Diani House is a coastal taste of colonial Kenya located about halfway along Diani, this pleasant home with grassy slopes rolling down to the beach is a nostalgic reminder of what the Kenyan coast was like before the mushrooming of resort hotels. Sitting on the cool veranda with dogs at your feet, you feel transported back in time.

When you stay at Diani house you are hosted by Annelise (lulu) Archer and John Clark. This lively young couple helps you to feel completely relaxed and at home, and they will organize activities or outings to suit. They have a boat for fishing, snorkeling, or visiting nearby islands. You can also windsurf. Side trips to the Shimba Hills National Reserve for game viewing or into Mombasa for shopping or sight seeing can easily be arranged.

Safari journal-last late evening

"At dinner there were candles, music wafting out of the living room, and a selection of wines. There was a pleasant breeze, a bush baby ran along the edge of the veranda and we could sense the ocean through the night. Conversation flowed. Could have spent a week just talking to John and Lulu, to hear more about their wonderful and diverse experiences growing up in Kenya-from game safaris to movie sets".

Diani House can accommodate a maximum of eight guests. The bedrooms are spacious and simple. Lulu has decorated them individually using Kenyan furniture, fabrics and crafts to make them colorful and attractive. There are bookshelves piled with books and scattered rugs-the ambience is casual and homey rather than luxurious. There are fans (no air conditioning) and each bedroom has a large bathroom ensuite. In place of glass, there is dark meshing over windows, but from the veranda outside there are nice views down over the garden towards the ocean.

The almost five hectares in size grounds are impressive with palms, baobabs and bougainvillea is also a refuge for all manner of birds and small wildlife. There are colobus monkeys in the trees, a bush baby helps itself from a feeder, and every where there are birds.

Fresh home-cooked food is served with an emphasis on the wonderful seafood and tropical fruits available. Meals are casual and usually enjoyed alfresco on the long veranda.

Golden Beach

This is a huge concrete high-rise with 138 rooms. There is little charm and loud décor-more like a convention center. Although the beach front is extensive, the buildings are from the beach. There are many sports activities, a big pool and gardens. The hotel is frequented mainly by German tour groups.

Robinson Baobab Club

Built in 1974, this is one of the oldest hotels on the beach. It can accommodate 300 people. The clientele is predominantly German, and bookings are made in Frankfurt. The hotel has a magnificent site high on a rocky promontory, well-treed, and with views down over the ocean. There are some nice touches-a waterfall by the lobby, interesting Lamu furniture, dining tables next to big open windows with sea views.

Southern Palms Beach Resort

This is a new beach resort going up near the northern end of Diani Beach. Southern Palms will have 180 rooms in three stories. There is to be a large pool, sports and conference facilities and nightly entertainment. Rooms will have Swahili-style décor and balconies facing the sea. They will also have air conditioning, mosquito nets and large double beds. An extra Lamu-style divan will add to the Swahili theme.