NYALI BEACH
Area: Kenya


Location:
On the SE coast, 4 miles N of Mombasa, 300 miles from the capital Nairobi, 66 miles SE of Malindi. 10 miles NE of Mombasa's Moi International Airport.

Telephone code from UK:
254 11

Position:
Several miles of pale sandy coast facing the Indian Ocean, backed by private villas, hotels and gardens.

Description:
Nyali is Mombasa's well-to-do mainland suburb, separated from Mombasa Island by a bridge. Its hotels rub shoulders with consulates, a golf course and numerous private villas set in heavily-guarded gardens. With Johan Krapf's arrival in 1844 it became the site of the first European missionary toe-hold on the E coast. The architecture varies according to the builder _ whether a Sikh temple, colonial police station or Victorian church _ but most buildings are unobtrusively concealed behind tall trees and fences.

Suitability:
Those seeking a beach holiday with the convenience of Mombasa's urban attractions close to hand.

Accommodation:
A wide choice, from the cheaper end to all-inclusive, upmarket, self-contained hotels offering almost everything. At weekends hotels may be invaded by wealthier residents of Mombasa and Nairobi though their main market is package tour business from Europe. The winter months, December_March, are high season; the summer months used to be low season but July/August are now busier with charter flights from Europe.

Shopping:
Local handicrafts and trinkets are sold in hotel boutiques and in a couple of shopping centres to the S of Nyali. Close proximity to Mombasa leads to most visitors souvenir shopping there.

Beach:
A long stretch of soft white sand protected by offshore coral reef, which disappears at high tide. Hawkers and peddlers abound during the day, and not at all safe alone after dark.

Entertainments:
Daytime: numerous water sports including scuba diving, snorkelling, glass-bottomed boat trips over coral reefs, and sailing offered by hotels. Horse riding. Nyali Golf and Country Club course. Nightlife: only in larger hotels, but within short taxi ride of discos along the road to Malindi near Bamburi Beach.

Eating:
Little within walking distance, but only a short taxi ride from several top-class restaurants including those in the Golden Hook Complex (Japanese, Chinese, Kenyan and seafood), Indian, and many local joints serving fried fish or grilled goat meat.

Public-transport:
"Matatus" (pick-up minibuses) connect with Mombasa and points further N including Bamburi Beach and Shanzu. Regional or national transport is best caught in Mombasa.

Local-excursions:
Mamba crocodile farm (commercial skin and meat farm with nature walk and marine aquarium). Bombolulu Cultural Centre puts on displays of tribal arts and dancing (2 hours). Bamburi Quarry Nature Park is an old quarry converted to a nature reserve with paths and jogging circuits. Other organised tours are as for Mombasa, and pick up at hotels.