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Diani on a budget with friends

Diani on a budget with friends

COVID-19 has done us dirty in 2020. We all found ourselves stuck in our homes, wearing masks, washing our hands, sanitizing more than usual, and just getting worked up by the mere fact that we can not outside as much as we want.

Luckily, things eased up a bit and with caution, we were allowed to cross counties. But wait, globally people have lost jobs, cash flow has been affected and generally, things were (still are) thick.

But we can not just sit and feel sad about the current dilemma, somehow we need to look for ways to work with the situation and make some lemonade from it…

Because cabin fever and brokeness decided they will go hand in hand my friends and I needed to get out of this city so bad, and therefore had to devise a practical scheme that would save us some coins. (If you are Kenyan you know how a trip down to the coast at a kawaida resort costs an arm and a leg.)

The plan…

Get a shared affordable accommodation (villa or house) that had a self catering option.

Having toured the Kenyan coast extensively in the past and knowing a few property owners and property managers, it was easy to settle fast on accommodation that fit our budget. My group had some irreducible minimums for their choice in accommodation that included; must have a swimming pool, the house/home shouldn’t be an apartment, and should have extra lounges and possibly a gazebo and a garden and should be beachfront property.
Most of the specs were easily met but our perfect fit was not a beachfront property ?. Surprisingly, they were cool with that. (The beach was like 10-15 minutes away.)

The house we settled for…

The property had 2 two-bedroom house that stood directly opposite each other, all ensuite, a fully fitted kitchen, and a spacious front porch that doubled up as the dining and living area.
It also had a perfectly manicured lawn with optically nutritive trees and bushes. The lawn eased out to the swimming pool that was always warm and clean. Next to the pool was a queen size Swahili day bed, a gazebo with nice bar like raised woven stools. The property alone, even without any activities was enough for a much-needed getaway.

Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Food and hired chef

To cut on food costs we hired a chef who planned and prepared all the meals for us. All we did was shop for what we wanted (Naivas Diani) and specified our dietary needs to him. The chef outdid himself in every meal.

Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Transport

Most of us booked SGR (Ksh 2000 return from Nairobi), then hired a van that took us to Diani from the SGR station (The same guy took us back from Diani on our last day.) The guy who did our transfers was a proper planner, timekeeper, and professional. He has both vans and smaller cars for hire. The van cost us approx 6,000 bob one way, so if you are 8; everyone pays approx 700 bob to the destination in Diani. (If you have ever raised an uber from SGR or the airport to Diani, you will understand how much of a bargain that was!)

SGR
Bonita on safari Diani
Activities

Most of us only had the weekend to spare and therefore, we had to squeeze in as much activities as possible to fit into our Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Initially we thought that on the day of arrival we would go to the beach and chill but that was not to happen. The traffic from the train station to Mombasa was crazy. There was a serious road construction going on with lots of heavy vehicles making chaotic decisions on the road and we easily wasted two hours of what should have been a thirty minutes drive to Mombasa.

Again, there was traffic at the ferry in Likoni, the distance from the ferry to the house was also another stretch! We were getting to the house around 6:00 pm. So clearly Friday was done!done! Part of the reasons you need a private house with a pool and Bluetooth speakers is because you can always throw a pool party whenever after missing the beach ?.

Bonita on safari Diani

Full-Day excursion at Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park

This is usually done as a package that includes pick up from the hotel or where you are staying to Kisite Mpunguti KWS offices. After registration, (Carry your National ID) you get on a 2-hour boat ride to Kisite Island first, where if you are lucky, you will get to see dolphins (we were so lucky ?), no swimming happens at this point because the water is deep.

Bonita on safari Diani
Junction to Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani

Then the next Island is Mpunguti. Most snorkeling and swimming happens here. The waters are so clear chances are, you will meet every other group that had left much earlier to spot the dolphins.

I advise you carry a Go Pro for under water photos or alternatively you can pay an extra 1,000 bob to have Fathy of Amigo Tours (+254 712 231 151) take dope pics/videos for you.

Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani

After snorkeling, you will get back to the boat for a one hour ride to Wasini Island for lunch. Do not expect a fancy seafood spread, but whatever they provide is usually enough. They will bill you extra for seafood dishes. So lower your expectations because the food is mass-produced because of the volume of guests. Otherwise, it is a good experience.

