Taita Hills / Diani Beach

Today started very early again. At 6 a.m. our driver Taitas picked us up for a morning safari in the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. At first we were not very lucky. The animals seemed to still be asleep or hiding in the tall grass, so the first real highlight was the sunrise. The sky turned a deep red and painted the whole savannah in warm colors 🌅.

After almost an hour of driving we finally spotted a lioness feeding on a wildebeest she had taken down. It was our first real action of the day and a strong reminder of how wild life in Africa really is 🦁. A little later we came across a striped hyena drinking water, which was quite special because these animals are mostly nocturnal and rarely seen during the day. Of course we also saw the classics again – zebras, giraffes and gazelles. Before returning to lodge we spotted from far cheetah 🐆.

Back at the lodge we enjoyed a big breakfast buffet and then, at around 8.30 a.m., we began the long drive towards the coast. The road to Diani Beach took nearly six hours. It is one of Kenya’s main transport routes from the coast to the inland, so there were many heavy trucks on the way. The road is still mostly two-lane and under construction, which made overtaking difficult and sometimes caused traffic jams. Near Mombasa we could already see sections of modern highways being built, which gave us a glimpse of how travel might be in a few years.

By early afternoon we finally reached Galu Ecolodge in Diani Beach. The lodge welcomed us with a huge room, much bigger than we had expected, and after saying goodbye to Taitas, who had to drive all the way back to Nairobi, we went straight down to the beach restaurant for lunch.

The rest of the day was pure relaxation. We stretched out on the beach chairs, tested the Indian Ocean, which was wonderfully warm 🌊, and went for a walk along the endless white sand where one resort follows the next. In the evening we treated ourselves to a cocktail at the beach bar and stayed there for dinner as well, because the food was excellent and the setting unbeatable 🍹.

Fun Facts about Diani Beach
🏝️ Diani Beach stretches for about 17 kilometers along Kenya’s southern coast and is often ranked among the most beautiful beaches in Africa.
🐠 The reef just off the coast protects the shoreline from strong waves, making the water calm and perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
🌴 The beach is also known for its tall palm trees and colobus monkeys, which sometimes visit hotels and surprise guests.

After days of safaris and long drives, it felt amazing to finally end the day by the ocean and listen to the waves.Read more