Malindi: beaches, Swahili history and marine park

Malindi, about 120 km north of Mombasa, is an old Swahili city turned seaside resort. It combines long beaches, a marine park, a small Portuguese heritage and the nearby Gedi ruins, with a long Italian presence that gives it a character of its own: Italian cafés, ice-cream parlours and restaurants. The town is a little faded in places; it suits those who want history and beach without the staging of the southern resorts. Information seen in October 2026.

Highlights

The Vasco da Gama Pillar

A coral-stone cross erected in 1498 on a headland by the sea, a historic landmark of the town, run by the National Museums of Kenya. The view over the Indian Ocean is lovely at sunset.

The old town

Alleys, a mosque and Swahili-style houses to explore on foot; the small Portuguese chapel of St Francis Xavier and the Malindi museum are nearby.

Malindi Marine National Park

One of the oldest marine parks in Africa, with coral gardens, turtles and reef fish, reached by glass-bottom boat or for snorkelling. The KWS entry fee is usually paid with the boat.

The Gedi ruins

The Swahili city of the 13th to 17th centuries swallowed by the forest, about fifteen kilometres to the south: see the page on the Gedi ruins.

Marafa ("Hell's Kitchen") and the Sabaki estuary

A red sandstone canyon about 40 km from the town, and an estuary where you can watch birds and hippos: two half-day excursions.

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