ngalawa outrigger canoe; tide times are posted every morning.
Just a short walk from the hotel you’ll find the odd small local restaurant, either on the beach or just behind, some specialising in calamaris. For curios, check out the small Baharini and Diani Beach plazas, or the stalls that line the main Diani Beach road. Banks and supermarkets are also on hand, while tuk-tuks can be hailed to go further afield, perhaps to the Colobus Conservation charity.
Geographics
- Location
- Kenya Coast, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- 4 nights-plus
- Directions
- WaterLovers is barely ten minutes’ drive from Ukunda Airstrip, passing small village shops and houses before turning on to the hotel’s narrow access road.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Half Board
- Food quality
- Meals at WaterLovers are something of a highlight, with the emphasis on fresh, local produce, and a strongly Italian slant. Much of the produce – from jams to biscuits – is home made, and the hotel caters particularly well for vegetarians, vegans and some other dietary requirements. There’s also a children’s menu. The restaurant is exclusive to guests, who – if they are staying on a half-board basis, may opt to have lunch instead of dinner if they would like to dine out one evening.
Breakfast, served 7.30–9.30am, is in part a buffet set up in a cool, monkey-protected area. From delicious fresh fruit to home-made muesli and granola, as well as cheese and cold meats, the options are many, accompanied by fresh fruit juice, coffee and a range of Kenyan teas. Hot breakfast options include eggs cooked to order.
The lunch menu, available 12.30–4.30pm, varies daily, with the additional option of pizza or Kenyan wraps on certain days. Lighter snacks, from samosas and salads to fruit and ice cream, are an alternative to the two-course menu, which features two mains (perhaps chicken skewers or homemade pasta with a fish sauce) and a dessert such as cinnamon pancakes with cream.
At dinner, served 7.30–9.00pm, the menu also changes daily, typically with the option of two starters, two mains – plus the catch of the day – and a dessert or fruit. We were seduced almost entirely by the fish (typically red or white snapper), served with rice pilaf and a ginger sauce, and a superb fruit platter to finish, but on barbecue night, a combo of lobster, snapper, calamari and prawns proved irresistible. A full vegetarian/vegan menu is also available each evening.
To ensure that hunger pangs are kept at bay, tea/coffee and home-made biscuits are served from 4.00pm, with “bitings” (savoury snacks) at around 6.00pm. - Dining style
- Mixture of group dining and individual tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Room service is available at extra cost.
- Drinks included
- Drinks are not included, but are reasonably priced. Tap water is considered safe for brushing teeth but not for drinking. A 75cl glass bottle of drinking water is provided in your room each day, but after that you will need to buy your own.
Special interests
- Honeymoons
- With soft sand underfoot, the sparkling Indian Ocean in front and good food, WaterLovers is an intimate yet casual spot for a beachfront honeymoon in Kenya. As an extra treat, couples may be served dinner à deux on the beach.
- See ideas for Honeymoons in Kenya
- Beach holidays
- The extensive white sands of Diani Beach are the perfect lure for a beach break in Kenya, where WaterLovers has plenty of personal spaces to relax in the shade, along with a freshwater pool and kayaks for the more active.
- See ideas for Beach holidays in Kenya
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children of all ages are welcome.
- Property’s age restrictions
- None.
- Special activities & services
- There's a children's menu, and babysitting can be done by ladies from housekeeping.
- Equipment
- Baby cots, mosquito nets and high chairs are available, with a special package for infants that includes a potty, baby bath, and signature poncho-style towel.
- Generally recommended for children
- The low-key style of WaterLovers, and easy access to the beach, makes it a good option for children. The secluded villa at the back of the property is particularly suited to young families, whereas the Penthouse – with open staircase – is better for those with older children.
- Notes
- The pool is unfenced, with no lifeguard, and there is open access to the beach beyond, so children who are not competent swimmers will need careful supervision.
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There is a generator for the occasional power cut and the hot water in the rooms is solar-heated. Every room has a power-saving switch (ie one switch to turn on/off everything).
- Communications
- There is free WiFi throughout the property and good cellphone coverage.
- TV & radio
- Only the Penthouse has a TV.
- Water supply
- Mains
- Water supply notes
- All bathrooms are fully plumbed with hot and cold water to both basins and shower.
Sustainability
A community approach
WaterLovers works behind the scenes to support the local community in many guises, from sports to crafts to the environment to helping families in real need. Taekwondo and football clubs for both boys and girls help to motivate older children, while various craft products, such as simple wooden turtles and innovative wine glasses made from old bottles, are commissioned for use around the hotel. The hotel’s own small shop features a range of local crafts as well as environmentally friendly products, while in the narrow alleyway alongside the hotel, a couple of stallholders are permitted to sell their own fabrics and curios. At weekends, fruit brought in from the countryside by older children is bought for the kitchen, and the fish and seafood is naturally all local. Support for Colobus Conservation goes hand in hand with beach cleaning. Theirs is a genuinely community-wide approach that benefits on many different levels.
See more great sustainability projects in Kenya
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- Diani Beach Hospital is a five-minute drive away. In an emergency, the hospital at Mombasa can be reached in about an hour.
- Dangerous animals
- Low Risk
- Security measures
- There is no serious problem here with beach boys, but the hotel does have security round the clock.
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers throughout the property. In addition they have a fire hose and conduct fire training.
Activities
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Scuba-diving
Snorkelling
Watersports
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- A laundry service is available, at a cost equivalent to roughly US$1.50 per small item and US$2.50 per large item of clothing.
- Money
- There are safes in each room.
- Accepted payment on location
- Cash payments for extras such as drinks and activities are no longer accepted. Payments must be made by card.
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Water Lovers Beach Resort's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Water Lovers.
Other lodges in Kenya Coast
Alternative places to stay in this same area.

