MALINDI

Malindi is the second largest coastal town of Kenya. Malindi Municipality has today a population of about 145,000 inhabitants (in the year 1999) with the two most important townships namely Malindi (app. 81,000 inhabitants) and Watamu (app. 17,000 inhabitants). It is situated about 120 km north of Mombasa just a little south of the equator. The district has a coastline of 155 kilometres, Malindi Municipality has a land area of app. 360 sqkm. There are two principal roads crossing Malindi Municipality: the B 8 running south-north just inland the coast coming from Mombasa and leading to Garissa/ Lamu and the C 113 coming from Malindi to Tsavo Park in east-west direction. In Malindi Town the most important roads are tarmacked. It is generally hot and humid throughout the year. The long rains come from April to July and the short rains from October to November. The mean daily temperature is around 22o Celsius minimum and 30,5o Celsius maximum. Economically, the tourist sector is by far the most important industry in Malindi Municipality. The tourist attractions mainly relate to tropical water and beaches and the marine national parks. Today more than half of the local population benefit directly or indirectly from tourism. The Arabs founded Malindi as a town in the early thirteenth century. Before the arrival in East Africa of Arab from Arabia and the Persian Gulf the town of Malindi most likely did not exist. In this time the economy depended on fishing, hunting, agriculture, collecting of salt and an extensive trade in the Indian Ocean. Until the end of the fifteenth century Malindi had probably reached its zenith. On the 15th April 1498 Vasco da Gama reached Malindi. Malindi was at this time a kingdom and a wealthy town. Malindi has 155 kilometres of coastline with idyllic silver beaches fringed with swaying palm trees, Casuarinas and frangipani. The beaches are extensive and provide panoramic views of the ocean. The beaches are a paradise of sun and sand and protected from the sea marauders by wall of fringing reef. Malindi has got various woodcarvers who can make very unique furniture and also the famous Lamu beds. There are also local tour guides such as ahotsun to take you around to exotic places you have never seen before! Given that Malindi is a seaside resort, do not forget to go out swimming in the warm waters, go deep sea fishing or visit the marine park alongside sunbathing and other beach sports in this lovely aquatic paradise. Various activities, religious, cultural and other activities which involve the whole of Malindi community do take place and tourists are invited to attend such functions and have a feeling of being part of the community, for example, participation in beach cleaning, tree planting and religious festivals.