Shimba Hills Day Trip from Diani – Sable Antelope & Sheldrick Falls (1 Day)

A Shimba Hills day trip is the closest wildlife escape to Diani Beach, just under an hour inland. Shimba Hills National Reserve is the only place in Kenya where you can see the rare sable antelope, and elephants roam its rolling grassland and coastal rainforest. The day combines a game drive with a guided forest walk to Sheldrick Falls and a picnic with views back to the Indian Ocean. Prices start from USD 130 per adult sharing.

Why Take a Shimba Hills Day Trip?

A beach holiday is wonderful, but after a few days many travellers want to see something of the Kenyan wild. Shimba Hills is the easiest way to do it. The reserve sits on a ridge behind the coast, so the drive is short, the air is cooler and the scenery is green and rolling instead of dry and flat.

The trip is gentle and varied. You search for animals from a vehicle, walk through shady forest to a waterfall and eat lunch at a viewpoint, all before returning to your hotel in the afternoon. It is easy for families, and it works as a half-way break between beach days.

• Sable antelope: Kenya’s only population, found in these hills.
• Elephants: seen in the grassland and at the forest edge.
• Sheldrick Falls: a guided forest walk with an armed ranger, ending at a pool below the falls.
• Close to Diani: less than an hour from your hotel.
• Cool and green: hills with views of the Indian Ocean.

Shimba Hills Day Trip at a Glance

• Duration: 1 day, leaving at about 8am and returning by mid-afternoon
• Start and end: your hotel in Diani
• Highlights: game drive, sable antelope, Sheldrick Falls walk and a picnic lunch
• Transport: private 4×4 vehicle with a driver-guide
• Price: from USD 130 per adult sharing

Shimba Hills Day Trip Itinerary

Morning: Diani to Shimba Hills

You are picked up from your Diani hotel at about 8am and driven less than an hour inland to Shimba Hills National Reserve. As you climb, the heat of the coast fades and the landscape changes to rolling hills, farms and patches of forest. At the gate, your guide completes the formalities and you enter the reserve.

Midday: Game drive and Sheldrick Falls walk

You begin with a game drive across the grassland, looking for sable antelope, elephants and buffalo. You then walk with an armed ranger through the forest to Sheldrick Falls, where you can swim in the pool below the falls when conditions are safe. The walk is the highlight for many guests, because it takes you into the cool, green heart of the forest.

Afternoon: Picnic lunch and return

Lunch is a picnic at a viewpoint over the coast, with a view back towards the Indian Ocean. After a final short drive you return to Diani by mid-afternoon, in time for a swim or a sundowner on the beach.

Wildlife on a Shimba Hills Day Trip

Shimba Hills is a smaller, gentler reserve than Kenya’s big savannah parks, but it has wildlife that you will not find elsewhere in the country. Lions are not resident, so it is a relaxed safari without dangerous predators.

Sable antelope

The sable antelope is the star of the reserve. It is a large, striking antelope, with dark males carrying long curved horns, and Shimba Hills is the only place in Kenya where it lives. Your guide knows where herds usually graze, and the open grassland makes them easier to see than you might expect, though sightings are never guaranteed.

Elephants and other animals

Elephants roam the grassland and forest, and buffalo, Masai giraffes and bushbuck are also found here. In the forest, look and listen for many kinds of birds and butterflies. The mix of habitats gives the reserve a different feel from the savannah parks, with more green and more shade.

The Sheldrick Falls Walk on a Shimba Hills Day Trip

The walk to Sheldrick Falls is about 2 km each way along a forest path with steps, and it takes about an hour and a half in total. An armed ranger walks with you for safety, and your guide explains the trees, birds and insects along the way. The path can be slippery, so wear shoes with a good grip and take your time.

At the end you reach the falls and the pool below. Swimming is usually allowed when water levels are safe, and your ranger will advise you on the day. Bring swimwear and a small towel if you want to cool off.

Best Time for a Shimba Hills Day Trip

The trip runs all year. Because the reserve is a forest and grassland mix, it is green for much of the year, and the cooler air makes it comfortable in any season.

• Dry months: easier walking and clearer views over the coast.
• Rainy months: lush scenery and a fuller waterfall, but muddier and more slippery paths.
• Time of day: an early start gives you the coolest walking conditions and the best chance of seeing animals.

How Much Does a Shimba Hills Day Trip Cost?

This Shimba Hills day trip starts from USD 130 per adult sharing. The final cost depends on the season and the size of your group, and the price per person falls when more guests share the private vehicle. The reserve entry fee, an armed ranger for the waterfall walk and a picnic lunch are all included. For a broader view of costs, see how much an African safari costs.

