activities in kilifi
What to Do
The leisurely pace in Kilifi is the perfect way to spend your relaxing beach holiday in home rentals in Kenya. You will find a variety of souvenirs and artwork at the shops and small market. There is an incredible variety of watersports on offer in the Kilifi creek such as water-skiing, sailing, kayaking and windsurfing.
For vacation rentals in Kilifi, we recommend you visit the Kilifi Boatyard where you can book fishing trips, walk amongst the many fishing boats and yachts that line the dock or sit at the cafe and have a light meal and a drink. You can also golf, quad bike and horse ride at Vipingo Ridge.
Snorkelling
Snorkelling is great just off the reef at low tide (choose your times around an hour each side of low tide), south of Kilifi in Kirawitu. Masks and fins can be provided there. Green turtles feed inshore just off beach at high tide in front of the houses. there is also a 'turtle watch' system with the locals to try and protect them on the nesting beaches. Humpback whale watching excursions during the months of June – September can also be booked. The migration of the majestic humpbacks along the coast of East Africa is truly something to behold.
Diving
Diving can be arranged through Aqua Ventures, who offer SCUBA and a full range of PADI courses and who are based at the Mnarani Club, Kilifi.
The local reefs are good and Vuma caves to the south of Takaungu can be very dramatic and are rated as one of the finest dives on the coast. There are caves and blowholes, with deep water just a few yards from the cliffs, frequented by grouper and snapper, giant Napoleon wrasse and visiting pelagic.
Sailing, Waterskiing, Kayaking & Windsurfing
3 Degrees South are a watersports & activities company based at Mnarani Club in Kilifi Creek, Kenya. They specialise in sailing & windsurfing and are a registered RYA Training Centre.
In addition they offer kayaking, SUP, waterski & wakeboard lessons. With a team of trained, professional RYA instructors they are focused on providing safe, fun, accessible and exciting sailing and windsurfing for adults and children.
Deep Sea Fishing
Kilifi, Watamu and Malindi are renowned for deep sea fishing
and host the ILTTA World Championships, many ESPN, DSTV and SKY televised events and numerous other Tournaments annually, being a focal point of fishing off the East African Coast. The waters offer hugely diverse fishing opportunities and it is one of very few places where three types of Marlin, Sailfish, Broadbill Swordfish and Short bill Spearfish are all available. With a series of underwater mountains easily accessible offshore, bait and the predators are concentrated unlike the situation in the open Ocean. they also pioneer the practice of ‘tag and release’ of billfish on the Kenyan coast.
Golf At Vipingo Ridge
There is an excellent new golf course at Vipingo Ridge, just 15 minutes south of the turn off to Takaungu
The course has been designed and built to the exacting USGA standard and is of international class.
It has a spectacular setting, at the top of the ridge overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Vacation Rentals - Activities in Kilifi when staying at Dancing Baobab House
There is a great dhow cruise - either out to the reef for snorkelling (and seafood lunch cooked on board), or a an evening sun-downers cruise up Kilifi Creek. Dhow cruises also allow visitors to watch the local birdlife and the carmine bee eaters roosting on the islands in the creek.
Kivukoni Creek Club
The Creek Club at Kivukoni is a new fitness and leisure center in Kilifi, Kenya overlooking the beautiful Takaungu Creek. A range of activities are offered including swimming in a large school pool, tennis, yoga, pilates, and kick-boxing. The Creek Club is also an events venue, hosting unique events on occasion (such as Christmas carols), as well as private functions availability.
Restaurants
If you are yearning for a meal / have a good serving of prawns, mussels, calamari, oysters, red snapper or yellow-tail, fish or shellfish on your mind then visit one of these seafood restaurants within ten minutes of Dancing Baobab: Nautilus Restaurant, Kilifi Boatyard, Mandarini club or Mnarani Club. For child friendly casual food try the following: Wild Living Café, Twende Pizza, or The Food Movement (within walking distance).