The beautiful Leopard Resort at Diani Beach

She sits at the counter, sipping a creamy cherry brandy, occasionally adjusting her shades to get a clear view of the on-goings at the shorelines of the beach. As she empties the contents of her glass and sucks on the ice cubes, she smiles at a waiter who murmurs about refilling her glass.

She nods, splitting her lips into a beautiful smile, with it revealing a gap in her front two teeth. Two men, in a corner adjacent to the counter where she is seated, are split between the beauty of beach and her beauty.

Ambience
We are at Mario’s Bar, one of the inviting places at Leopard Beach Resort & Spa to let in Diani Beach offerings. The polished mahogany, rosewood and brass rivets beautified with a touch of green, yellow and purple flowers.
Life is beautiful and slow on the coral cliff overlooking a swimming pool and the Indian Ocean’s blue, green waters and white sands. I have been sipping cognac and I’m having second thoughts about diving into the salty waters of Kenya’s coast.

Another thing on my mind. I would like to draw close to God’s piece of creation and lay out some sweet nothings. I might get lucky. Well, a voice within tells me the evening is better timing so I wink at her. She smiles and softly waves, her little fingers giving me more unholy thoughts.

As I turn to leave the bar , an old charm, likely to be celebrating five decades of life, smiles my way, lowers her gaze and shades, and whispers, “You might get lucky.”

I take a bow in respect to the old lady, and spring on, heading to the shoreline to kick some white sand and ogle at beautiful flesh. Well, excuse the ungodly behaviour. I’m here to capture some moments.

Lounging and swimming
Holidaymakers are dressed light, ‘locked’ behind shades and pretending to read literature under the 2pm sunshine. Some are showing off some swimming skills, lying buoyant in the crystal blue swimming pools that line the beach.
After clicking, it is time to lie low, I mean on one of those loungers, trying to feel as ‘touristic’ as everyone else. But why not swim, I ponder. Uhm…I act upon the thought, go shirtless, and shorts off, so I take a dip into the waters, at the shallow end, for obvious reasons. You would not want to embarrass yourself while on holiday. My swimming coach warned me about the deep end!

An hour in, there was fun; two young Jamaican girls offered to guide me to the deeper waters. It turned out to be a playing session. They must have realised I was not keen on learning but pretending to drown just to get them hold me up.

When we decided to take a break, we talked about fliers supplied to us by staff from Uzuri Spa. We agreed to try it out. It is one of the places to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul, with a relaxing massage in scented rooms piped with soft music. I chose to have mine in the open, mangrove huts as the breeze off the ocean blew over my back. Thereon, we went in for a hydro bath, and also bubble-up in the Jacuzzi.

Interior and meals
When the stars went blue, I decided it was time to take a nap so I headed to my room, to take a bath with some aromatic bath creams in the walk-in shower cabinet that is big enough to accommodate two. They must have had honeymooners or lovers in mind.
The room decor tells of Swahili architecture, with a rustic feel. When you are fresh, proceed for dinner which is normally intercontinental buffet coupled with some grilled meats.

Awards
Perhaps, this is reason enough to have earned the resort and spa consecutive accolades as Kenya’s Leading Resort in the World Travel Awards. But that has been with a share of setbacks. The resort was gutted by fire last year but was not held back. It has risen from the ashes was rebuilt and beautified.

About Diani beach
Diani Beach, 10 kilometres long, is located along the Indian Ocean on the Kenyan coast, 30km south of Mombasa. You can get there by road but can also charter a flightor fly using a small airstrip is located between the beach and the Mombasa-Lunga Lunga road. The water remains shallow near shore and palm trees line the beach. Tourists also look out for coral reefs.