Kinondo Kwetu
Kinondo Kwetu is a small, owner-run, all-inclusive boutique lodge of exceptional quality situated on a remote stretch of beach south of the busier Diani Beach area.

Pinewood Beach Resort
Pinewood Beach Resort is a relaxed resort-style hotel at the far south end of Diani Beach - an area known as Galu Beach.

Asha Boutique Hotel
Diani Blue is a low-key but stylishly comfortable small guesthouse, with high levels of service, in a busy, central part of Diani Beach.

The Sands At Nomad
The Sands At Nomad is a good-value, laidback, family friendly resort with lots of Swahili character.

Peponi
Peponi is a long-established beach hotel, renowned for its good food, located in the village of Shela on the south side of Lamu island.

Hemingways Watamu
Long-established resort hotel with a strong British following and a good reputation for deep-sea fishing.

The Sands at Chale Island
The Sands at Chale Island is a beach resort offering plenty of activities and beautiful flora and fauna all around.

Alfajiri Villas
Alfajiri Villas is an exclusive, owner-run, hideaway property consisting of three unique villas in a central part of the north end of Diani Beach.

Manda Bay
Manda Bay is a luxury beach hideaway in a remote corner of an island in the Lamu archipelago, on Kenya's northern coast. It has a huge range of water sports on offer.

Mnarani Club
The Mnarari Club is located towards the seaward end of the beautiful Killifi Creek, and is an enduring favourite on the Kenya coast.

Ocean Sports
Ocean Sports is long-established and popular beach hotel right on one of Watamu's famous and beautiful bays.


Shimba Lodge
Shimba Lodge is a picturesque tree-hotel overlooking a forest waterhole in Shimba Hills National Park, with an aerial walkway and abundant wildlife.

The Maji
The Maji is a small, well managed beach hotel on the northern stretch of Diani Beach in southern Kenya.

Serena Beach Resort
Serena Beach Resort is a large beach hotel on Shanzu Beach, north of Mombasa town, on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast.

Kizingo
Kizingo is an owner-managed, rustic, barefoot beach lodge on the southwest tip of Lamu island.

Tamarind Village
Tamaarind Village is a well managed apartment complex close to Mombasa city, with excellent restaurants, pools and visitor services.


Swahili Beach
Swahili Beach is one of the biggest resort hotels on Diani Beach, with a spectacular lobby and cascading swimming pool.

Msambweni Beach House
Msambweni Beach House is a secluded and luxurious boutique hotel on the southern Kenya coast, south of Diani Beach.

