Malindi town is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the coast of East Africa. Situated 120km north of Mombasa, Malindi has a 155km coastline dotted with beautiful tropical beaches that provide a nice panoramic view of the Indian Ocean. Tall palm trees tower at the edges of the extensive Malindi beaches, swaying tirelessly in the tropical breeze as if to depict the unending holiday fun activities available to you in this Kenya coastal town.
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.
Malindi’s tropical beaches and waters, together with the Watamu and Malindi Marine Parks are the area’s main tourist attractions. The national marine parks were the first of their kind to be established in Africa, in 1968, and are a haven for divers and snorkelers. The coral gardens in the marine parks host plenty of multi-colored fishes that you can easily see in these coral kingdoms.
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.
Northwest of Malindi is the Marafa Depression, locally known as Nyari and popularly known as Hell’s Kitchen. Nyari is an extensive series of sandstone gorges and sheer gullies- a unique landscape that has become part of local folklore.
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 Africa coast generally has a hot and humid weather all the year round. From April to July, Malindi experiences the long rains, while the short rains fall from October to November. Mean Daily temperatures range between 22 degrees and 30.5 degrees Celsius. The best months to visit Malindi are from December to April.
Visitors to Malindi can get there easily both by road and by air. Mombasa is the main gateway to Malindi in the north coast, with several buses and matatus operating the Mombasa to Malindi route. Many airlines in Kenya operate daily scheduled flights to Malindi from Nairobi, Mombasa, or Lamu. Malindi airport also serves many chartered flights. Most tourist resorts and hotels in Malindi do also organize vehicle transfers for visitors.