What Is Included and Not Included

• Private 4×4 vehicle and driver-guide
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Diani
• Shimba Hills National Reserve entry fee
• Armed ranger for the waterfall walk
• Picnic lunch
• Bottled drinking water

Not included: tips and gratuities, drinks and personal expenses, and optional activities not listed as included.

Who Is a Shimba Hills Day Trip For?

This trip suits beach holidaymakers who want a taste of the wild without a long journey. It is popular with visitors to Diani from Germany, Italy, the UK and the Netherlands, and it is a good choice for families. The short drive, the waterfall and the cooler air make it a good family day for children aged about 5 and older. Walkers should be reasonably fit, because the forest path includes steps.

If you are travelling with children, our Kenya family safari packages offer longer options. If you want to see big game, a longer trip to Tsavo is the next step, and our Tsavo safari guide explains how it works.

Combining a Shimba Hills Day Trip with Your Beach Holiday

The trip is easy to fit into a Diani holiday, because you are back at your hotel by mid-afternoon. Many guests book it as one of two or three excursions during their stay. The Kisite dolphin tour is a separate full-day trip, but both start from Diani, so they pair well on different days. You will find more ideas on our Kenya beach experience page, and our Kenya safari packages include longer routes if you want a bigger adventure.

Why Shimba Hills Is Special

Most reserves in Kenya are dry savannah, but Shimba Hills rises behind the coast and holds a mix of grassland, woodland and one of the last stretches of coastal rainforest in the country. That variety is what makes a Shimba Hills day trip so different from a classic safari. You move from open ridge-top views to shady forest in a single morning, and the cooler air makes walking a pleasure rather than an effort.

The reserve is also a conservation success story for a rare species. Sable antelope depend on this habitat, which is why seeing them here feels like a real privilege. Your entry fee supports the rangers who protect the reserve, and your guide will explain how the park is managed and how local communities benefit from visitors.

Tips for a Better Shimba Hills Day Trip

• Start early, because animals are most active in the morning and the forest walk is coolest then.
• Walk slowly and quietly on the forest path, since you will see far more birds and butterflies.
• Ask your guide to stop whenever you spot something, because the vehicle is private and the pace is yours.
• Carry water and a light rain jacket, as weather in the hills can change quickly.

Photography on a Shimba Hills Day Trip

Shimba Hills offers a mix of subjects: antelope on grassland, elephants at the forest edge, birds and butterflies in the trees and broad views over the coast. A zoom lens of 200 to 400 mm is best for wildlife, while a wide lens suits landscapes and the waterfall. In the forest, light can be low, so a camera that handles shade well is useful. Protect your equipment from spray near the falls and from humidity on the forest path, and keep a lens cloth handy.

What to Bring on a Shimba Hills Day Trip

• Comfortable walking shoes with a good grip, since the forest path can be slippery.
• Light clothing in neutral colours and a light layer for the cooler hills.
• Swimwear and a small towel for the pool below the falls.
• A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Insect repellent.
• Binoculars and a camera.
• A small daypack for water and personal items.

Health and Safety

Follow your guide and ranger at all times, especially on the forest walk, and keep to the path. Malaria is present on the Kenyan coast, so speak to your doctor about prevention before you travel, and take out travel insurance that covers medical care. For official information, see the Kenya Wildlife Service and Magical Kenya.

Shimba Hills Day Trip FAQs

What animals live in Shimba Hills?

Shimba Hills is home to sable antelope, elephants, buffalo, Masai giraffes, bushbuck and many forest birds and butterflies. Lions are not resident, so it is a gentle safari.

How long is the walk to Sheldrick Falls?

The walk is about 2 km each way on a forest path with steps, taking about 1.5 hours in total. Wear shoes with grip, as the path can be slippery.

Is a Shimba Hills day trip good for children?

Yes. The short drive from Diani, the waterfall and the cooler air make it a good family day for children aged about 5 and older.

Can we swim at Sheldrick Falls?

Yes, swimming in the pool below the falls is usually allowed when water levels are safe. Your ranger will advise on the day.

Can I combine a Shimba Hills day trip with the Kisite dolphin tour?

They are separate full-day trips, but both start from Diani, so many guests book them on two days of a beach holiday.

Book Your Shimba Hills Day Trip

Send us your dates, your Diani hotel and the number of guests by WhatsApp or email, and we will reply with a quote and a pick-up time. A deposit secures your place, and we confirm all details before you travel. If you would like a longer adventure, we can plan a safari that fits around your beach days.