Travel Eye on Malindi (Kenya)

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Overview:

The small town of Malindi is at the centre of a strip of idyllic tropical beaches offering the visitor a range of world class resorts and quiet relaxing hideaways. Further south, the sleepy village of Watamu is fronted by wide white beaches. This tranquil haven is home to several well established resorts, and many private guesthouses scattered through the forest along the deserted shore.

At Watamu a Marine National Park has been established, an ideal day trip for divers and snorkellers alike.

Northwest of Malindi is the spectacular Marafa Depression, locally known as Nyari and popularly known as Hell's Kitchen. An extensive series of sandstone gorges and sheer gullies, this unique and otherworldly landscape has become part of local folklore.

The thick jungles of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest reserve hide a world of wonders. In the cool of the forest winding paths will take you in search of rare endemic birds and mammals, and visiting herds of Elephant.

The forest holds another secret, the lost town of Gedi, a deserted trading Swahili town hidden deep in the forests, whose winding passages and crumbling walls tell of a long and mysterious past.

This area caters for mainly package tours from continental Europe, specifically Italy and Germany. Will suit all sizes and ages including those wanting a bit of nightlife.

The accommodation here offers plenty of choice to suit all tastes, from very cheap flop houses in the centre to package-tour beach hotels and a handful of exclusive, opulent palaces. High season is from Dec to March plus July and August when it is busy with European visitors.

Locality:

Malindi is halfway up the east coast, facing the Indian Ocean. It is 380 mls SE of the capital Nairobi, 70 mls N of Mombasa, 40 mls N of Kilifi, 2 mls NE of Malindi airport and 80 mls N of Mombasa's Moi international airport. It is found on low ground, set around the panoramic sweep of a wide bay near the mouth of the Galana River.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Malindi is well known for its beaches and the best beaches are S of town towards Casuarina Point. These are white and wide, sheltered by coral reefs around 200 yds offshore, with warm water at low tide but extremely narrow at high tide. Hotels N of Uhuru Gardens have wide beaches of darker sand, unprotected by reefs; the sea can be wilder here but there are more opportunities for undisturbed walks and beachcombing.

This is a true shopper's paradise. There are upmarket outlets mixed with lower-priced shops selling clothes, local fabrics and hippie-type clothing. There are many stylish Italian shops. On the beach in town African carvers sell soapstone and wooden carvings. There are Lamu/Swahili-style furniture-makers on the outskirts of town. The open-air market is well worth a visit.

During the daytime activities include scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing and snorkelling in Malindi National Marine Park, there are glass-bottomed boat trips out over the reef. There are also facilities for tennis, there is a 9-hole golf course, and horse riding.

You can also go exploring the area including the Vasco da Gama Pillar dating from 1499, Juma'a Mosque and a pillar tomb containing the remains of Sheikh Abdul Hassan.

The nightlife offers plenty of action with live music, discos, a casino, and many late bars and shows at the larger package-tour hotels.

The restaurants here offer some of the best seafood and Italian restaurants in Kenya. Many pizzerias, several beer gardens and many other choices. It is not advisable to drink the local water; stick to bottled varieties.