The Ultimate Kenya Surf Guide

“We love surfers for the same reasons we have always admired doctors and pilots and firemen and shamans, for the same reasons we admire excellent soldiers: because despite themselves they have bowed to a force much greater than themselves, which in this case is the wave, and submitted to the gnarly rigours of its discipline. They have allowed themselves to be shaped and polished by the sea. They have given themselves up to this greater force, day after day, year after year. Crushed and punished, battered into something tempered and resilient, and sharpened to an edge by constant refinement. They are warriors in the best sense: by bending to the often-brutal demands of surfing they have transformed themselves into beings that can respond to great violence with grace and humility. And beauty.”
― Peter Heller

As Heller said, surf is a kind of relationship. You dance with the wave, which is angry, excited and ungovernable like we always try to run a relation between us and other people. Surfers know how to survive, how to rub up to the right way with everything. Most people don’t have those beautiful bays to surf but as some of you already know we have four spots to surf in Kenya. Here they are:

MALINDI BAY

Photo Credit: traveldiscoverkenya.com

Direction: Right & Left

Type: Beach-break

Frequency: ◊◊◊◊

Experience: All surfers

Best Time to Go: May / June

Malindi is the most suitable bay if you only planned to surf on your holiday cause it’s close to the airport, Malindi Airport. Also, it is a good spot for beginners and professionals cause the bay has waves between 3 – 8 feet and the length goes from 50- 150 meters in season. It’s almost windy every day, but wind doesn’t matter much cause you always get waves with an onshore breeze.

WATAMU BAY

Photo Credit: wondersofwatamu.com

Direction: Right & Left

Type: Reef-coral

Frequency:

Experience: Experienced surfers

Best Time to Go: May / June

If you care about your privacy and don’t like the crowd, Watamu is a great spot for you. Almost same dimensions with Malindi Bay waves up to 6 feet, length goes between 50 -150 meters as well. The bay is rocky, so surfers must be careful about urchins and the rocks.

MOMBASA CHANNEL

Photo Credit: johnnyafrica.com

Direction: Right & Left

Type: Reef-coral

Frequency: ◊◊

Experience: Experienced surfers

Best Time to Go: May / June

If you like crowded and challenging surf spots, Mombasa is waiting for you. Due to being close to the harbour, Mombasa Channel surf spot can be a bit chaotic but very fun. Catching a wave and sliding through buoys calculating rips under your feet, it is very exciting.

BAOBABS

Photo Credit: https://www.iol.co.za

Direction: Left

Type: Reef-rocky

Frequency: ◊◊

Experience: Experienced surfers

Best Time to Go: May / June

Baobabs are also silent and not crowded but being close to Mombasa Channel, you may want to surf on Mombasa Channel. Baobabs don’t have very good waves for experienced surfers. If you are a starter and not ready for big waves, Baobabs is the best place for you.

As you see, best season to surf in Kenya is between May to June for swell size and water temperature but; if you are comfortable with cold water, you may want to surf in March and April as well.

If you are decided when you are going to surf and didn’t surf for a long time, choose your destination and let the dream come true with only one click.

 

That’s the end of our list of surfing spots in Kenya for now. Why not sign up for our weekly newsletter and be the first to take advantage of fast-selling fares to your favourite destinations? Click here to never miss the best travel deals.

Featured Image: Xtreme sports

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