When my friend, Tope, came to spend a month in Kenya, we decided to go on a bush and beach holiday in Diani and Tsavo. Having already done and loved a similar trip, I knew this was an experience we’d both be grateful to have. Last year, while visiting Diani, I came across Solani Villa, a new property that had just opened up. I bookmarked it immediately. So when Tope’s visit came around, I knew exactly where we would be staying.
Solani Villa is a four-bedroom, Kenyan-owned villa located just five minutes from Ukunda Airstrip. It was an easy choice, and here’s how our stay went…
| Feature | The Solani Villa Experience |
| Best For | Large Families, Friends Retreat |
| Unique Factor | Moroccan-inspired sunken lounge & Swahili craftsmanship |
| Staffing | Dedicated Private Chef, Housekeeper, & Security |
| Distance to Beach | Quick TukTuk |
| Nearby Landmarks | Diani Airport (UKU), Shopping Mall and Top Beach Bars |
Getting to Solani Villa, Diani
For this trip to Diani, we took the overnight SGR from Nairobi to Mombasa. The SGR is my favourite way to get to the coast. I usually prefer the morning train service, but since this was a spontaneous trip, we could not get seats on the morning or afternoon departures. I did not expect the trains to be this busy on a random weekday in February.
The overnight train worked out well in the end. We missed the scenic views around Tsavo National Park, but it was still a comfortable and smooth journey.
We arrived at Mombasa Station early in the morning, bags in hand and not quite fully awake. From there, we hopped into an Uber straight to the villa. One thing worth knowing: Solani Villa can organise this transfer for you and your group, which is genuinely useful if you’re arriving early or coming in with a big crew and don’t want to sort logistics while still half asleep.
If you prefer to fly, the villa is only five minutes from Ukunda Airstrip, so that option works just as seamlessly. Either way, getting there is not complicated. We were lucky to arrive when the host was around, and he welcomed us warmly – graciously, actually, even at that early hour of the morning, which set the tone for the whole stay.
We arrived very early in the morning, so the priority was simple – settle in and get some proper sleep. The villa tour could wait. For now, we claimed two of the four bedrooms and rested until late morning.
Room Details
Choosing our rooms was effortless. Each one was spacious and thoughtfully furnished, so settling in felt natural from the start. It is the kind of place where, even when travelling as a group, there is no need to rush for the “best” room because they are all equally inviting.
All bedrooms are ensuite, with two featuring bathtubs in addition to showers, and each room is also equipped with both a fan and air conditioning, along with reliable WiFi, basically everything we needed to stay comfortable and connected throughout our stay.
Once we were settled, we eased into a slow first day with no plans and no rush. It was exactly what we needed after the overnight train.
A Quick Look at the Villa Shared Spaces…
We ended up spending most of our time simply hanging out in the villa, soaking in its open and airy layout. I could easily picture coming back with a larger group, where everyone has their own private space while still sharing a lovely communal area to relax and spend time together.
Once we had rested, we headed out for dinner. Solani Villa offers the option of an in-house chef to prepare meals, but since this was a spontaneous trip, we were not able to arrange one in time. That said, Diani has no shortage of great food spots, so we made our way back to one of my favourites, Nomad Beach Bar and Restaurant.
Dinner at Nomad was the perfect way to wrap up our first day in Diani. We headed back to Solani Villa for a quiet night’s rest, ready to do it all over again the next day.
Exploring Diani -A Quick Excursion to Bora Bora Wildlife Park
The next morning, we kicked things off with a quick visit to Bora Bora Wildlife Park. It is somewhere I have always wanted to check out during my trips to Diani Beach, but never quite got around to, so this felt like the perfect opportunity. This trip was all about trying new things, so we pushed past the temptation to stay in the villa and hopped on a tuk-tuk to the park.
Bora Bora Wildlife Park is a bit of a mixed experience. Think mini zoo meets wildlife park. It is definitely something different, with the highlight being the giraffe interaction, similar to what you get at the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi. The park features a mix of roaming animals and others in enclosures, along with a makeshift Maasai village and a cultural group. I am not sure it would make my list of places to revisit in Diani, but I am glad I finally experienced it for myself.
From Bora Bora, we rode a tuk-tuk a short distance to Pallet Cafe, a beachfront restaurant that employs people who are hearing-impaired. The food was great, and the service was attentive and warm. This is definitely a spot I would return to.
After lunch, we walked for hours along the beach – the long stretch of white sand that Diani is known for – before eventually joining the road and flagging down a tuk-tuk back to the villa. As far as afternoons go, that one was hard to beat.
That evening, we went for our final excursion of the day – a sunset cruise on the Kongo River. I had wanted to do this for multiple visits to Diani and kept not getting to it. I am glad we finally made it happen. It was calm and lovely, and one of those things I will now recommend to everyone going to Diani.
The African Pool – One Last Stop
On our final morning, we made a quick stop at the African Pool. We arrived a little too early and had to wait for the tide to recede, so we passed the time swimming in the ocean and enjoying breakfast at the adjoining lodge.
As the water pulled back, the pool slowly revealed itself, and before long, we were cliff jumping and having the best time. By “we”, I really mean “Tope”, because I’m a coward :(. Anyway, it felt like the perfect send-off to the beach leg of the trip.
We returned to Solani Villa, packed up, and headed off to Tsavo for the safari portion of the trip.
Read about our Tsavo East Safari and Voi Stay
Read more
The Sum Up
The Kenyan Coast always pulls me back in. No matter how many times I visit, it never gets old. I’m really glad I made it back, and even happier that I discovered Solani Villa while it still feels like a hidden gem. It’s tucked away in an up-and-coming part of Diani, slightly off the beaten path but still close enough to the main strip to stay connected.
Arriving at night, I’ll admit it felt a little intimidating at first. The area is quieter and more remote than you might expect. But the moment we stepped inside, everything changed. By the end of the stay, we honestly didn’t want to leave.
If you’re planning a trip to Diani and want a place that feels more like a home than a hotel, Solani Villa is definitely one to look into. It’s Kenyan-owned, spacious, conveniently located just five minutes from the airport, and has that effortless hospitality that makes a trip feel smooth from the very start. I definitely look forward to returning.
Have you been to Diani? Drop your favourite spots in the comments – I am always adding to the list.