Lamu House
Lamu House is a boutique hotel on the waterfront in Lamu town, with a swimming pool, bar and terrace restaurant.
When to go to Kenya Coast
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Water Lovers in Kenya Coast
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Kenya in January
Clear, hot days and warm nights make this high season a popular time for safaris and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling as water clarity is excellent and gets better as the dry season progresses. Most lodges and tented camps treat January after the New Year week is over, as mid-season, making it a good compromise in terms of value for money with reasonably reliable, dry weather and some greenery left in the landscape.
Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in January, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
- On average, January is the second driest month of the year
- Elephants dig waterholes in the dry riverbed in the Samburu reserve.
- Wildebeest and many antelope have their calving season, to February.
- Migrant birds are seen in huge numbers, especially in the Rift Valley.
- Sea water clarity around the coral reefs generally good.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in January
Kenya in February
With the short dry season well established, the grass grazed down and wildlife gathering close to water points, this is still a good time for a safari. Good water clarity in the Indian Ocean's coastal waters makes for excellent diving and snorkelling conditions.
Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in February, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
- On average, February is the driest month of the year.
- It’s sometimes possible to swim with whale sharks at Diani Beach.
- Migrant birds are still seen everywhere, especially near water.
- This is usually peak calving season for wildebeest and many antelopes.
- This month is often the hottest of the year, especially on the coast.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in February
Kenya in March
Hot, increasingly humid weather – with good diving and snorkelling conditions at the start of the month – gives way to rains and lower accommodation costs. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in March, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and predicting the seasons since the beginning of this century has been difficult.
March is the month when – traditionally – intensely hot conditions build up until a cloudburst finally happens at the end of the month or in early April, to relieve the humidity. As ever, regional variations across the country can greatly impact on visitors' experiences.
- Sea-water clarity is best for diving before the long rains start.
- Visitor numbers are low, though the Easter holidays can be busier.
- Night skies can be scintillatingly clear in early March.
- Cropped down savannah grasses can make it easier to see the wildlife.
- Temperartures climb high, especially at lower elevations.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in March
Kenya in April
April sees the full onset of the southeast monsoon wind or kusi, which heralds the long rains. Temperatures drop soon after the rains are established and you’ll often have facilities largely to yourself in this more affordable low season, sometimes known as the "green season". The bush quickly springs to life, with greenery sprouting almost before your eyes. While you're likely to get a fair number of heavy showers, the breaks in the rain can yield sparklingly clear conditions.
With the dust settled and bright sun piercing the clouds, conditions can be sublime for photography, especially first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon with another storm brewing. You may be lucky, or you may find conditions very wet and muddy.
- A wet month, the coast often gets more than 300mm (12in) of rain.
- Sunny spells can provide great light for photography.
- Buffalo and zebra calving season often happens in this month.
- Baby crocodiles hatch, for example on Central Island in Lake Turkana.
- Palearctic migrant birds gather to fly north to breeding grounds.
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in April
Kenya in May
While game viewing can be trickier as vegetation runs riot, between the cloudbursts the colours and light are great for photography at this time of year. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in May, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and while it's reasonable to expect heavy rains in many parts during this month, especially on the coast, the rains don't always come evenly or in some areas come at all.
In an El Niño year, the so-called long rains that normally are established across much of the country by May can be meagre, to the despair of farmers. On the other hand in a La Niña year, the long rains can bring floods. On the coast, the monsoon winds make the climate much more predictable, with heavy rains common throughout this month.
- Frogs breed in the ponds in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest near Watamu.
- Wildebeest, impala and other grazers are in rut (the breeding season).
- Kilimanjaro looks its best as heavy rain falls as snow on the summit.
- There's a sharp peek of rainfall on the coast with many rainy days.
- Accommodation prices are uniformly low, while some camps close.
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in May
Kenya in June
The rains give way to cloudy, cooler weather, often making for comfortable conditions by the end of the month, especially in the highlands. Starting from mid-June or the beginning of July and running until the end of October, this is the high season, and accordingly has higher accommodation rates and – at least until early September – higher numbers of visitors.
While the early part of June can often be rainy on the coast, it can be a great time to go on safari, with fresh greenery, many young animals and good photographic conditions with clear air.
- The Taru Desert, inland from the coast, is carpeted with flowers.
- The Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is held in Loiyangalani.
- Madaraka Day (commemorating self rule) is 1 June.
- The annual Lewa marathon runs a course through the wildlife.
- The Diani Rules "sports" event rips up the rulebook at Diani Beach.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in June
Kenya in July
