Explore
Traveler Story: The Part Of Kenya They Don’t Tell You About
By Travel Noire
When most people hear of Kenya, they imagine dope pictures with giraffes, safaris in old-school land rovers, and African markets. While these things provide most travelers with that “authentic African feel,” they are not all that the East African nation has to offer.
Related: Nairobi Hotels: From Hidden Gems To Airbnb
I had the opportunity to travel to Kenya in December. It was my top choice for my annual birthday trip. I spent a few days in Nairobi doing the things mentioned above, but the highlight was traveling to Kenya’s coast. I’m a beach lover at heart, so it was necessary to be near water during my trip.
Photo courtesy of DeAnna Taylor
After a short 50-minute plane ride, we landed at the Ukunda airstrip in beautiful Diani Beach on the south coast of Mombasa. I booked my stay at Swahili Beach Resort.
Photo courtesy of DeAnna Taylor
When we entered the gates to the resort, I was suddenly introduced to a whole new world. The resort grounds were amazing and the earth-toned buildings truly made me feel like I had been transported to Arabia. However, when I looked around, all of the staff looked like me. I was greeted with several “welcome home, my sister” from every person that I passed.
Photo courtesy of DeAnna Taylor
Swahili Beach resort was a resort like no other. It sat on its own private beach and featured nine pools that cascaded down a slope. It had three restaurants on the property and a spa that provided one of the best views of the beach.
Photo courtesy of DeAnna Taylor
While many flock to Zanzibar or even the Seychelles to get their fix of crystal blue water in Africa, Diani Beach also sits on the Indian Ocean. Depending on the time of day, you could sit out and look at waters so blue, you may have thought you were dreaming. During low tide, you could see rock formations peek out from the ocean floor that provided never-ending walkways out into the middle of the ocean.
Photo courtesy of DeAnna Taylor
I couldn’t believe that a gem like this existed in Kenya. The staff members mentioned that it isn’t often that they get Black Americans at the resort, let alone in Diani. As I looked around at the other guests, and even those in the town, I realized that they were right.
Photo courtesy of DeAnna Taylor
I hope that one day, Diani Beach will truly get the shine it deserves.
Submitted by: DeAnna Taylor- @brokeandabroadlife
Travel Noire
A platform of cultivated insights from a global community of black travelers.
Want more?
Get exclusive, unpublished tips from Travel Noire's CEO to help you get off the beaten path, into the hearts of locals and onto a better, more cultured life.
Long Distance Love Can Work
When it comes to long-distance relationships, there are so many questions to consider. How are we going to do this? Are we going to see each other, often? Will there be frequent communication? How do we make this work? It can be quite overwhelming, but worthwhile at the same time. Trinidadian-born Kassandra and Peter made […]
Knowing When To Rely On Gut Instincts While Traveling Abroad
One week after booking my flight to Istanbul, Turkey, the unthinkable happened. Suicide bombers armed with assault rifles led an attack that would end in 42 lives being taken in a myriad of gunfire and explosions. As I watched the events unfold on CNN, my heart dropped. I was due to go to Istanbul in […]
Travel Friendship Goals and Lessons In Puerto Rico
I first met Dionne at a summer camp for incoming freshmen. Little did we know, that would be the start of our nearly two-decade friendship and travel adventures. After graduating we started taking trips together. One such trip was in August 2017 where we visited Puerto Rico, just days before the hurricane. We arrived in […]
