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Take a Bus Ride to Diani

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Getting to Diani by Bus

If you cannot fly to Diani for whatever reason or have the time and patience then consider the most affordable way to travel, by bus. We are talking 500 km or an approximately 8 hour bus ride.

There are two kinds of buses that operate the Nairobi-Mombasa-Ukunda route. Those that run a direct service from Nairobi to Ukunda and those that terminate their journey at Mombasa.

For obvious reasons, the buses that terminate their journey at Ukunda are smaller shuttles that are cramped but cheaper. A one way ticket costs $10. The seats are close together, no air-conditioning and little leg room. If you don’t mind opening the windows for some when it gets too hohttp://dianilife.comt and a partly reclining seats then you can take one of these buses. After all, it’s $10 for a 500km ride.

The buses depart once a day from Nairobi at 9.00 pm and arrive at Ukunda 6.00 am and usually make 2 stops along the way at Voi and Mutito Andei. On the other hand, departures from Ukunda to Nairobi are an hour earlier-8.00 pm due to the Likoni ferry crossing.

                                                         Inside a luxury $20 bus. 
For a $20 bus ride, one gets ample legroom with adjustable footrests, 160 –reclining seats with seat belts, individual air conditioner and reading light, in-bus toilet,TV/DVD with individual speakers and a bottle of water. These modern coaches are stylish, much more comfortable and one will easily sleep the entire night away in the bus. 
Most of the buses have booking offices in downtown Mombasa (around Mwembe Tayari)  and Nairobi (Accra/Riveroad area) among other towns but none in Diani. It is necessary to travel to Mombasa to book. Usually bookings are at least 7-48 hours hours before hand and check-in to the station is 30 minutes to departure.
 

Map of the main booking area in Mombasa. (Booking offices are labelled A,B,G,F)

These buses leave thrice daily with departures from Nairobi and Mombasa at 8.30am , 12.30 pm and 9.00 pm with one stop over at Mtito Andei. If you would love to see the Kenyan countryside and even spot some wild animals in the parks then take the morning/noon bus. If not, adjust your footrest, recline your seat and sleep the 8 hrs away in the night bus.

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teddy

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The writer lives and works in Diani.
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