They say the best times in life are usually random, unplanned, and completely spontaneous.

One Friday evening, my friends and I were seated in a club in Kilifi, talking about everything and nothing. Their Kilifi visit was almost coming to an end, and I was feeling a little sad about saying goodbye as they prepared to head back to the city under the sun.

We had enjoyed a full five days touring Kilifi and its environs. The hidden gems had wowed them, the humidity had done quite a number on them, and the laughter — oh, the laughter we shared — still rang in my ears.

“How far is Diani from Kilifi?” Eric suddenly asked.

“About an hour and a half away,” I replied.

Within the next five minutes or so, we had all agreed that two nights in Diani wouldn’t hurt. The next order of business was finding accommodation for the team of four. It was almost midnight, but I knew I could send a text to my agent friend in Diani who would find us a villa before our afternoon arrival.

So I did.

The following morning, we set out for Diani at 10:00 a.m., our designated driver-cum-DJ ensuring the music was millennial-friendly so we could all sing along. By this time, Graham had already sent me two villa options, and we had settled on one of them.

We used the new Dongo Kundu Bypass and were amazed at how convenient it was compared to the ferry, which had been the only available option for years.

At one point, we stopped at a viewpoint along the bypass just to admire the sweeping ocean view before continuing with our journey.

We arrived at exactly noon. Graham met us at a popular Swahili restaurant and guided us to the villa we had selected. Upon arrival, however, we felt that given our very short stay, we would have preferred something closer to the beach.

Without hesitation, Graham showed us an apartment right next to Diani Beach Road — just a two-minute walk to the beach.

We loved it instantly.

Our host met us and walked us through the house, showing us the apartment’s amenities before handing over the keys. And just like that, our short stay officially began — with only a day and a half left on our impromptu holiday.

To say I haven’t had a better holiday in my life so far would be an understatement.

We went to the beach, explored Diani’s nightlife, visited two restaurants, and even stopped by Carrefour to pick up breakfast items.

We were honestly amazed at how much Diani had grown.

So if you’re wondering how much planning you need for a visit to Diani…

Perhaps all you really need is to pack a bag and get on the move.

A RANDOM WEEKEND TRIPA RANDOM WEEKEND TRIP

A RANDOM WEEKEND TRIP