Malindi and Watamu villages are known for their wonderful Indian Ocean beaches, which are among the best and most picturesque in Kenya.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Malindi has very nice hotels, visited mostly by Italian tourists. The beaches of Malindi are not as spectacular as the Watamu beaches (25 km to the south), and a disadvantage is that the sea is often coffee brown from the Sabaki River, which is not the case in Watamu.
Hire a tuk-tuk (three-wheeled taxi): most journeys cost Ksh 200 (shillings) or motorbike taxi at Ksh 100. Cheaper, greener and even more fun is a bicycle boda boda (ride pillion on the cushion over the back wheel) but disappears because of motorbike taxi. Normal taxis are the safest and most comfortable transport, and for your safety should be preferred over tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis at night.
1 Vasco da Gama Pillar. After being turned away from Mombasa, it was here where the explorer Vasco de Gama landed. The pillar stands at the point where he came ashore. There is an entrance fee to see the pillar. Malindi Museum Society, along the seafront, on an excellent site, some few meters from Malindi jetty and Fish Market, ☏ +254 042-31479. M-Sa 8:30AM-5:30PM. The two-room museum features temporary exhibits including famous Malindi Coelacanth. It is housed in a two-storey building dating from 1891 also known as House of Columns. Ksh. (updated Mar 2021) 2 Portuguese chapel, Silversand Road.
Scuba dive. There are plenty of places to hire kit, join a group or get instruction in the beach hotels. Snorkel. best place is near Jacaranda Beach Resort. Tours start by boat from Watamu Beach. Walk or jog. The huge, magnificent white beach north of the pier is perfect. Surf. Anywhere north of the Eden Roc from May to October. Kitesurf. There's a school north of the town. The fine sandy beaches of Watamu are among the best and most scenic beaches in Kenya. The main beaches are: 1 Turtle bay beach. A beautiful bay with fine light sand runs parallel to the coast road reachable through either one of the hotel resorts or one of several narrow entrances between the resorts.
1 I Love Pizza, Seafront Rd. Reasonably priced pizzas, seafood and meat dishes. One of the longest running restaurants in Malindi. 2 Driftwood Beach Club. Restaurant open daily, and has snack menu during the day. Popular curry lunch every Sunday overlooking the Indian Ocean. 3 Osteria. Italian, seafood, Mediterranean. (updated Jan 2018) 4 La Rosada. Pizza, Italian, seafood. (updated Jan 2018) There are many restaurants and bars in Watamu. Due to the domination of Italian and British tourists the dishes are adjusted to the taste of these guests. 5 Papa Remo. Italian, seafood, Mediterranean. (updated Jan 2018) 6 Safina Beach Bar & Grill. African, seafood.
1 Club 28. (updated Nov 2018) 2 Pata Pata Beach Club. One of the most beautiful Malindi nightclubs. Very large and live music. (updated Nov 2018) 3 Uk Lounge. (updated Nov 2018) 4 Fermento Disco Bar. One of the best night clubs of Malindi. (updated Nov 2018) 5 Come Back Club. Very nice place with African and European music managed by an Italian. (updated Nov 2018) 6 Club Kalahari. One of the best clubs in Watamu. (updated Nov 2018) 7 Watamu Bay Disco & Lounge. (updated Nov 2018) 8 Club Pole Pole. (updated Nov 2018)
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Malindi typically sees ~28°C daytime highs and 22 rainy days.
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