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Thomson Destinations
Diani Beach
If youve hankering for a slice of peaceful sun, sea and sand, youre in the right place at Diani Beach. Here, you can sunbathe or explore the scenery for yourself. When the tides out, pad 200 yards out to sea, where the coral reef tracks the coastline. Then head back for lunch, where beach bars serve the freshest catch of the day. And if you cant tear yourself away from the crystal clear waters, the watersports centre offers courses in windsurfing and snorkelling. Beach aside, youll find upmarket shops around a modern commercial centre, with plenty of local crafts and souvenir shops. Whether youre after an expensive gift at a bargain price or a wooden carving for the folks back home, you should find all you need right here. Food wise, youve got European and Asian restaurants and of course, there are plenty of places to tuck into traditional Kenyan grub. Diani is the choice of those who want all the mod cons with their holiday - fine facilities in the hotels, plenty of sports, after dark entertainment, and resort attractions on tap.
Kenya
Malindi
When you wander through Malindis old town streets, youre following in the footsteps of Vasco de Gama, the first European to come to Kenyas coast. A white cross on the bay recalls his 1499 landing, though the Portuguese explorers influence is far outweighed today by Malindis romance with Rome. Known as Little Italy, the town has Kenyas best Italian restaurants, along with chic Italian-style shops. Youll find jewellery, antiques and curios in the Arab-Swahili historical quarter. Along the beach, African craftsmen sell carvings in soapstone and wood. At the open-air market, ask the chap on the pineapple stall to prepare one for you to eat. Now for the beaches. To the south of the centre, the sands are sheltered by a coral reef about 200 yards offshore, so the shallows at low tide are warm and safe. Its much wilder to the north of town, where sand dunes back deep golden beaches. Windsurfing and sailing join horse-riding and a 9-hole golf course for sports enthusiasts. Plus there are discos, a casino & bags of bars.
² A Beach in Mombasa
Nyali Beach
Cross the bridge from Mombasa Island to the Nyali headland and you enter a unique enclave of up-market Kenya - and a glimpse of the countrys past and present. Youll pass consulates. A Sikh temple here. A Victorian church there. Contemporary apartment buildings and colonial villas. Even the ocean is given protected status - a Marine National Park lying just off the gently shelving shores, begging to be explored. But its not all peace and quiet. Youll soon see a monkey pinching sugar bowls off tables and chucking them from the trees when the contents have been enjoyed. And, like most of the coast, a day on the beach may be punctuated by peddlers selling beads, bangles and alike. So for all its sophistication, youll never forget youre in Kenya. You can also enjoy a variety of watersports or take a glass bottom boat trip over the reef. And with riding stables in Nyali, you can enjoy a few hours on horseback. As for food, take a taxi to Bamburi or to top class eateries near the Nakumatt hypermarket.
Call 0871 230 8777
Charges apply, see page 275
Sky digital 637 " Visit your travel agent
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