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Malindi - Discover Kenya’s Sun and Sand Beach Paradise
By Andrew Muigai | November 20, 2008
Malindi town, located 120km north of Mombasa is one of the most popular tourist destinations along the East African coastline. Malindi has a 155km coastline that boasts idyllic beaches offering panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. The extensive beaches are a paradise of sun and sand and are fringed with towering palm trees that sway tirelessly as if to portray the unending fun that abounds in the Kenyan 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.
The Portuguese finished the construction of Fort Jesus in Mombasa in 1593. From that time, Mombasa overtook Malindi in splendor and importance. Several traditional buildings of that era still exist in Malindi and are among the town’s tourist attractions. These include a mosque and a palace constructed right on the beach.
Tourist attractions in Malindi mainly relate to the tropical water and beaches and the Watamu and Malindi Marine Park. These national parks were established in 1968 and are the first of their kind in Africa; offering an ideal day trip for divers and snorkellers alike. The coral gardens present in the Watamu and Marine parks abound in multi-coloured fishes that can be seen ducking in and out of the 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 town is renown as a haven for lovers of gourmet dishes with its restaurants, hotels, coffeehouses and other eating places offering a wide range of cuisines ranging from local flavors to international cuisines. The area residents mainly comprise of the local Swahili people and a number of Italians investors who have transformed the town into a reputable tourist destination. Their friendliness and welcoming attitude among others is a charm that cannot be rivaled in any other tourist destination the world over. More than half of the local population thrive directly or indirectly from tourism.
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.
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.
Topics: Travel&Leisure |
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