Malindi

Malindi (once known as Melinde) is a town on Malindi Bay at the mouth of the Galana River, lying on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is 120 kilometres northeast of Mombasa.

Tourism is the major industry in Malindi. The city is exceptionally popular among Italian tourists. Malindi is served with a domestic airport and a highway between Mombasa and Lamu. The nearby Watamu resort and Gedi Ruins (also known as Gede) are located south of Malindi. The mouth of the Sabaki River lies in northern Malindi. The Watamu and Malindi Marine National Parks form a continuous protected coastal area south of Malindi. The area shows classic examples of Swahili architecture.

Malindi has been a Swahili settlement since the 14th century. Once rivaled only by Mombasa for dominance in this part of East Africa, Malindi has traditionally been a port city for foreign powers. In 1414, the town was visited by the fleet of the Chinese explorer Zheng He. Malindi's ruler sent a personal envoy together with a giraffe as a present to China on that fleet.

The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama met Malindi authorities in 1498 to sign a trade agreement and hire a guide for the voyage to India, when he erected a still existent coral pillar. In 1499 the Portuguese established a trading post in Malindi which served as a resting stop on the way to and from India.

A church dates from this era. The pillar stands to this day, though there have been calls by conservationists to take care of the pillar, since soil erosion might make the pillar fall into the ocean. Many traditional buildings survive, including the Juma Mosque and palace on the beach, a stretch popular with tourists.
Malindi is more a sea-side village than a town, with one main street and has been a tourism centre for many years. Today it attracts mainly Italians and many have bought land and built their own villas and swimming pools. Real estate agents offer properties for sale. Three wheel taxis, known as Tuk Tuks vie for road space with pedestrians and bicycles. The town is a busy place.

The beaches, like most in Kenya, run straight for many miles. However, the near by Sabaki river mouth to the north, has silted the adjacent beaches and Malindi’s northern beaches have extended about 200 to 300 meters, creating new riparian land and brown beaches full of mica that reduces their visual appeal. Beach hotels close to the town centre have suffered and one has become a ruin. However, Clubs and Casinos offer plenty of night life entertainment. Many shops carry Italian goods and Malindi is sometimes referred to as Little Italy.

Beaches to the south side of Malindi are not affected and remain beautiful powered white and are close to a fabulous marine park.

Malindi Marine Park and Reserve is located to the south of Malindi town and  is endowed with magnificent resources such as fringing reefs, coral gardens in the lagoons, sea grass beds, mangroves, mudflats, and high fish diversity, marine mammals such as dolphins,  turtles and various species of shorebirds.