Malindi, a town situated 120km to the North of Mombasa, is among the top tourist destinations in the East African coast. With a 155km coastline, Malindi has beautiful beaches with a nice panoramic view of the Indian Ocean. Tall palm trees dot the tropical beaches in Malindi, swaying tirelessly in the wind as if to depict the endless holiday fun activities you can undertake in this Kenya coastal town, a true sun and sand paradise.
Malindi town was founded by Arab traders in the 13th Century as their main trade centre along the Indian Ocean. At that time the economy depended on fishing, hunting, agriculture and salt collection. By 1498 when Vasco da Gama reached Malindi, the town had already become both a kingdom and a wealthy town. The then inhabitants of the town comprised Arabs – the ruling class, Africans and a few Indians. And because of the region’s monsoon winds, Malindi became an important port in East Africa as it formed the base from which places all over the Indian Ocean could be reached.
When the Portuguese built Fort Jesus in Mombasa in 1593, Mombasa overcame Malindi in splendor and importance. Today, many traditional buildings of that era are still some of the tourist attractions in Malindi. They include a mosque and a palace built right on the beach.
The tropical beaches and waters, plus the Watamu and Malindi Marine parks are among the main tourist attractions in Malindi. Established in 1968, these marine national parks were the first of their kind in Africa and are ideal locations for snorkeling and diving. You can see plenty of multi-colored fishes in the coral gardens that abound in the marine parks.
Another major tourist attraction in Malindi are the Gede ruins, which are the remains of an abandoned 17th century town. In 1927, the ruins were declared historic monuments, leading to a lot of excavation activities that eventually revealed a great mosque, a palace, and pillar tombs in this ancient town.
Marafa depression, popularly known as Hell’s Kitchen, is a subject of many local myths in Malindi. This extensive area northwest of Malindi has a unique landscape consisting of huge gullies and sandstone valleys. It is also known as Nyari by the local community.
Malindi has earned a reputation as a gourmet’s haven, with the restaurants, coffeehouses, and hotels in Malindi providing a wide array of local and international cuisine. The town’s residents include the local Swahili people, plus a considerable number of investors of Italian descent. Together, the residents have ensured that Malindi remains one of the most welcoming and most friendly tourist destinations in the world. More than 50% of the Malindi population relies on tourism either directly or indirectly.
The East African coast is generally hot and humid throughout the year. The long rains around Malindi are experienced from April to July and the short rains from October to November. The mean daily temperature is around 22 degrees Celsius low and 30.5 degrees Celsius high, and the best months to visit Malindi are December to April.
Getting to Malindi both by air and by road is quite easy. The town has an airport which several Kenya airlines use for daily scheduled flights to and from Malindi. Malindi airport also serves many chartered flights. You can therefore fly into Malindi from Nairobi, Mombasa or Lamu, or you can use the many buses and matatus from Mombasa to Malindi in the North coast. Most hotels and tourist resorts in Malindi can also arrange vehicle transfers for you.
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