Ferry to Diani Beach from Mombasa

If you intend to visit Diani Beach, then you probably will connect from Mombasa from the airport, bus or train station.  Mombasa is an Island and the shortest way to get to Diani Beach and the rest of the south coast is by crossing the Likoni Channel on a ferry.

The crossing has been done with ferries for many years with the  channel getting bad press for the delays and constant breakdown of  the big vessels that have facilitated travel between the two points. Currently there are two new ferries operating between the North Coast end and the South Coast end. Recently acquired by the Kenya Ferry Services, the 60m long vessels can take up a huge cargo load including people for each short haul journey to the other side.

Inside Ferry

The journey is an experience to behold  as people  with luggage on their heads, handcart pushers, motorcyclists, and other vehicles compete for space on the ferry. The traffic can be overwhelming especially in the morning and evening due to people going to and from work.

Thankfully though, the new ferries are reliable and are doing the crossing in about 7 minutes whereas the old vessels took 15min. If you are a first time visitor you are advised to cross in a car and keep the widows up  and the valuables away from sight.  The Likoni ferry crossing is an experience to enjoy especially now that there are fewer hiccups than before.

After settling in, the view is glorious depending on the deck you travel in with fantastic views of the Indian Ocean and the nearby port.  The ferry runs on a 15 minute schedule during the day and on hourly basis from 10pm to 5am. It is free for pedestrians but vehicles are required to pay a small fee based on weight. The average car pays approx $2 for the crossing.

Inside Ferry top deck

When the vehicles and people get to the opposite side(the South Coast) , its a rush to disembark and hit the 35km road again towards Diani Beach through Likoni  and Tiwi Beach.

The journey back also takes you through the same route.

There  is an alternative route to Diani Beach that does not involve crossing the ferry, but it is hardly used because it is longer through gravel roads . The Likoni Channel crossing is the cheapest and quickest way to get to Diani Beach unless you are flying in.

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