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Malindi is an idyllic seaside town that is deeply rooted in a colorful history that began in 1498 when Vasco de Gama first visited the location. From the winding streets to the centuries-old houses, you will see the story of Malindi unfold before your eyes. One of the most prominent landmarks on the tour of Malindi is the Church of St. Francis Xavier, one of the oldest in East Africa that is situated near the Vasco de Gama Pillar. You also visit the Juma Mosque and learn about the unfortunate use of the structure for slave trading until the late nineteenth century.
A visit to the ruins of Gede near Watamu takes you to the site of an abandoned coastal town that is surrounded by an intriguing mystery that lies within the remains of mosques, houses and other archaeological finds. Your touring time at Gedi includes tombs, the king's palace, artifacts and a sunken court. When you visit Gede ruins during your historical beach tour of Watamu with African Mecca, you are taken back to a 12th century Swahili settlement that served as a model of other townships along the coast of East Africa. Since 1884 when Gede Ruins first visited by Sir John Kirk, the site has been recognized for its archaeological value and today it is one of the most highly studied relics on the Kenyan Cost.
During your fascinating tour of the Kenya’s Arabuko Sokoke Reserve, watch the forest floor, bushes and trees closely and you may be lucky enough to spot some of the reptile and frog species as well, such as twig snake, monitor, sand lizard, Bunty’s dwarf toad, squeaker frog, marbled shovel-shout The Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve is situated north of Mombasa, between the towns of Kilifi and Malindi adjacent to Watamu. It represents the most significant protected area of tropical forest on the coast of East Africa along with the forests of Shimba Hills National Reserve. The forest not only serves as a reminder of ecosystems that once dominated the coast, but Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve also supports a number of endemic and endangered fauna, including three globally threatened mammals. Approximately 90% of the world’s population of golden-rumped elephant shrew is found in the forest, and other mammals are waterbuck, duiker, suni, sokoke bushy-tailed mongoose, African civet, caracal, blotched genet. Primate species include yellow baboon, sykes’ monkey and vervet and you may even sight aardvark, bush baby, red-bellied coast and red-bellied sun squirrel, woodland buffalo and forest elephant. Recognized as an internationally important bird area by birdlife international, the forest boasts over 270 avi-fauna species, including six that are categorized as globally threatened, and also fluttering about the trees are over 260 types of butterfly, with six of them being endemic to the area, from Sokoke Scops Owl, East Coast Akalat, Sokoke Pipit, Clarke’s Weaver, Spotted Ground Thrush and Amani Sunbird.
Known as one of the best marine parks in Kenya, Watamu Marine Park is a spectacularly diverse aquatic ecosystem with over 100 types of coral, 600 fish species and many other marine creatures, making it a favorite underworld destination amongst snorkelers and divers. The Park is part of a larger aquatic system of protected areas that includes Malindi Marine National Park, as well as the mangrove forests of Mida Creek. Less than one-quarter mile from Malindi Marine park as well as the mangrove forest of Mida Creek. Less than one-quarter mile from beach shore is a superb network of coral that is teeming with some of the ocean’s most stunning beauties, such as grouper, damselfish, lionfish, octopus, parrot fish, moray, e.t.c that you will encounter. Activities such as glass bottomed boat ride, Snorkelling and diving are the most popular water activities in Watamu, and your experienced dive master takes you to distinct underlife locations where you will see the highest variety of fish and other marine life darting in and out of the coral while you observe from as safe distance. With so much to discover, you will spend few hours exploring the nooks and crannies of the underwater realm. The equatorial waters in Kenya are quite warm and comfy throughout the year, ranging from 68 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 30 celsius). Seasonal changes do cause the temperature to vary slightly, so you should note that from November through March is when the water is the warmest.