Kenya’s “winter" season sets in (winter is a misnomer but locals feel the change), and the highlands can be rather grey. Skies are often cloudy and the days can be surprisingly cool, with an average daytime high in many highland safari areas of 15-20°C and night-time temperatures dropping below 10°C in Nairobi and the highlands. Lower parts of the country and the coast are usually warm and dry, typically reaching highs of around 25°C with lows in the high teens.
As this is the start of the high season, coinciding with the usual arrival of the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara, July is a busy month. Ask your Expert Africa specialist to advise on how to avoid the crowds, which is not that difficult to do.
- The wildebeest migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara in July.
- Simbi Lake (Kisumu) and Crater Lake (Naivasha) can attract flamingoes.
- Watersports start to pick up and some surfing is possible at Malindi.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are a common feature in the Maasai Mara.
- The sea can be choppy along the coast, making diving difficult.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in July
Kenya in August
The Great Migration fills the plains of the Maasai Mara, and school’s out, so the park roads are full of tourists – ask your Expert Africa specialist for advice on crowd avoidance tactics. Choose a private conservancy rather than a public national park or national reserve for quieter conditions.
Like July, August is generally mild and relatively dry in the safari areas, but it can be very chilly in the highlands, even in the middle of the day, and hail occasionally falls above altitudes of around 2,400m (8,000ft). Nairobi can be disappointingly overcast, with low cloud.
- Apart from Christmas holidays, this is the busiest month of the year.
- Late August sees peak wildebeest drama at the Mara River crossings.
- Coastal winds are good for kite- and wind-surfing.
- Few mosquitoes are around at this generally dry time of year.
- The annual Camel Derby takes place in the Samburu capital, Maralal.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in August
Kenya in September
The skies clearing of cloud signals the start of hot, dry weather with little chance of rain – and, after the first few days of the month, far fewer visitors – making the latter part of September a good time for a quieter safari. While early September is often good for dramatic migration crossings along the Mara River, you might consider deliberately postponing your trip until later in the month, when the migration can still be very impressive and visitor numbers fewer.
If tourist surges are somewhat predictable, however, the patterns of the wildebeest migration are more volatile, and like all of Expert Africa's climate and weather assessments, they are based on accumulated years of experience rather than guaranteed certainty.
- This is still high season, with prices to match.
- Many river crossings take place on the Mara river in both directions.
- Natural bush fires flush out insects and small animals for predators.
- The Rift Valley Music Festival takes place by Lake Naivasha.
- With school holidays over by early September, late-month is quieter.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in September
Kenya in October
Still hot, mostly dry and not too busy, this is many people’s preferred month for a safari, and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling. The wildebeest and zebra herds of the great migration are often still to be seen, though in dwindling numbers. The swamps of Amboseli attract thirsty wildlife including large herds of elephants.
While we wouldn't expect much rain across most of the country this month, the climate has become so unpredictable that you can never say never, and the possibiity of the short rains – usually associated with November to mid-December, starting early, can't be discounted.
- This month sees the tail end of the great migration in the Mara.
- Palearctic migrant birds start to arrive, staying until March.
- Turtle nests hatch at Watamu, until November.
- Amboseli elephants focus on the swamps for their daily water.
- The Indian Ocean monsoon winds turn from southeast to northeast.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in October
Kenya in November
The northeast monsoon wind or kaskazi heralds the start of the “short rains", usually some time in the second half of the month. From November to mid-December, this is the low season, and accordingly has lower accommodation rates and lower visitor numbers. Across most of the country you can expect warm, somewhat cloudy weather, with occasional heavy showers and localised flooding.
Expert Africa bases its description of the climate in November, like the other months of the year, on the records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable: some years the short rains don't come at all, or don't reach every part of the country. In an El Niño year, the November short rains can be very heavy, but in a La Niña year, they can fail completely.
- Swimming with dolphins in Lamu can be done from now until April.
- Birders gather at Ngulia in Tsavo West to ring Palearctic migrants.
- The Lamu Cultural Festival takes over the town and Lamu Creek.
- Agricultural shows often take place regional market towns.
- This is low season, so camps can be great value, with special offers.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in November
Kenya in December
In a typical December, the rains usually finish by middle of the month, leaving the landscape looking its best, under clear blue skies, and heralding the start of the second peak tourist season from around 20 December to the first week of January. Our assessment of the likely weather in December, like the other months of the year, is based on climate records, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
Christmas can sometimes be wet, but most years the rains have finished a week or two earlier, with the festive season ushering in the perfect combination of clear skies and sunshine by day and starry nights.
- Christmas and New Year are busy, with the lodges and camps full.
- Rates are highest after 24 Dec, with supplements on public holidays.
- Republic Day and Independence day are celebrated on 12 December.
- Good kite- and wind-surfing restarts, with strong northeasterly winds.
- Mango season begins, providing excitement for primates and elephants.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in December

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