Reviews of holidays to Kenya Coast
45 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Kenya Coast.
"Can I come back every year?"
Kenya, like much of Africa, is bustling with people walking to and from work in the larger cities and towns, or shuttling a goat to market on the back of a motorbike, or working a corn field with a hoe. The individual sellers in a street stall or market are invariably friendly and, they are always happy to show you what they've got and encourage you to negotiate if you like something. The park rangers and guides love sharing their knowledge of the plants and animals.
These are what earn Kenya the nickname, the warm heart of Africa.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I WAS SUPER IMPRESSED AND THANKFUL THAT RICHARD CAUGHT A MISTAKE IN MY FLIGHTS which gave me time to correct the oversight. I ran into a snafu with my outbound flight that caused me to have to rebook on a different airline and would not have noticed the error on the return flight until I got to the airport, potentially either missing my flight or losing my last day of the trip.
So kudos again, Richard, for your thoroughness!
[Ed: This traveller booked her own flights. As is our usual practice, we'll always try to bring any flight issues the the attention of our travellers as/when we become aware of them, even if our travellers have arranged their own flights.]" Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
"Great return trip to Kenya"
"Kenya - Jan 2020"
"Lamu & Diani, July 2019"
Once again, Richard got it just right, interpreting our half-formed wishes and making suggestions for things we hadn't thought of but turned out to be exactly what we wanted." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Kenya safari
"Trip of a lifetime"
We then spent a long time with Richard Trillo and his team discussing options and then left it to him to put together an extended trip to hopefully tick all the boxes on our wish list.
ALL BOXES TICKED, this was a fantastic journey through 5 African countries, we have seen and experienced so much, so a VERY BIG THANK YOU to Expert Africa for arranging this for us.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No, just carry on doing what you're doing now - it would be very hard to improve what you're already doing so well." Read full review: 44 nights in Africa; 17 on a Kenya safari
"Wonderful... Beats UK in February!"
We were especially impressed by the cheerful helpfulness of all the Kenyan people we met, in all the places we stayed- and in between.
Plus- the weather was perfect...." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 13 on a Kenya safari
"Another Great Safari"
Everything went smoothly and the ground arrangements were perfect thanks to Southern Cross and their excellent driver Joshua. They also took care of our transfers between Wilson Airport and JKIA on our last evening.
Expert Africa set up all the arrangements with their usual efficiency and attention to detail and especial thanks to Richard for tying up all the loose ends and making everything work so seamlessly, as always.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
It's difficult to imagine how you could do better" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Kenya safari
"Unforgettable holiday"
"My Aug 2018 trip"
I would do things differently next time, I think you only need 3 days at the most in each camp and I would have liked a third camp without the beach visit at the end.
Disappointed not to have seen the migration (happened earlier this year). No rhinos and very rare to see cheetah and leopard." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Kenya safari
"My Aug 2018 trip"
We were really happy with the places he recommend and with the final trip schedule. He gave us good advice about not paying extra to have a freight seat on the planes. We were a little over the max bag weight but we were not asked to pay anything.
We were grateful that he let everywhere know about Sarah's leg injury in advance as it meant all the camps were prepared for us.
We had an amazing holiday and would love to travel with Expert Africa to Kenya again." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 15 on a Kenya safari
Where to stay in Kenya Coast
Our suggestions for beach lodges in Kenya Coast
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.
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.
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.
Driftwood Beach Club
The low-key and long-established Driftwood is a family-friendly, owner-managed, bungalow-style beach hotel on a beautiful stretch of sands just south of Malindi town.
Ocean Sports
Ocean Sports is long-established and popular beach hotel right on one of Watamu's famous and beautiful bays.
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.
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.
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.
AfroChic
Afro-Chic is a modern, Mediterranean-style ten-room boutique hotel on Diani Beach, with good food and a pleasant pool.
Kutazama
Kutazama is an owner-managed, boutique luxury lodge in the Shimba Hills in a stunning location overlooking the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary.
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 Sands at Chale Island
The Sands at Chale Island is a beach resort offering plenty of activities and beautiful flora and fauna all around.
Serena Beach Resort
Serena Beach Resort is a large beach hotel on Shanzu Beach, north of Mombasa town, on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast.
Hemingways Watamu
Long-established resort hotel with a strong British following and a good reputation for deep-sea fishing.
Manfriday's Mida Cove
Manfriday’s Mida Cove is a stylish beach lodge, suited to those who are sociable and will enjoy the engaging hosts and the convivial atmosphere they create.
Tamarind Village
Tamaarind Village is a well managed apartment complex close to Mombasa city, with excellent restaurants, pools and visitor services.
Tijara Beach
Tijara Beach is one of the smallest and quietest beach properties on Kenya’s coast, with a focus on rest and relaxation away from other tourists.
Diamond Beach Village
Diamond Beach Village is a rustic, owner-built, owner-run beach lodge, with simple rooms made from local materials, located where Lamu Creek meets the Indian Ocean.
Kipungani Explorer
Kipungani Explorer is a relatively large rustic beach lodge on the west coast of Lamu island.
Kizingo
Kizingo is an owner-managed, rustic, barefoot beach lodge on the southwest tip of Lamu island.
Che Shale
Che Shale is sand-and-palm-tree beach lodge of rustic bandas, dedicated to kitesurfing and chilling out, located on a remote and beautiful bay half an hour’s drive north of Malindi Airport.
Msambweni Beach House
Msambweni Beach House is a secluded and luxurious boutique hotel on the southern Kenya coast, south of Diani Beach.
Funzi Keys
Funzi Keys is a remote beach property on its own private island on the far south coast of Kenya. Rustic in style, it will suit you if you cherish exclusivity over modern design.
House on the Beach
House on the Beach is a comfortable family-size, private beach house with a large pool set by a cave complex, and a delightful garden leading down to the beach, in a secluded spot on Tiwi 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.
Lamu House
Lamu House is a boutique hotel on the waterfront in Lamu town, with a swimming pool, bar and terrace restaurant.
The Maji
The Maji is a small, well managed beach hotel on the northern stretch of Diani Beach in southern Kenya.
Swahili Beach
Swahili Beach is one of the biggest resort hotels on Diani Beach, with a spectacular lobby and cascading swimming pool.
Water Lovers
Water Lovers is a popular, low-key beach hotel in a central location on Diani Beach on the south coast of Kenya.
