The Kenyan Coast
MOMBASA
Mombasa is a magnet from visitors from all over the world, and Kenya’s premiere tourist attraction. It is famous for pristine beaches that stretch along the North and South Coasts, and cultural attractions dating back several hundred years. As well as a tropical climate year-round where all age groups can enjoy recreational activities and water sports, Mombasa spoils visitors with succulent fresh seafood and vibrant nightlife.
Jumba la Mtwana is a national monument just north of Mtwapa. Occupied between A.D. 1100 and 1750, the ruins of Jumba la Mtwana are a Swahili slaving settlement with some fascinating structures that still remain including stone mansions and tombs of the privileged. Archaeological evidence suggests that the people of Jumba where committed to the Islamic virtue of cleanliness. Many of the houses contain the remains of water cisterns, washing platforms and stone lined latrines.
Ngomongo Villages is a sustainable eco-cultural tourist village. The village is a collection of 10 diverse rural Kenya Tribal Homesteads, complete with hut, cultivated crops, domestic, wild animals and even a village witch doctor. Each village has activities that visitors can participate in including archery, boating, rafting, tasting tribal foods, trekking, hook fishing, grinding and pounding maize.
LAMU
Lamu is a place like no other, a peaceful tropical island where life is lived at its own relaxed rhythm, but a place whose history is as mysterious and fascinating as the winding streets of its medieval stone town. The island itself is a beautiful place of rolling dunes and endless beaches, where tiny villages nestle among coconut and mango plantations and lateen sailed dhows ply the waters.
Kiwayu Island is in the northeast of the Lamu archipelago and part of the Kiunga Marine National Reserve. Many visitors to the island come to snorkel on the coral reefs, on the eastern side of the island. The animals found on the reserves are often migratory such as elephant and buffalo. The permanent residents are lion, cheetah, serval, caracal, lesser kudu, monkeys and the rare African hunting dog.
Mida Creek is extensive mangrove forests, warm shallow waters and large areas of mud flats at low tide. Many local birds call Mida Creek home, such as the greater flamingo, yellow-billed stork, great white egret and malachite kingfisher. It is also the winter home of many migrant birds such as the crab plover, curlew sandpiper, whimbrel and sanderling. The best area to view water birds is at the head of the creek and the best time for bird watching is from March to May.
MALINDI
Malindi conjures up visions of a great historic town that has journeyed through ages. The culture, economy and general setup of any given place changes with time, and Malindi has journeyed through these eras with much pomp and flair from the time of the early Chinese and Arab traders to the Portuguese sailors and later on to European settlers who alongside other investors have transformed Malindi into a reputable destination of tourism importance.
Hell's Kitchen or Nyari is a geological irregularity. Over time, wind and rain have eroded a ridge of sandstone into a set of gorges. The colors and views of the Marafa Depression are well worth the visit. The colors of the exposed sandstone range from off-white to pale pinks and from oranges to deep crimson.
Tana River Primate National Reserve is a small reserve, created to protect a small number of primates, which have no other location in Kenya. There are two species, the Red Colobus and the Crested Mangabey.
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