Kenya Coast Mombasa is the major city of the Kenyan coast. It has a long and rich history dating back centuries and today, although modern tourist hotels have been built along its beaches, parts of the island remain the same way they were centuries ago. A walk around the old town feels like ‘taking a step back in time’ – narrow streets, overhanging balconies and huge intricately carved doors are some of the features of this old town. There is an old harbor that is still used by traders’ dhows from the Persian gulf, Pemba and Zanzibar.

A visit to this harbor is always included in a city tour of Mombasa. About 130km north of Mombasa you’ll find the next town called Malindi. Both Malindi and the adjoining Watamu bay have become a tourist resort with hotels lining their beaches. One of the main attractions in Malindi is the Marine National Park which boasts an amazing variety of corals and colorful fish that can be admired trough glass bottomed boats or by directly snorkeling among them. Between Watamu bay and Malindi lies Gede, the best-preserved remains of an Arab town on the coast.

This ruined city dates back to the thirteenth century. Partial restoration has made its great mosque, portions of its palace and other dwellings more accessible. Quite a few unusual bird species can be found as well as some rare tiny mammals like bats, shrews, bush babies, monkeys, duikers and squirrels. Lamu archipelago off the Kenyan coast further north is one of the few remaining pieces of history in the region. Antique stone houses, huge carved doors, women dressed in traditional black bui-buis and traditional dhows with huge triangular sails are some of the trade marks of the island.

The biggest attraction however, is the unspoilt culture and atmosphere of busy days of the past where Donkeys take the place of cars. Here, life goes on much as it was hundreds of years ago. In spite of this, Lamu has moved to become a resort for the discerning tourist with several small homely hotels set up on its beaches.