Bamburi holidays

Bamburi holidays serve up tropical island-style beaches and an impressive scuba diving scene, all the while putting you a 20-minute drive from the oldest city in Kenya.

The beach at Bamburi

Bamburi’s sat along a southern strip of Kenya’s coastline, looking out over a mile and a half of cloud-coloured sand. Jomo Kenyatta Beach is the biggest one around. When the tide’s out, the water stays shin-deep for over a mile. And it’s bordered by a line of tropical trees and luxurious hotels.

Scuba diving central

This place is right next door to the Mombasa Marine Park and Nature Reserve. This 210-square-kilometre patch of water’s filled with Finding Nemo-style coral reefs, giant shipwrecks and a catalogue of watersports. A lot of the beachfront hotels come with their own diving centres, too, so booking on to a guided tour’s a piece of cake.

City sights in Mombasa

One of Kenya’s biggest cities, Mombasa, is a 20-minute drive from the centre of Bamburi. It’s the oldest city in the country, with over 1,000 years of history. Indian, Asian and Arabian influences have formed one big melting pot of architectural styles and foodie flavours. As for sights, go for a wander around Fort Jesus, a 16th-century seaside fortress, then head to Biashara Street and shop for some handmade souvenirs.