BackDiscover three luxury stays on Kenya’s coast that support marine conservation, local communities, and lower-impact travel.
The Sands at Nomad, Kinondo Kwetu, and Waterlovers Beach Resort combine luxury coastal stays with meaningful environmental and community initiatives. In these exciting destinations on Kenya’s coast, we have carefully selected accommodations and experiences that go the extra mile in their dedication to preserving the environment and supporting local communities. Whether by backing conservation projects, adopting renewable energy sources, eliminating single-use plastics, or promoting local businesses, the establishments we will share with you are at the forefront of sustainable tourism.
The Sands at Nomad Diani Beach
Best for: Turtle Conservation and Climate-Conscious Travel
Diani Beach is renowned for its soft, ivory sands, tranquil turquoise waters, and bustling local atmosphere, which, combined with a range of exquisite luxury resorts, makes it the ultimate coastal paradise. As a tropical retreat, it presents an ideal setting for indulging in coastal exploration or as a serene conclusion to a safari, offering a few days of pure relaxation.
Nestled within Diani is The Sands at Nomad, a luxury boutique resort. While providing guests with the utmost luxury, Nomads is also at the forefront of sustainable tourism, encompassing organic farming, upcycling, marine conservation, and community support within its founding values.
Protecting Sea Turtles Through Diani Turtle Watch
The stunning turquoise waters of Diani Beach are accompanied by an abundance of rich and diverse marine life, especially turtles. Boasting its own marine education center, Nomads is home to the Diani Turtle Watch, a turtle conservation charity established in 2012 with a clear mission: safeguarding turtles impacted by the expansion of coastal tourism. Eggs are collected from the beach and relocated to a safe, designated nesting site on the grounds of the hotel while data is gathered to help determine the success rate of each nest and to provide an understanding of nesting trends in Kenya.
How Guests Can Support Turtle Conservation
While staying at Nomads, visit the marine education center. We can organize a tour with one of their on-site marine biologists, and you might even get to see one of the nests hatch. If the magic of these turtles captures your heart, you can even adopt your own!
Nomad’s on-site 5-Star PADI dive center, Diving the Crab, almost guarantees diving alongside the turtles.
Growing Organic Produce on Nomad’s Permaculture Farm
Nomads boasts its own incredible five-acre organic permaculture farm, bursting with fresh fruit, vegetables, and spices, all to be used in the hotel restaurant. Upcycling is a key component of the farm, with rows of hot tubs, washing machines, and sinks all from the hotel, repurposed to provide growing beds for the endless harvests of tomatoes, spinach, guavas, rosemary, peppers, and mint. The farm actively engages and empowers members of the local community, equipping them with valuable farming skills.
Tour the Organic Farm and Meet the Green Team
During your stay at Nomads, we can introduce you to the on-site ‘Green Team’ and have their dedicated sustainability manager, Atti, take you around the farm. His wealth of knowledge about Africa and specifically the Kenyan coast is fascinating, and while there, you can plant or harvest some produce of your own.
Reducing Waste Through Creative Upcycling
From designing coasters out of damaged wetsuits, keychains from shredded plastic bottles, and even pet food from restaurant food waste, Nomads is excelling in utilizing the land, resources, people, and the environment in a manner that produces almost zero waste.
Join a Beach Cleanup or Upcycling Workshop
At each entrance to the beach is a basket filled with bags. Guests are encouraged to take one and collect as much litter as possible as they walk along the coast. We can likewise arrange for you to get involved at the workshop, where you can transform collected items into a unique keepsake.
To learn more about the Sands Group’s sustainability initiatives, visit their website here.
Kinondo Kwetu: Community-Focused Luxury Near Diani Beach
Best for: Community Health, Education, and a Secluded Coastal Stay
Just south of the vibrant bustle of Diani Beach is Galu’s more secluded, intimate destination. Surrounded by the Kaya Kinondo sacred forest, a protected haven to over 43 species of birds and butterflies, Kinondo Kwetu offers an ideal setting for those seeking serenity and calm. The hotel has taken significant steps to ensure that the environment and local communities are equally appreciated and cherished.
Supporting Local Healthcare Through Kinondo Kwetu Health Clinic
Community involvement is at the forefront of Kinondo Kwetu’s values, and by establishing the Kinondo Kwetu Trust Fund, they have implemented remarkable, lasting solutions that bring substantial benefits to the local community. The Health Clinic was established in 2008 due to the lack of accessible and affordable healthcare options in the surrounding villages and has now developed into a level 4 hospital, with over 100 staff. It’s a true testament to the positive influences that the tourism industry can achieve.
