Introduction — The Question Everyone Asks
There are two questions I get regularly asked about Diani the first is about WiFi speeds which is covered here and the other is “Is Diani Safe?”
Short version. Yes, Diani is safe.
We’ve hosted 100+ nomads and travellers. Here’s what we’ve actually seen day to day.
What Kind of Place is Diani?
Diani as a town depends on tourism and the people who live there are acutely aware of that. A once sleepy coastal village It’s now a fast growing town largely considered to be relatively upmarket.
It has 80+ restaurants more hotels than you can count, watersports everywhere on the beach.
People wander from their Airbnbs down the road to local coffee shops like Kokkos, Tribearth and Java café to get their morning caffeine fix.
On every corner there are boda motorbike taxis and tuk-tuks snake their way up and down the roads.
It’s busy but not overwhelming and it’s friendly.
Behind the scenes there are many WhatsApp groups full local resident of curtain twitchers tracking every lost shoe, bicycle and random incident.
What Are the Real Risks?
I am happy to say most of our guest stays have been without incident. Skippers is on airstrip road which is a bit more of a local area vs. beach road. It’s a community and everyone is very friendly.
People often see areas with temporary roadside shacks which they would associate with slums in say South America and assume they aren’t safe.
Luckily the levels of crime etc in Diani are incomparably low. The people some of the friendliest you’ll encounter.
General hassling/Touts: There are a small number of individuals who are a bit tiring for a lot of people. One guy who asks for money for tidying up the beach/streets, a few beach touts who are over the top.
The first encounters are sometimes a bit frustrating. After a few days you’ll be ignored.
I have had 1-2 reports from women walking alone on the beach during the day of people following them down the beach to sell them stuff. My wife while she walks around gets quite a few marriage proposals.
The real key is loudly and clearly telling them ‘NO’. Kenyans are very community driven and nobody wants to stick out in that context.
Petty theft: Most reported incidents involve petty theft. Not so much pickpocketing or bag snatching that you might see in Barcelona but more opportunist. Someone leaves their iPhone on the beach while they go for a swim. A push bike gets taken from behind a compound.
At night: This one really depends on where you’re going. Up and down the main beach road is generally ok. Generally walking around at night on your own is a bad idea. In a group of 2-3 generally you’re usually ok. If you’re going into backroad areas then it’s generally best to take a boda.
I’ve heard of people having issues when walking between the two nightclubs Tandoori and Manyatta as people wait for people who’ve had a few too many drinks to relieve them of their phones/wallets.
Road safety: Most of the incidents we’ve seen are road safety related. More often than not involving a guest who rents a scooter, usually wearing only sandals vs. proper shoes/trainers and they come off and end up at the local hospital with some light bandages.
Violent crime: Luckily violent crime is still quite rare. In 2024 there was an incident where a tourist was attacked for her handbag, that same time there were a few other similar incidents. Locally this is considered a crimewave whereas I’m assuming it’s a daily occurrence in most major cities.
More serious incidents are usually linked to disagreements between individuals. There have been occasional spikes but generally the police have been quite good at rounding up culprits.
Safety for Solo Travellers
The main other recommendation would be to just be aware of where you are. Kenya is a fast growing country but it still has a GDP per capita that’s x10 lower than many EU countries.
There are a few things you can do to make your trip safe and easy. The first is super simple. Leave your $1,000 phone at home.
Buy a $100 phone when you get your local SIM and buy a small waterproof drybag so that you can go for a quick swim with your phone and wallet without worrying about it.
Be nice to people and they will generally be nice back.
Try and make some friends. Could be a beachboy, could be someone at the local coworking/coliving.
Getting Around Safely
You can walk up and down the beach and main road all day and other than the cars it’s pretty safe.
Take tuktuks, ubers, and motorbike taxis (bodas) if you’re travelling at night or to areas you’re unsure about.
If you’re going to go to the market area or somewhere new then you can ask your boda guy to walk around with you. Just ask before you get on.
It’s totally fine/normal. They’ll want some money for their time, generally not more than a few dollars, but the boda drivers generally take their passenger’s safety seriously.
Health & Medical
Malaria: There is a real risk of malaria on the coast. How you manage that risk is up to you. Short-term visitors will often go for malaria tablets as the impact of a possible two to four days in bed with a fever isn’t great.
It’s quite common. One or two guests in the past two years have caught it. Usually it clears with minimal issues. If you have any medical conditions it can have quite a serious impact so always get advice before you travel.
Long-term visitors in my experience do not take any tablets but they do make sure they use replant at night and make sure they have mosquito killers etc in their rooms while asleep.
You can get almost instant malaria tests at most pharmacies. If you test positive getting the drugs to treat it is also very easy in Diani. There’s a good local hospital.
Water: Drink bottled water or from a water refill station.
Sun: it’s strong, wear suncream during the day.
Pharmacies & Hospital
It’s important to be aware that some doctors will suggest often unnecessary tests especially to tourists.
- Axita pharmacy: Opposite Chandarana on the first floor above Diani Enterprises hardware is ap pharmacy run by Dr Nahil. It’s not a chain and he’s a real European style (though he’s Kenyan) pharmacist in as much as you can go in and have a real conversation about your issues;
- Diani Beach Hospital: Generally viewed as the best option in town and they get consistently good reviews. 24/7 with ER, MRI, CT etc.
What About Kenya’s Reputation More Broadly?
Kenya is not without its issues there are a small numbers terrorist attacks each year, predominantly along the Somali border. These are not places a tourist would normally visit.
There have been some issues in Nairobi notably Westgate shopping centre in 2013 and a hotel DustitD2 2019. There was one recorded incident in Diani in a nightclub in 2014.
If we’re looking at comparisons knife crime per capita is about the same in Kenya vs. the average of the EU.
Practical Safety Tips (Quick Reference)
Stay safe
- Most robberies happen on buses, near bus stops, walking routes around transport hubs;
- Cities, especially after dark;
- Walking between bars and nightclubs at night;
- Don’t leave valuables on the beach while you swim;
- Don’t flash expensive gear, jewellery, or large amounts of cash
Getting around
- Use tuk-tuks or taxis at night
- Keep hotel/coliving room locked
- Swim during daylight, check tides
- Get travel insurance
- Save local emergency numbers
- Tell someone your plans if heading somewhere new
Why a Coliving is Actually the Safest Way to Stay
Arrive at a community, not alone. A local team who know the area and can advise on the best places to go. A built-in social network from day one.
The Bottom Line
Diani is genuinely safe and welcoming for travellers. It’s a relatively small town and word goes around quickly if there are any issues.
Always ask tuktuk drivers, taxi drivers and anyone you’re staying with where you should and should not go.