Kikambala, Kenya

For a day-trip out of Mombasa without your own transport, KIKAMBALA, a few kilometres further up the coast, is about as far as you'd want to come (Kilifi-bound matatus and Malindi-bound matatus and buses from Abdel Nasser Road in Mombasa pass here regularly). Note that the topography here is very flat. The sea goes out for nearly a kilometre and it's largely impractical for bathing except at high tide, so if you're just coming for the day, consult a tide table before setting off (daily newspapers print this). Much of the coastal strip here is still thickly forested and the beach itself is a glorious white expanse, though it's 2–3km from the highway and there are no matatus. The only official campsite in the area is at the Kanamai Conference & Holiday Centre, or "Kanamai Youth Hostel". The first low-budget beach spot north of Mombasa, it makes a good stopover, and if you plan to stay more than a night you're not utterly marooned – there's often someone with a vehicle at the site who'll be going to the dukas on the main road to do some shopping and will let you tag along.