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.

Arab traders founded the town of Malindi in the 13th Century as their principal commercial centre along the Indian Ocean. At that time, fishing, agriculture, salt collection and hunting were the main economic activities. By the time Vasco da Gama arrived in Malindi in 1498, the town was already very wealthy and a kingdom in its own right. Arabs were the ruling class then, with Africans and a few Indians being the other residents. Due to the favorable monsoon winds, Malindi became the most important port town in East Africa. It was the base from which to reach other trade destinations in the Indian Ocean.

Malindi’s splendor was however overtaken by that of the neighbouring town of Mombasa in 1593 after the construction of the Portuguese Fort Jesus. Many traditional buildings survive in Malindi among them a mosque and a palace placed right on the beach that attracts numerous tourists.

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.

Gede ruins are yet another major tourist attraction in Malindi. The ruins are the remains of an abandoned 17th century small town. Since being declared a historic monument in 1927, a lot of excavation work in Gede ruins has been done, revealing a palace, ancient pillar tombs, and a great mosque.

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.

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.