What’s so special about Malindi?
- Proximity to the Malindi Marine Park, a Biosphere Reserve, which lies to the south of the town and extends upto Mida Creek. The Park is enveloped by a Marine Reserve, and a strip of coastal land from the town to Watamu. Here you will find a rich & diverse marine life, fringing reefs, coral gardens, seagrass beds, mangroves, mud flats, marine mammals such as turtles, shorebirds and warm, safe waters for bathing.
- The town has a laid back, intimate and relaxing ambience, reinforced by the strong Italian influence.
- Warm smiles and friendly greetings of ciao everywhere you go.
- Delicious seafood cuisine, with a strong Italian flavour, served in Italian restaurants, and at the beach hotels.
- Fabulous water sporting and yatching activities.
- World class beach hotels and private villas, managed by their Italian owners.
- The town is steeped in history – Arabic records and pottery shards have been found that date back to the 13th Century. Vasco da Gama, the famous Portuguese sailor, made a stop here in 1498 and Hemingway lingered here in the 1930s, where he indulged in his favourite sport, big game fishing.
- Easy access to Hell’s Kitchen, an eroded wasteland of sandstone, cliffs and precipices located north of the town – truly a landscape straight from Lucifer’s kitchen.
- Close proximity to Watamu Marine Park where the snorkeling and diving is exceptional. This is the most peaceful and safest beach in Kenya and long walks along the beach will reveal marine life in the exposed rock pools along the shore. Home to over 600 species of fish and other wonderful sea creatures (invertebrates, molluscs & crustacean), as well as sporting a coral garden 300 m from the shore, this is a diving haven.
- Proximity to Mambrui – a small Arabian nights town where Islamic relics and pottery from the Ming Dynasty have been unearthed.
- Proximity to Gedi, which had a population of 2000 in the early 16th century and then was deserted by the 18th Century. Excavations have revealed pillar tombs, a palace and a great mosque.
- Proximity to Arabuko Sokoke Forest, which is one of the largest remaining indigenous coastal forests in East Africa. You can find rare birds here, such as the East Sokoke Akalat, Amani Sunbird & Spotted Grandthrush, while smaller mammals like the Sokoke bushtailed mongoose, the golden rumped Elephant shrew, Golden Cat and brown hyena abound in the forest. Larger mammals can also be seen – Buffalo , Sini, Sykes monkey, yellow baboons and occasionally elephant. It hosts the Kipepeo Project where butterflies are reared and their pupae exported abroad.
- Access to Mida Creek located to the south, which is composed of extensive mudflats and mangrove forests, attracting a wide variety of flora and fauna.
- The biggest collection of snakes in Africa, at the Bioken Lab & Snake Farm.
- One of the largest collection of birds at the falconry – eagles, falcons, owls and goshawks.
- Proximity to Tsavo East National Park, where visitors can do a day or overnight trip to see big game.
- The best nighclubs and casinos on the coast, including open air clubs.
| Altitude: | 1 m above sea level |
| Area: | 360 sq km |
| Location: | South East Coastline of Kenya, Coast Province |
| Climate: | Hot and humid throughout the year. The mean daily temperatures are 30 degrees C maximum and 22 degrees C minimum. |
| Accessibility: | Malindi has an airport where schedule flights arrive from Nairobi. There are currently 4 airlines operating daily schedule flights from Nairobi. During the high season, charter companies from Europe operate direct flights to Mombasa and the passengers are transferred to Malindi by road. |
- Swim in balmy & safe waters of the Indian Ocean
- Engage in water sporting activities such as goggling, windsurfing, deep sea fishing, sailing, kite surfing, waterskiing, jetskiing, scuba diving, boat excursions, parasailing and boat racing.
- Spend a day scuba diving or snorkeling in the Watamu Marine Park
- Explore the mangroves at Mida Creek by boat.
- Visit the Bioken Laboratory and Snake Farm to see 200 snakes of 30 different varieties, as well as the African Snake Farm, the Snake & Crocodile Farm and Francis Ngombo Snake Farm in Gedi.
- Visit the Arabuko Sokoke Forest where you can hike, picnic or do an ornithological tour. Also visit the Kipepeo Project in the forest.
- Visit the Falconry where bird safaris can be arranged to see falcons close up, and watch them perform exciting flight shows.
- Take a day trip to Mambrui and Hell’s Kitchen
- Visit the St Xavier’s church, one of the oldest East African churches still standing strong.
- Visit Juma’s mosque which used to be a slave haven until the mid 1870s. You can also visit the pillar tombs next to the mosque – these are believed to have been built in the 15th century, for the Portuguese.
- Visit the Portuguese chapel, built in the 16th century, as a mark of the burial ground of 2 Portuguese sailors.
- Test your equestrian skills by horse riding at the Kibokoni Riding Centre
- Enjoy seafood pizzas at quaint Italian restaurants, before dancing the night away under a star filled sky.
- 3, 4 and 5-star beach hotel and private villas
- Luxury self-catering cottages
Best time to visit
December to March and August to October