History & Nature in Malindi
Gedi ruins
After breakfast, pick up from your hotel and drive to Gedi Ruins.
This is one of the most visited places in Kenya and of the country’s greatest mysteries.The Gedi Ruins are located deep inside the lush green forests of Arabuko-Sokoke and near the Indian Ocean basin. The Gedi ruins remain a mystery to archaeologists. Proving that ancient African society was intricate and advanced, the Gedi ruins have all the markings of an ancient cosmopolitan settlement.
Thought to have been founded in the early 13th century, it was a city complete with streets, running water, and a sewage system. Archaeologists have also found Ming Chinese vases at the site, along with Venetian glass and other artifacts worldwide. Coral-brick houses, a palace, and even an impressive mosque remain as clear evidence that the Muslim inhabitants of the coastal Kenyan town were worldly merchants.
Arabuko Sokoke Forest
Procced to Arabuko Sokoke Forest for guided nature walk and bird watching. Other permanent species of Arabuko Sosoke Forest include Clarke's weaver, Savanah elephants, Sokoke scops owl, Sokoke Pipit, Amani Sunbird, Sokoke bushy-tailed mongoose, Spotted ground thrush, African cricket, baboons and vervet monkeys.
With a size of 420km2 Arabuko Sokoke Forest is the largest remaining section of a continuous dry coastal forest found in Eastern and Southern Africa.
It is a unique habitat characterized by an enormous flora and fauna biodiversity. Three different, distinct forest vegetation types as well as several seasonal pools provide habitats for over 600 plant species, 52 mammals species, over 230 bird species and 80 amphibian species.
Arabuko Sokoke Forest is very popular with bird watchers. Most of them come to see the Clarke’s Weaver, Amani Sunbird, the Sokoke Pipit, or the shy Sokoke Scopes Owl.
After a nature walk and bird watching, drive back to your hotel for lunch and relaxation.
The Beauty of Malindi
The Tour continues to Malindi Town and drives through the streets of the city center to visit the old city, the old market, its coastline, falconry, and the wood factory.
The old city is famous for its ancient charm and for its colorful chaotic markets that are full of retailers of all sorts, giving the opportunity to experience the local daily life.
At the old market, in particular, you can appreciate the sounds, colors, and smells of a typical African market and buy local handicrafts.
Before heading for lunch, visit Vasco Da Gama Pillar.
This Tower was built by the Portuguese 600 years ago. It has seen better days, as you can see. It was built by a Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.
He built the pillar strategically located as a sea route to traders to and from the Robinson Marafa-Hell’s Kitchen is locally referred to as Nyari, ‘the place broken by itself.
Temperatures can get to scorching levels during the day, hence the alias ‘Hell’s Kitchen’. The naturally shaped stone columns and shifting colors of this unusual sandstone mini-canyon were once the location for many ancient sacred rituals.
Local legend has it that there was once a town located in the depression. Now, worn away by wind, rain, and floods, the sandstone shows layer-cake-like colors of white, orange, deep crimson, and pink.
A visit to the gorge is particularly memorable at sunset when the hues are highlighted against the ribbed gullies of the sandstone.
You will later drive back to your hotel