Diani’s twin town Ukunda

UKUNDA

Approximately 500 kilometers from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, is this small town of Ukunda. Small in size but buzzing with activity, Ukunda, home to the renowned Diani beach has almost being eclipsed by the famous beach and you will be forgiven if you called the town, Diani town.

Ukunda is small but fast growing settlement 1 km from Diani Beach that initially started as a residential area for beach resorts workers who could not afford the sky high rents at Diani Beach. With time, Ukunda has grown into a small commercial centre that lives of Diani Beach with banks and a few hundred small businesses.

Getting to Ukunda by road involves, arriving at Mombasa and then taking a ferry to the South Coast a distance of about 33 km. However, that is not the only option of travel. Ukunda has an airstrip that services the world class resorts at Diani beach by dropping off tourists and as a connection to the Masai Mara.

Ukunda airstrip only serves light flights coming in from the Moi International airport as chartered flights or out bound to the neighbouring game reserves. Direct flights from Nairobi are not available which leaves travelers with the only option of contacting the chartered flight companies housed at Moi International airport.
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Besides the top class resorts and the unsullied white sands, Ukunda has another side that is intriguing.

Since the inception of the first group of hotels and resorts back in the 70’s and early 80’s that included the Leopard Beach hotel , Leisure Lodge and Diani Reef the town has slowly been growing. The local people operate eateries and night clubs with budget provisions and since Ukunda has become a hub to different cultures you can expect anything in terms of entertainment.

The Swahili dishes are on every menu on the numerous restaurants dotting the small town. The restaurants provide an alternative to the budget traveler who wants to enjoy a holiday on Diani beach without spending an arm and a leg.If you love barbequed meat, then you must visit Rongai or Meat Palace restaurants, the top two barbequed meat joints in town and the most popular serving beef, goat and chicken .

At sunset everyday, the small town is re-energized by the sizzling nightlife. The night clubs such as Club Willows and African Pot bar attract revelers of all colours and backgrounds and the Djs outdo each other as they churn out ‘taarab’ hits from the Swahili people and international music in a blend of pulsating beats. It is at this late hour that the red light district also comes to ‘light’ but that doesn’t taint the lively atmosphere.

Alternative and affordable accommodation at Ukunda for budget travelers includes bed only lodgings and apartments if you plan to stay a little longer.If you are backpacking to Diani Beach, then you are most likely going to stay at Ukunda as the rates for accomodation, transport and food are much cheaper than those at Diani Beach.Staying at these apartments saves you money but you are limited to organizing your own tours. Nevertheless, the tuk tuk drivers and taxi drivers come in handy and they can chauffeur you around the Diani beach and the immediate environs.

Business for locals is usually booming at this time of the year since the holiday high season has just begun and although the resorts along Diani Beach take a lion’s share of the dollars spent, Ukunda is where the locals wind it down.

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