Half an hour inland from Diani’s white sand, the land climbs into a different world: the Shimba Hills, where one of East Africa’s largest surviving coastal rainforests rolls across green ridgetops with the Indian Ocean glittering beyond. The air is cooler, the light filtered, the forest ancient.
This is the only place in Kenya where sable antelope survive — glossy black bulls with scimitar horns that alone justify the trip — sharing the reserve with a dense elephant population served by the neighbouring Mwaluganje corridor. A guided walk to the 21 m Sheldrick Falls and a stop at the Ocean Viewpoint make Shimba the perfect one-day counterpoint to a beach holiday.
What Shimba Hills is known for
Sable antelope
Kenya’s only population — the reserve’s emblem and one of Africa’s most beautiful antelope, best seen on the grassland glades.
Coastal rainforest
A remnant of the ancient Eastern African coastal forests, dense with endemic plants, butterflies and birds found nowhere else in Kenya.
Sheldrick Falls
A ranger-guided forest walk drops to a 21 m waterfall with a swimmable pool — bring a costume.
Elephant country
A significant elephant population moves between the hills and the Mwaluganje sanctuary corridor.
Ocean panoramas
From the viewpoint the forest falls away to Diani’s reef-striped blue — safari and seascape in one frame.
The animals of Shimba Hills
Beyond sable and elephant: Masai giraffe on the glades, forest buffalo, elusive leopard, and coastal treats — Angolan colobus, Sykes’ monkeys, red duiker and elephant shrews on the forest floor.
Seasons & the best time to visit
Coastal weather: hot and humid year-round, wettest April–June. Mornings are best for sable on the glades before they retreat to shade; the falls walk is loveliest early.
Shimba Hills entry fees (2026)
| Ticket | Fee |
|---|---|
| Non-resident adult | US$50 per day |
| Non-resident child | US$25 per day |
| African citizen (non-EAC) adult | US$20 per day |
| Kenyan/EAC citizen adult | KES 500 per day |
| Kenya resident adult | KES 675 per day |
| Vehicle (under 6 seats) | KES 600 per day |
The Sheldrick Falls walk requires a (free) armed ranger escort — tip appreciated; allow 1.5–2 hours return.
KWS fees shown are the rates that took effect on 1 October 2025, paid per person per day through the eCitizen/KWSPay system — cash is no longer accepted at KWS gates.
Fees change; confirm on official channels before travel. Children under 5 enter KWS parks free.
Fees last verified July 2026.
Flora & landscape
True coastal rainforest giants, cycads that predate the dinosaurs, wild orchids, and open grassland glades kept short by fire and grazing — a mosaic found almost nowhere else in East Africa at this scale.
Birdlife
Coastal-forest specials: Fischer’s turaco flashing crimson wings, trumpeter hornbills, African crowned eagles hunting monkeys, and endemic-rich thickets that make Shimba a serious birding stop.
Getting there
Forty-five minutes from Diani or just over an hour from Mombasa via the Likoni ferry and Kwale road. Every Diani hotel arranges day safaris; self-drivers manage easily on the main tracks.
Where to stay in Shimba Hills
The reserve has its landmark tree lodge and simple KWS bandas; many visitors come on a day trip from Diani Beach, 45 minutes away, where hotels of every kind line the sand.
Shimba Hills Lodge
Tree lodge
The reserve’s stilted tree lodge over a forest waterhole, the classic way to sleep among the sable and elephants.
KWS Sable Bandas & Campsites
KWS self-catering
Simple self-catering bandas and camping with forest and ocean views for independent travellers.
Diani Beach hotels
Beach hotels
From backpacker to five-star, Diani’s beach resorts are the usual base for a Shimba day safari.
A curated selection of established camps and lodges — not a paid directory. Prices tiers: $ budget · $$ mid-range · $$$ premium · $$$$ ultra-luxury.
Shimba Hills: frequently asked questions
What is special about Shimba Hills?
Three things exist here and nowhere else in Kenya together: sable antelope, extensive coastal rainforest, and a safari with ocean views — all within an hour of Diani Beach. It is the coast’s one genuine wildlife reserve.
How much is Shimba Hills entry in 2026?
US$50 per adult per day for non-residents (US$25 per child), KES 500 for Kenyan citizens, via eCitizen/KWSPay.
Will I see lions in Shimba Hills?
No — no resident lions, which is why the ranger-guided falls walk is possible. The draw is sable, elephant, forest primates and the landscape itself, not big cats.
Is Shimba Hills worth it from Diani?
As a half-to-full-day break from the beach, very much so — especially for the falls swim and the sable, which no other Kenyan destination offers. Manage expectations on density: this is forest wildlife, seen in glimpses.
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