The Kenyan Coast is indisputably one of the top tourism and travel destinations in Kenya, providing a great variety of tourist attractions. Among the popular coastal destinations are the Gedi ruins, the mysterious remains of an ancient Kenya coastal town, which lie about 100km North of Mombasa and 15km South of Malindi. Found deep in the Arabuko Sokoke forest, these 15th century ruins are among Kenya’s great unexploited treasures.

Little is known of Gedi, with archaeologists and historians remaining puzzled, but it is believed the town was was abandoned in the early 17th century. Although the exact reason as to why the town was deserted is not documented, a school of though has it that the town was destroyed by unknown invaders in the 17th century. This theory is highly disputed among researchers as there are no signs of battle or disturbance in this once complex Swahili settlement (about 45 acres) whose population was about 2500.

Some people argue that the Gedi’s residents abandoned the town due to reduced water availability in the wells, caused by receding ocean waters. Others also allege that the Portuguese brought the deadly and incurable Black Plague, which killed the entire population of Gedi.

A recent theory has it that the town was threatened by the approach of the Galla, an inland tribe known to be outwardly hostile at that time, and that the townspeople fled ahead of their arrival. Yet once again, local recorded history fails to mention any such large scale evacuation at this time.

Gedi was declared a historic monument in 1927 and much excavation and preservation work was carried out revealing large areas of this ancient town, including the pillar tombs, the palace and a great mosque. But despite the extensive research and exploration, nobody is really sure of what happened to the town of Gedi and its inhabitants.

Between 1948 and 1958, excavations at Gedi ruins uncovered an Indian lamp, porcelain from China, spanish scissors, and Venetian beads among other items that point to engagement in some form of international trade by citizens of Gedi.

The Gedi Ruins were declared a national park in 1948 and the area has since become one of the top tourist attractions along the Kenyan coastal region. Gedi remains a mysterious place to visit, especially with pillars and stone walls, ruined mosques and tombs lying among stands of trees.

Gedi remains an oasis of tranquility to date, though surrounded by modern day villages. The ruins are overgrown with plants and flowers. Getting to Gedi is easy from Mombasa, Malindi, or Watamu. A small museum in the area displays ancient artifacts retrieved through excavation works. These include Arab wares, Chinese porcelain, and Phoenician artifacts. More Gede ruins artifacts are also displayed at the Fort Jesus museum in Mombasa.