Dear Diani,

The reigning jewel on my crown in matters beach destinations. My Mikai, your supremacy has remained unmatched. In my books, no other beach has stood a chance where your sword has been thrust. The North coast offerings which include the likes of: Mombasa, Malindi, Watamu, Vipingo & Lamu have remained unworthy .The little issue they have of monsoon winds depositing heaps of seaweed to their shores between April and August – has kept your throne neatly un-challenged.

Your beach, especially the stretch where Almanara villas are located would inspire an ordinary human to  ageless poems and love songs.  If white sandy beaches were a person – you would be the fairest of them all. Next to some of your counterparts, you are more suburb: Less congestion, traffic jams and mandigo like beach boys – more tranquillity and serenity.

You have a certain Je ne sais quoi. I wish I could describe the quiet bliss I experience each time you envelope me in your embrace.  I find a peace so deep, it is almost sleep. When with you, I ignore my phone, I ignore the world, I even ignore my books. It is a feeling of complete surrender. The numb relief of a drowning human who surrenders her pressures of life to a higher power.

Is Diani beach an only child or does she have a clan and a tribe out there?

Having had enough of what my world has to offer, I wondered what else lay beyond – Kiamaiko, Mucatha, Mwembe tayari and Magongo. If I were to cast a wider net, what else would it draw ? Didn’t the wahengas say that he who does not leave home, thinks his mother’s cooking is the best? For this reason, I went in search of other beauties because I figured maybe you were not an only child. Maybe you have a clan and a tribe out there.

Other Beaches

In Dubai, I only got to experience a public beach but the lack of a decent place to shade, left me sunburnt and un impressed. Have they not met your Coco Beach benches, with their smiling waitresses and cold beers ? I must however mention that the presence of well-toned, edible looking, melanin life guards, sitting in a tower was Baywatch worthy. I wondered why you haven’t considered this after sale service?

In Athens, the beach was white and picturesque with lovely beach side restaurants. But ahem! no sand. Instead there were these pebbles that were not as kind. I missed the feel of your sand on my bare feet.

Cape town offered beautiful beaches but depending on which side of Cape point you found yourself in, the Atlantic Ocean is ice cold. So many people in their beach wear for Instagram worthy pics but only a brave handful actually in the water. I understand the waters freeze balls. Good thing, I did not have any to start with. I steered clear of the waters and kept my clothes firmly on, not even Insta stories would entice me to undress. My thoughts ran to you, where even in the rain; I run, swim and wear two piece swim suits.

 No one has held a candle to you thus far. If we were at a ruracio and all these beaches I have flirted with were covered in lesos; I would still have picked you. To love and to hold, to catch waves and sunbathe in for the rest of my days. I remember telling anyone who would listen that I would not care to leave home for a beach destination. Why would I ? When we had the best I had experienced an hour five flight away?

BUT,

ZANZIBAR

You may just have gotten dethroned. Allow me to tell you of an expedition I recently embarked on, to explore your cousin Zanzibar. I say cousin because you share the same Indian Ocean blood line. Sweetheart! please forgive me for my heart did not stand a chance. She pulled the rug from right under my feet and I fell flat on my face. Already, I long for her warm embrace. Her heart; Stone Town, with white-washed stone buildings, winding alleys and roof top restaurant’s would turn sworn enemies into honeymooners.

The sights and sounds of this city demand a separate letter altogether. Zanzibar gives a whole life to “white sandy” beaches. She is pristine with alluring azure waters. Her sunrises are a 20/10. The beaches in north coast especially are what travel shows and beach magazines are made of:  Nungwi, Kendwa, Matemwe, Pongwe and Kiwengwa beaches with their warm waters that are not affected by tides. You wake up, the sun hits your face just right – you go for a swim and your soul expands in worship of the creator.

She also has a lot more to offer in terms of product range. Where I count your top notch options in one hand and not even use all my fingers – she boasts of a whole line: Zuri, Baraza, The Residence, Zawadi, White Sand villas, The Palms, Xanadu Villas…Where I struggle with pocket friendly boutique options for my clients with you, because let’s face it – apart from WaterLovers, The Maji and Afro Chic what else? Or do you have any aces up your sleeve that you have been keeping secret from me? If yes, please pray do tell for she wowed and shone in this front.

Dream of Zanzibar

Like a proud peacock at a fashion show, she lined up her pocket-friendly line for all to see. And how colourful and arresting her feathers were. One by one she strutted them:  Shooting Star, Tulia, Kisiwa on the beach, Pongwe Beach, Qambani, Dreams of Nungwi, Anna of Zanzibar, Essquezalu…… They all cat walked proudly, holding their heads up displaying their different hues. Lovely properties where all things considered go for a song. May I remind you that this is only a tip of the iceberg as we only got to experience a fraction of her vastness.

She must also be doing something else right, your cousin. Everywhere we visited had over 80% occupancy. Most are the properties where there was not a single available room for us to see. Jaber, maybe you need to speak to her, is she not your relative? Pick her brain on how she is keeping her visitors happy and coming back for more. November and first half of December has traditionally been low season for East Africa but this seems not to affect her at all. Maybe you need to benchmark? I just learnt that term.

Zanzibar is a beauty that will linger in your senses long after the suitcases have been un packed. Maybe we will revisit the hierarchy when I get the chance to visit the likes of Seychelles, Maldives and Mauritius. Somehow, I dont feel like I am missing too much.

I still love you my sweet, but in my opinion – the castle just got herself a new queen.