The Vasco de Gama pillar
erected in 1498 on Malindi coast

Malindi

Malindi town dates back to the 14th and century and once an important Swahili settlement, it is now a major port and a thriving tourist town with a fascinating history. The Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama landed in Malindi in 1498 and erected a coral monument, the Vasco da Gama Pillar, which still stands today overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Malindi is at the centre of a strip of long and idyllic tropical beaches that stretch to the north and south and as well as sunbathing, the warm waters of the Indian Ocean offer world class deep sea fishing and wind surfing. Malindi Marine National Park and Reserve is ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving with its spectacular fringing and patch reefs and rich wildlife including many species of turtle.

Away from the beach, hidden deep in the dense Arabuko Sokoke forest are the eerie ruins of Gedi, a once great and complex Swahili trading town that was inexplicably deserted in the 17th century, left to be consumed by the jungle.

Further south is the village of Watamu, fronted by expansive white sandy beaches and home to several excellent resort hotels and Watumu Marine National Park.

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