Kilifi's appeal is what it doesn't have: no high-rise hotels, no package tours, no aggressive beach hustle. The town wraps around a deep tidal creek that opens to the Indian Ocean through a narrow channel, and the swimming, snorkelling, and dhow trips are all the better for the lack of crowds.
The medieval Swahili ruins at Mnarani are the main historical sight. The Bofa and Sun n Sand beaches north of the creek are quiet stretches of white sand backed by casuarina trees. The bridge across Kilifi Creek — the longest in Kenya when it was built — is a popular spot for bungee jumping with Wild Adventures.