About Us
THE SOUTH COAST COMMUNITY ECOTOURISM ASSOCIATION
Linking tourism to local communities
It all started when we realised that cultural traditions in our community are dying rapidly and that the only Kenyan culture known to tourists is the Masai culture which does not come from Kenya’s south coast.
We decided to organise an umbrella body to discuss and plan matters of environmental and cultural conservation and community based tourism.
From this, in 2012, the first regatta was born and from very small beginnings, thanks to the generosity and trust of Base Titanium (link) and the sponsors listed, we held the first regatta
Since then the Regatta has grown in popularity and we have tourists who even plan the dates of their stay in Diani around the date of the Regatta.

How does the Diani Regatta help the communities?
The Diani Ngalawa Regatta provides support for our local fishermen and, through sponsorship, the fishermen have acquired cooler boxes, solar powered freezers donated by Chloride Exide and sails for their boats. They also get prize money for racing.
The festival has supported dozens of local women who come to earn directly by selling local food prepared in the traditional Swahili way. They also earn by selling lesso/kanga fabric and handicrafts to festival goers. Local producers are also encouraged with honey, coconuts and eco-briquette charcoal amongst the products for sale. We hope to connect even more people in the community to new markets via the Diani Regatta in 2022.
From the Diani Regatta proceeds, SCCEA helps local people, especially women and youth, to create tangible micro enterprises, sourcing markets within and outside the region, creating employment, generating sustainable incomes and local empowerment.

Gazi Women Group
Msambweni Turtle Conservation Group
Kaya Kinondo Conservation and Develepment Group
Shimoni Slave Caves
Mwachema River Excursions
Fikirini Caves