The finest coral reefs in East Africa are very close to the shore here in the warm Indian Ocean waters. Watamu and Malindi marine parks have been established to protect the incredible variety of fish, crustaceans and corals which live in this delicate eco

There is an airstrip at Malindi and frequent services are available from both Nairobi and Mombasa. The coast road from Mombasa to Malindi passes through Watamu after 120 km, the road is good and fairly straight. Watamu village has grown from a small fishing port into a popular beach resort, set around Turtle Bay are several resort hotels offering all grades of accommodation. Watamu Marine National Park is a complex of tidal and marine habitats and is entirely within the larger Malindi Marine National Park. The coral gardens are about 300m offshore and a glass bottomed boat hired from the shore will take you out to see and snorkel among the 600 species of fish and 110 stony corals found there, hundreds of species of crustaceans, molluscs and invertebrates also inhabit this water wonderland. The Mida Creek is a 6 km tidal inlet fringed with mangrove forest just south of Watamu, at low tide hundreds of wading birds parade the flats and shallow channels. The creek is an important wintering area for migrants from northern europe, sanderlings, sandpipers greenshanks and grey plovers are all common visitors and thousands of carmine bee-eaters roost among the mangroves together with several species of kingfisher. Unusual residents include the black and white crab plover with long legs and a huge heavy bill for breaking crabs and other crustaceans.

Turtle bay is a beautiful sweep of white sand, the shallow waters are safe for swimming and beach boys are rare. With a mask and snorkel a hidden world of movement and colour provides hours of entertainment on the coral reef just yards from the shore. The turtle bay beach club provides good value all inclusive accommodation and is especially good for families. Next door Hemmingway’s is more exclusive and specialises in game fishing, marlin, sailfish, shark and tuna can be caught off the coast during the August to April fishing season.

The surrounding Malindi Marine park extends from just south of Malindi town down the coast to the Mida Creek, established in 1968, this was Kenya’s first protected marine area. Glass bottom boats, snorkels and masks can be rented from the headquarters of the park at Casuarina Point. The trip out to the coral reef is probably the most popular outing for visitors to Malindi. The coral in the area has suffered some damage over the years due to high numbers of visitors and during the rainy season, between March and June, silt from the Galana river can make the water very murky.

Just south of Malindi town is the Bio-Ken Snake Farm which has the largest collection of snakes in East Africa, the farm organise snake safaris and is open to the public. Close by is the crocodile farm reputed to be home to over 1500 crocodiles.

About 30 km north east of town is the Marafa depression, a sandstone ridge which has been eroded into gorges, gullies and weird shapes, known locally as Hell’s Kitchen, visit at dawn or dusk when the colours are at their most vivid. Malindi itself is a town with a long history, an established seaside resort with numerous hotels, restaurants, bars discoteques and nightclubs. At the southern end of the town on a rocky headland overlooking the marine park stands a pillar erected by Vasco da Gama in 1499.

The interesting Swahili quarter in the old town has a busy market and the bus station is here, close by is Juma’s mosque and just further on the fish market and the Malindi Sea Fishing Club where international fishing competitions are held.