Kilifi Beaches offer stunning experiences, from Bofa Beach’s white sand and rock pools to Kuruwitu Conservancy’s vibrant marine life. Explore Kilifi Creek’s watersports, visit historical Mnarani Ruins, and enjoy nature’s beauty at Kilifi Plantation.
Bofa Beach
Kilifi Beaches are outstanding, and number one on the list has to be Bofa Beach, which rivals Diani for the whitest and softest sand in Kenya. In fact, the sand is so white that it’s painful to open your eyes in the midday sun, and so soft you sink into it as you approach the water. Bofa Beach has a warm, translucent ocean, which recedes to reveal rock pools stuffed with starfish, shells, and miniature life. When the tide returns, it brings tumbling waves and excellent kitesurfing & sailing conditions.
A Serene Beach Experience
Bofa Beach has Salty’s for refreshments, but there are no sun beds, shops, or toilets. It’s perfect for those seeking an unspoiled, serene beach experience.
Kilifi Creek
Swimming across Kilifi Creek is a tradition, but you had better be a strong swimmer to attempt it. That it’s possible to do so indicates how gentle the waters are, and this, my friend, makes it ideal for watersports. The excellent 3 Degrees South provides boats, boards, and training sessions for anyone wanting to learn dinghy sailing, yachting, windsurfing, waterskiing, wake boarding, and kayaking.
Kuruwitu Conservancy
Kuruwitu Conservancy, about 20 minutes further down the coast, near Vipingo Ridge, is well worth a visit. The conservancy is a community-led project established in 2003. The 30-hectare ocean-based conservancy began by working with local fishermen to stop harmful fishing practices that damaged coral and marine life. Today, you can snorkel out over the conservancy and see one of the most abundant areas of marine life in all of Kenya. Look out for the little coral gardens, where the team is actively growing coral heads. You have to pay KSH 1500 to snorkel, but it’s worth it to see such a vast quantity of underwater sea life so close to the shore.
Kilifi Plantation
Kilifi Plantation is a 2500-hectare dairy and sisal plantation with an extensive network of cycling and walking tracks. It’s insanely beautiful, with endless lines of sisal silhouetted against the blue sky. The plantation has the excellent Food Movement restaurant, and several shops nearby selling arts, crafts, clothes, organic food, and furniture.
Mnarani Ruins
The Mnarani Ruins, overlooking Kilifi Creek, are the remains of two 15th-century mosques. The mosques are located high on a cliff side, with ancient baobab trees and several tombs. A dhow cruise in Kilifi doesn’t need to be at sunset, but heading down the creek with the sky painted orange is the perfect way to end a day.