Visit the Clinic or Contribute to Patient Care
The incredible work of the Health Clinic relies mainly on donations from guests at the hotel. Upon your arrival, you’ll find a welcome pack on your bed, detailing how to contribute to treating patients at the clinic. Additionally, we can arrange a visit to the clinic’s facilities, complete with a guided tour led by the inspiring and hugely knowledgeable Harrison, the clinic’s director.
Supporting Education at Kinondo Kwetu Primary School
Another hugely inspiring outcome from the Kinondo Kwetu Trust Fund is the support of the local village primary school. Due to the 2004 government reform, which made education free for the first eight years, the school experienced a surge in student enrollment. But the number of teachers remained unchanged. Consequently, the KKTF covered additional teachers’ salaries and refurbished the school entirely.
Excitingly, the team behind the incredible sustainability work at Nomads Diani Beach has collaborated with Kinondo Kwetu and will be creating a community-run, organic farm on the primary school site. The produce will be used at the hotel restaurant, while the local community will benefit from learning sustainable farming techniques.
Learn About and Support the Local School
Once again, the remarkable efforts of the trust fund are made possible by donations from guests at the hotel. Information about how to donate is listed in your welcome pack. We can also arrange a school visit to see the facilities. However, we schedule these visits when the children are absent, as we are mindful of minimizing disruptions during their educational hours.
Waterlovers Beach Resort: Low-Impact Luxury on Diani Beach
Best for: Nature Conservation and a Lower-Impact Beach Vacation
Situated along the 25 kilometers (or about 15.5 miles) stretch of the pristine Diani Beach, Waterlovers is a luxury coastal resort. The intimate and vibrant feel of the hotel provides the ideal location for relaxation, while the calm lagoon-like waters offer an opportunity for some fabulous snorkeling among the dazzling coral reefs. The surrounding rainforest provides a haven for the endangered Colobus monkey and a thriving population of exotic birds. The value and respect for this treasured environment are paramount at Waterlovers, and they have many sustainable initiatives in place to ensure its longevity.
Protecting Diani Beach’s Natural Environment
As soon as you set foot inside the grounds of Waterlovers you are greeted with an abundance of trees. Not a single living organism was cut down or harmed during the construction of the property; the rooms, restaurant, and pool were all artfully integrated into the natural landscape, following the patterns of nature, and constructed exclusively with locally sourced materials.
Explore Local Wildlife and Visit Colobus Conservation
Within each room is a collection of booklets that give details on the wide variety of flora, fauna, and animals found within the grounds of the resort. Monkey identification kits, turtle fact sheets, and a tree checklist are available to enhance your experience at the hotel and ensure that you minimize your impact on and disturbance to those who share your new home. We can also arrange a visit to the Colobus Trust, a conservation charity with which Waterlovers is partnered, to learn more about the gorgeous, nearly extinct monkey that thrives within the property.
Turning Glass Waste Into Useful Products
Upcycling is also a huge focus for Waterlovers, and they find many ways to be as creative with their waste management as possible. On-site, they have their own glass bottle workshop, where discarded wine and spirit bottles are hand-cut by specially trained staff and turned into water and wine glasses for the restaurant and shop.
Support Local Makers and Social Enterprises
During your stay at Waterlovers, visit the beautiful boutique within the grounds and purchase some of the hand-cut glasses created in the workshop. Browsing around the other local arts and souvenirs, all of which are sourced from the community and have a direct impact on social initiatives. Be sure to check out Emèl, a women’s social enterprise producing high-quality textile products from African fabrics.
Supporting Youth Sports and Education in Diani
Just a five-minute drive from the Waterlover’s grounds is the community sports ground where the Diani Tigers and Diani Queens train for football (or soccer), taekwondo, and a range of other activities. Generously supported by Waterlovers, these boys’ and girls’ sports teams provide local and potentially vulnerable children with a safe, fun space to explore their talents while providing a free meal during training days, educational classes, and counseling sessions.
Visit or Support the Diani Tigers and Diani Queens
Abdul, one of the on-site hotel managers, is a coach for the boys’ team, the Diani Tigers, and is more than happy to take guests to the sports club. Donations are always welcome.
References:
https://www.theturtlemanfoundation.org/recipient/diani-turtle-watch/
https://www.divingthecrab.com/home/
https://green.thesandskenya.com/latest-news
https://www.kinondo-kwetu-trust.org/
https://www.waterloversbeachresort.com/
