Chale Island
A forested headland at the northern end of Msambweni Bay, once a true island. Coral cliffs, sandy coves and a mangrove-lined creek surround it, and it is a quiet stretch of the south coast.
- Where
- Msambweni, Kwale, Kenya
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- -4.4500, 39.5333
Get the Chale Island stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Chale Island. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Kwale volume with your photos and a note.
Near Chale Island
Diani Beach 15 km
A long beach of white sand on the Indian Ocean, about 30 kilometres south of Mombasa. Coral reef lies offshore, and colobus monkeys live in the forest patches behind the sand. It is one of the most popular beach destinations in the country, with resorts and dive centres along the shore.
Shimba Hills National Reserve 27 km
A small national reserve of coastal rainforest, woodland and grassland, 33 kilometres from Mombasa and 15 kilometres from the sea. It lies in the former Coast Province and is an important area for wildlife.
Wasini Island 29 km
A small coral island off the southern Kenyan coast, reached by boat from Shimoni. Visitors come for the coral gardens of Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park nearby, and for dolphins and a seafood lunch.
Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park 35 km
A marine park off the south coast of Kenya near Shimoni, established by the Kenyan government in 1978. It is the country's first Blue Park, protecting coral reefs and small islands in the Indian Ocean.
Fort Jesus 45 km
A Portuguese fort on Mombasa Island, designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Battista Cairati and built between 1593 and 1596 to guard the harbour. It changed hands many times over the centuries and is now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mombasa Island 47 km
A coral island, about 5 kilometres by 3, joined to the mainland by a causeway and bridges. It holds Mombasa's Old Town, Fort Jesus and the port at Kilindini Harbour. Narrow streets of old Swahili and Arab houses, Portuguese-era walls and busy markets fill the older part of the island.
Mombasa Marine National Park 51 km
A marine park and national reserve off Mombasa on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. The park covers 10 square kilometres and the surrounding reserve covers 200 square kilometres of reef and sea.
Haller Park 52 km
A nature park in Bamburi, north of Mombasa, made from an old cement quarry that was replanted with trees. Giraffes, hippos, crocodiles and tortoises now live among its ponds and woodland. Founded by the Swiss ecologist Rene Haller, it shows how damaged land can be brought back to life.
More hidden gems in Kwale
Questions
Where is Chale Island?
Chale Island is in Msambweni, Kwale, Kenya. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Diani Beach (15 km), Shimba Hills National Reserve (27 km), Wasini Island (29 km).
How do I get the Chale Island stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Chale Island and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Kwale volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Chale Island before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Kwale volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 40 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.