Watamu is a small town in Kenya. It’s located approximately 105 km north of Mombasa in and about 15 km south of Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It lies on a small headland, between the Blue Lagoon and Watamu Bay. Its main economic activities are tourism and fishing.
- The Sunrises are amazing!
Even on a cloudy day the view is to die for. After waiting in vain to see the sun, I just sat down and enjoyed the view. I am not an early riser but I have no problem whatsoever waking up before 6 am just to walk to the beach to catch the sunrise.
- The Sunsets are stunning too!
- The beaches are pristine.
- You can swim with the dolphins.
To be more accurate you can ride in a boat and watch the dolphins. Dolphins can be seen all year round and if you are lucky you can also spot humpback whales. The best time to spot the whales is July to October.
- The snorkelling there is astonishing.
You must visit the marine park if you go to Watamu. Swimming with the fish is one of the most amazing feelings ever.
- The resorts are breathtaking.
In my opinion the best time to visit Watamu is during the low season. Hotels are cheaper and life is even more chill.
- Watamu is full of history
The Gede ruins are the remains of a Swahili town, located in Gede which is a village that lies 16 km south of Malindi town and approximately 90 km North East of Mombasa. Technically the Gede ruins are not in Watamu, but they are less than a 30min drive from the village so they count! They trace their origin in the twelfth century, but was rebuilt with new town walls in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
I hope those are more than enough reasons to entice you to visit Watamu if you are ever on the Kenyan coast!
This story was curated by Rachael Kimaku.