Diani Beach sits about 30 kilometres south of Mombasa, and it is the kind of place that makes you want to cancel your return flight. The beach stretches for roughly 17 kilometres of soft white sand, framed by palm trees and a turquoise Indian Ocean that shifts from pale blue in the shallows to deep indigo further out. The best time to visit Diani is during the dry seasons: January to March and July to October. These months bring calm seas, reliable sunshine, and the ideal conditionsfor water sports. The long rains in April and May and the short rains in November can make things unpredictable, though Diani is worth visiting at almost any time of year. What is there to do in Diani? Quite a lot more than just lying on the beach, though that alone is reason enough to go. Snorkelling and diving around the nearby coral reef is excellent, with clear waters and healthy marine life including 2 sea turtles, reef fish, and dolphins. Kitesurfing has become increasinglypopular here, and the long flat beach provides ideal conditions. The Colobus Conservation centre is worth a visit if you want to see the rare black-and-white colobus monkeys that live along the coast. For Kenyan travellers, Diani is one of the most accessible beach escapes in the country. You can fly from Nairobi to Ukunda airstrip in about an hour, or take the overnight train or bus to Mombasa and then a short drive south. A wide range of accommodation is available, from budgetguesthouses to high-end all-inclusive resorts. Diani is genuinely one of the best beaches on the African continent, and it does not get nearly enough international credit for that.