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MALINDI & WATAMU

Malindi is a town on Malindi Bay at the mouth of Galana River, lying on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya, about 120 kilometres northeast of Mombasa. Malindi has been a Swahili settlement since the 14th century. Malindi has traditionally been a port city for foreign powers. In 1414, the town was visited by the fleet of the Chinese explorer Zheng He. Malindi’s ruler sent a personal envoy together with a giraffe as a present to China on that fleet.  The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama met Malindi authorities in 1498 to sign a trade agreement and hire a guide for the voyage to India, when he erected a still existent coral pillar. In 1499 the Portuguese established a trading post in Malindi which served as a resting stop on the way to and from India.

A church dating from this era still stands.  20 kilometres to the south of Malindi is Watamu, reknown for it white beaches.  The beach itself is a haven for breeding turtles and borders the Watamu Marine Park, set up to protect them as well as the countless coral and fish life between the beach and the reef.   Nature abounds in Watamu which has an incredible variety of birdlife and monkey population.  The nights are filled with the sounds of cicadas, bushbabies and other night creatures.  Malindi-Watamu is also one of the best places on earth to experience deep-sea fishing. Many World and Kenya record fish have been caught in these waters and these days most are tagged and released - free to fight another day. The area boasts a year-round sailfish population. Further out, between 30 and 50 kilometers, on the Malindi and Watamu rips and the north banks, the marlin hunter also finds rich rewards: giant yellowfin tuna often exceeding the 75 kilograms mark, sought after mako and tiger sharks, as well as a host of other sport fish.  Snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities are not to be missed. Excursions to nearby Gedi Ruins (also known as Gede) and Arabuko-Sokoke forest can be arranged.  The Watamu and Malindi Marine National Parks form a continuous protected coastal area south of Malindi. Both Malindi and Watamu areas show classic examples of Swahili architecture and culture.