Bonita on safari Diani
Wasini Island
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
After the village tour

After lunch, there is a Wasini village tour. The tour basically is to walk you around the host village. The people of Wasini depend on fishing as their main economic activity and guests are encouraged to eat, buy jewelry, etc from the island as a way of boosting their economy directly and indirectly. So make sure you do not skip the lunch bit and tip the guides if you can.

Bonita on safari Diani
Leaving Wasini

The Kisite Mpunguti trip is usually a full day’s activity. We got back to our place at around 6:00 pm. We were in luck to get a nice tour guide who threw in a small trip to the shopping center and also waited for us as we refilled on WATER ?.

Exhausted but thrilled, another pool party did the thing ?. At this point sleep was also a rumour.

Day 3:

Day Trip to Funzi Island

Considering how tired people were, we had to go to a place that had minimal activities with a lot of sunbathing and leisure swimming. The best bet was Funzi Island.

Funzi Island is a Mangrove Forest in Kwale off Ramisi Sugar Factory at the end of Bodo Village. We packed the van and hopped into a boat that took us to the Funzi sandbank. If you read the Mikoko Cove post I did years back, you probably know of this sandbank. This was such a chilled trip and the only mistake we did was not carrying our drinks and water.

Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani
Bonita on safari Diani

Towards mid-afternoon, the tide gets high and eventually covers the sandbank. After everyone had enough, we headed back.

Bonita on safari Diani
Other Activities to do…

For ladies, you can have some temporary henna tattoos.
CAUTION: Some henna artists add PPD *para-phenylenediamine*(Knowingly and unknowingly) to increase the color strength of the black dye. Some people have a serious allergic reaction that leads to blistering and permanent scarring.
We were in luck because the henna/piko (I do not know the difference ??‍♀️) they used did not have PPD or maybe we were all not predisposed ?. So be on the look out. Came across this article that should give you more info…
Will I get another temporary tattoo? Yes, But from the same ladies ??. Call Bahati on 0705746524

Bonita on safari Diani

The other thing we did was to enjoy full body massage the comfort of the home. We requested for a lady who does house calls. I totally needed that massage! If we knew everyone needed a massage, we would have called for at least two ladies or started in batches the previous day… She billed us 1000 bob per person for an hour.

While some were having their bodies drawn and massaged the rest continued with the never ending party by the pool.

Bonita on safari Diani

All in all, transport, food and activities was about Ksh 23,000pp for the 3 nights and 4 days. This did not include alcoholic drinks and henna/massage and tips.

If you want a similar trip planned for you, let me know in the comment section.

If you haven’t subscribed to my youtube channel then this might be the best time to do so ????

Following me on IG is also a brilliant Idea ??

If you haven’t followed me on Twitter, it is not too late to join the party!


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I travel, I write about travel. I take travel photos. Talk to me about destination reviews,cultural trips, and responsible tourism.

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  1. Annick

    11 November

    Hi Bonnita,

    This is so good. I am planning on a trip in Kenya for my first time in Kenya and nothing I’ve looked at beats this trip. I definitely need help getting in contact with the planners of the trip. Thank you.

    • Bonita

      16 November

      Heyyy!
      Karibu sana Kenya.
      Home- call Habel+254 727 684 491
      Activities call Dan+254 724 224 363
      Transfers Hakeem-0700 871 894

  2. Ivy

    11 November

    Hi Bonita kindly, please help me with contacts of the persons who took you to Wasini Island, the Mpunguti Marine Park and Funzi island. Am interested!

    • Bonita

      16 November

      Call Dan on +254 724 224 363 He will sort you out.

  3. Evans

    14 November

    I love what you do. You are also a great writer. Tell me, what is the name of the place where you spent your nights?

    • Bonita

      16 November

      Hey, its called Gardenia Gardens.
      Call Habel on +254 727 684 491 He will show you more homes.

  4. Ryan

    15 November

    This is so informative thank you.
    Kindly provide contacts to the cottage and the transport to mpunguti and Wasini

  5. Mary goretti

    15 November

    I would love to plan of the experience on January how can I get in touch of the team organizing this

  6. Anita

    15 November

    Hi,

    Please give me the number for the guy who did your transfer from SGR to Diani.

    • Bonita

      16 November

      ? call Hakeem 0700 871 894 tell him Bonita Recommended him.

  7. Elizabeth

    29 April

    Wao… Would love the same kind of trip. Please send me a planned schedule of the same.

  8. Debbie

    18 October

    Hi,
    Could you kindly assist with the number of the chef and massage lady, if you still have it?

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