mick Posted March 4, 2009 Report Posted March 4, 2009 I've just returned from 2 weeks kite surfing at Diani Beach, Kenya. A little bit of info to help anybody interested. Firstly Thomson or First Choice carry your kit for £20 each way. The beach at Diani is white sand. A very fine sand, almost powder. The beach is about 100 mtres wide BUT you lose most of that at high tide. Its almost impossible to do the 'walk of shame' with your kite flying at high tide. I know this. The winds are pretty well always cross on from the north west at this time of the year. In 14 days, I had wind of 15-20 mph for about 10 days. It started to pick up about 11 and stayed constant till dark. Main kite sizes seemed to be 12-16 mtres.(and mainly C's) (well to be honest, I had the only bow) Temperature is a constant 31-33 deg. And so is the water temperature. The sea is like Sharm in Egypt. Its about 1 mtre deep to a reef about 1 km from the shore. You can comfortably cross the reef to play in the open sea if this is your choice. Mainly sand but a few patches of coral, best spotted at low tide. I have the scars to prove it. At low tide the water is like glass. At high tide its still not a wave spot. There is a rip running down the beach as the tide turns. It didnt prove a problem to the good guys but it meant a walk for me. Launching and landing is not a problem. The beaches are very quiet. Tourists tend to stay in the hotel grounds. There are many beach sellers and most of them are more than willing to lend a hand with the kite. A lot of them have been shown by kiting visitors, how to launch and land safely. The prices at this time of the year are very good. Forgive me for quoting my price but it may help in making a choice. I paid £770 for 2 weeks ALL INC. at a very nice hotel on the beach. (Diani Sea Resort) On a 12 km stretch of beach, I saw a max. of 8 kites one day. All in all. Its very quiet, unspoiled and totally African. Slowly Slowly is their motto. Gosh its hard to come home. "Another large beer please Pascal" http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/micktryx/IMG_1293.jpg Quote
destroyer Posted March 4, 2009 Report Posted March 4, 2009 we just got back from kenya, not to kitesurf mind, we climbed mt.kenya, totally fell in love with the place, next year we deffo wana go back for a kiteboarding trip, who did you book the trip through? Quote
mick Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Posted March 4, 2009 It was Ben BUT there was some bad points. Not about the hotel or the kite surfing tho. I didn't want to put a downer on anyone going. It truly is a wonderful unspoilt place that makes you really appreciate what you have here. Quote
mick Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Posted March 4, 2009 http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/micktryx/IMG_1296.jpg Oh and could I have a large cold Tusker for Kevob as well please Pascal. Asanta Sanna Quote
mick Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Posted March 4, 2009 Probably about another year Ben. Maybe Xmas. Quote
benbaron Posted March 4, 2009 Report Posted March 4, 2009 ??? Im lost...... how long traveling, plane train and automobile? Ive got a couple of little uns that dont take kindly to long duration travel Quote
mick Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Posted March 4, 2009 Oh I see. Its long haul dude. 10 hrs I'm afraid. Transfer to hotel took about 40 mins. Quote
kevinsky Posted March 4, 2009 Report Posted March 4, 2009 Glad you had a great holiday.I think you should get down to Mablethorpe beach and give me some lessons on the water ASAP,and maybe show me some of them special Indian Sea tricks you have honed over the 2 weeks.Ha,mayb not ASAP,when the water warms up,if it ever does!! Wasnt there anything bad in the water that you had to worry about? Quote
mick Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Posted March 4, 2009 Hi Kev, yes there was. 'kin coral at low tide. Face planted and dragged over it. I bled like a stuck pig. I was grateful all me limbs were still attached. One of the locals went into the jungle and came back with a spiky leaf. He broke it in half and dripped the 'juice' on my cuts and miraculously they stopped bleeding and closed up. I could do with some of it on me new wifes private parts:D Oh Ive become the 'walk of shame' expert. I must have walked bladdy miles with my kite up in the air. Quote
benbaron Posted March 4, 2009 Report Posted March 4, 2009 mmm I tend to agree about that coral. Stood on some at El gouna last October and I still have a scar. It took over a month to actually heal up and not be sore when walking on it. nasty nasty nasty, scrape the stuff up is what I say. Quote
