KIKAMBALA
Area: Kenya


Location:
Halfway up the SE coast on the Indian Ocean. 300 miles from the capital, Nairobi, 17 miles N of Mombasa, 13 miles S of Kilifi, 35 miles S of Malindi. 23 miles N of Mombasa's Moi International Airport.

Telephone code from UK:
254 12

Position:
5 miles NE of Mtwapa creek on a beach backed by palm groves, thick forest and maize fields.

Description:
A loose and unobtrusive arrangement of hotels and local homes along 3 miles of coast in a thickly forested area. Despite having seen the opening of one of Kenya's first beach hotels in 1932, Kikambala has largely been ignored by developers. As a result it lacks an obvious focus or distinctive style other than "laid back". The roads are dusty dirt tracks, and the hotels are well-hidden behind trees.

Suitability:
A rather cut-off position and lack of public transport makes this resort suitable for those wanting to spend most of their time on the beach and in their hotels. Very limited nightlife.

Accommodation:
Something to suit all pockets from budget to mid-range. Half a dozen large tourist hotels offering lots of facilities, to simple self-catering holiday cottages, and a couple of cheap local establishments.

Shopping:
Shacks outside hotels sell curios and brightly coloured khanga (brightly coloured cotton cloth). Otherwise limited to hotel boutiques.

Beach:
A long stretch of very soft white sand protected by an offshore coral reef. The sea goes out for over half a mile so it's largely impractical for bathing except at high tide.

Entertainments:
Daytime: hotels can organise scuba diving, snorkelling, glass-bottomed boat trips over the coral reefs, sailing and deep sea fishing. Nightlife: confined to the hotels and one sleazy nightclub playing African and Afro-American sounds.

Eating:
A handful of local shacks along the road serve African food and grilled fish; otherwise no restaurants. With transport, more upmarket places along the Mombasa_Malindi road are accessible, including a long-established Seychellois establishment.

Public-transport:
None directly from resort: the nearest are buses and "matatus" (pick-up minibuses) on the main coastal road 2 miles away, running frequently to Mombasa and Malindi via Kilifi. Nearest taxis come from Mtwapa village.

Local-excursions:
Atmospheric ruins of the medieval Swahili trading town of Jumba la Mtwana 3 miles S (» day; picnic site on beach) Dhow trips (1 day). Other excursions, which pick up from hotels, are the same as listed under Mombasa.