Watamu, Kenya: travel guide
Quiet beach town with a marine park, a mangrove creek and the Gede ruins
Small coastal town on Kenya's north coast, about 17 km south of Malindi, built around its own UNESCO-listed Watamu Marine National Park, Mida Creek's mangrove waterway, and the nearby Gede ruins.
About Watamu
Watamu is a small beach town on Kenya's north coast, about 17 km south of Malindi, with a character of its own. Soft white sand, clear shallows and coral gardens in Watamu Marine National Park make it a favourite for snorkelling and diving, and sea turtles are a familiar sight along this stretch of coast.
Inland the pace changes. Mida Creek is a tidal waterway fringed with mangroves, good for birdwatching and paddling, and the Gede ruins are the remains of a Swahili town set in forest, with walls, a mosque and house foundations to explore among monkeys and birds.
Watamu suits couples, families and anyone looking for a calm beach base rather than a busy resort town. The coast is warm throughout the year, with December to March and June to October the most popular times to visit.
- Country
- Kenya
- Currency
- KES
- Time zone
- Africa/Nairobi
Last updated
Top places to visit in Watamu
Gede Ruins
ruins · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The atmospheric ruins of a 12th-century Swahili town swallowed by forest — palace, mosques and houses among giant baobabs.
Watamu Marine National Park
marine park · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
Turquoise coves and coral gardens protected since 1968 — snorkelling, diving, dolphins and seasonal whale sharks.
Mida Creek
mangrove creek · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A tidal mangrove creek near Watamu with a boardwalk, birdlife and canoe trips — spectacular at sunset.
Things to do
- Watamu Marine Park Snorkelling Trip Water Sports · 3 h · from KES 4,000 per person
- Gede Ruins Guided Tour Walking Tour · 2 h · from KES 2,000 per person
- Mida Creek Sunset Canoe & Boardwalk Nature · 2.5 h · from KES 2,500 per person
- Watamu Deep-Sea Fishing Charter Fishing · 6 h · from KES 25,000 per person
Where to stay in Watamu
Hotels
- Hemingways Watamu 5-star · KES 25,000 to KES 45,000 per night
- Watamu Treehouse 4-star · KES 12,000 to KES 18,000 per night
- Ocean Sports Resort 3-star · KES 10,000 to KES 16,000 per night
Where to eat
- Ocean Sports Seafood, International · about KES 2,000 per person
- Crab Shack Dabaso Seafood, Swahili · about KES 1,200 per person
- Pili Pan Italian, Pizza · about KES 1,800 per person
Getting to Watamu
Nearest airport: Malindi (MYD), about 17 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Motorbike Rental
- Tuktuk
- Walking