mick Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Posted March 4, 2009 Yep I agree Ben. Blow all this conservation cobblers eh. I was glad I had long boardies and a bouyancy aid on. If I hadnt I would have been really messed up. My chest took the initial slam down on it. Quote
whiteside_josh Posted March 4, 2009 Report Posted March 4, 2009 this place is a sick winter getaway. went for 2 weeks in jan...since i've returned i havnt mustered up the bottle 2 go out in the UK guess i was spoilt Quote
Bob Monkhouse Posted March 4, 2009 Report Posted March 4, 2009 Is Luke at Diani Josh ? Thought he was at Nyali. My missus out there now. Wish I was. Anyone kited Bamuburi beach ? Next one down from Nyali I believe. In-laws live there... Quote
harry_a Posted March 4, 2009 Report Posted March 4, 2009 http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/micktryx/IMG_1296.jpg Oh and could I have a large cold Tusker for Kevob as well please Pascal. Asanta Sanna i loved kenya.. i was more down towards che chale. i would agree its an awesome place to go with your kit although did you have the issue that your kite just attracted beach boys like a magnet also.. tusker is the beer of champions. it dicks on white cap Quote
mick Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Posted March 4, 2009 Harry, I didn't have a problem with the kite attracting the beach boys. They helped me with launching and landing. I took a small foil and taught a few of them how to fly. They were more attracted to the fact, I was white and from the west. In other words, I had money. Which I didn't so they cleared off. Quote
whiteside_josh Posted March 4, 2009 Report Posted March 4, 2009 Is Luke at Diani Josh ? Thought he was at Nyali. My missus out there now. Wish I was. Anyone kited Bamuburi beach ? Next one down from Nyali I believe. In-laws live there... Luke was at Diani for like 3 months...he got back last week and is feelin the same as me (depressed due 2 ****ty english weva hah) an yea he was at diani - he was at nyali for the comp tho ur lucky man, u got inlaws there! i would go and crash at there place for the whole winter...its pretty gud in the summer as well so i'm told Quote
whiteside_josh Posted March 4, 2009 Report Posted March 4, 2009 Is Luke at Diani Josh ? Thought he was at Nyali. My missus out there now. Wish I was. Anyone kited Bamuburi beach ? Next one down from Nyali I believe. In-laws live there... Ya Luke was @ Diani, he got back last week. Think he was in Nyali for a comp forabit Man, if you got inlaws there u should go and crash there the whole winter...the summer is menna be good aswell Quote
Bob Monkhouse Posted March 4, 2009 Report Posted March 4, 2009 Once Jack's finished school in a couple of years gonna move out there probably. Jack just joined North UK Team so will see you's around this year I should think. Quote
ShapeShifter Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 Arrgghh - so frustrated that I didnt get out there this year ! Quote
Bob Monkhouse Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 Have you been out there Bob? Not yet bro. Lack of holidays from work stopped me this year. Can't wait to get out there. Mrs doin recce of the kite beaches for me whilst out there. Quote
mick Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Posted March 6, 2009 There was an English girl there with a Spaniard I think he was. I'm sure she said her name was Sarah, and his Mark. Something to do with Kite world. They'de just moved over from Tarifa or Lanzarote or somewhere. They appeared to be setting up a school. They were teaching a few ppl while I was there. That was down at Diani, the area I don't know off hand. Come to think of it, I don't know much at all:( Quote
Kaskazi Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 As an ex resident I can vouch for all the above. You'll find that along almost the entire coast, if you can get to the beach you can kite. Geographically, in various places there are either 1, 2 or 3 reefs offshore, and in places these come close in (within a few hundred feet of MLW). These give either great flat water or swell if you feel like braving the coral. We were down south of Diani two weeks ago, and unfortunately the 10m was just too small. Annually there are two wind directions - Kaskazi and Kusi, one from the north and one from the south. Endless kiting - think warm hairdryer wind and bath warm water. If I can't get a job back here in the next few weeks may well be heading home again. There are a couple of good kite schools and setups along the coast, but it's never crazy busy like the majority of kite destinations. Main warning - malaria. Take you prophylactics and enjoy the trip! Quote
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