Watamu, Malindi and Gede Ruins

Marine parks, sea turtles, a lost Swahili town in the forest and sunset at Mida Creek.

North of Mombasa, Watamu is a quieter, greener stretch of coast with some of Kenya's best marine life. Its protected marine park has coral gardens, turtles and countless reef fish, and the beaches are wide and peaceful.

Inland, the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest is one of the last coastal forests in East Africa, with rare birds found almost nowhere else. Hidden inside it are the haunting ruins of Gede, an ancient Swahili town. Add the sunsets at Mida Creek, and you have a coast holiday full of discovery.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Arrive in WatamuFly to Malindi and transfer to your beach hotel in Watamu.
2. Watamu Marine National ParkSnorkel among coral and tropical fish by glass-bottom boat, then visit the local sea turtle rescue centre.
3. Gede Ruins and Arabuko-Sokoke ForestWalk through the ruins of Gede, an ancient Swahili town hidden in the forest, then look for rare birds and elephant shrews in Arabuko-Sokoke.
4. Malindi and Mida CreekSee the Vasco da Gama Pillar in Malindi, then walk the Mida Creek boardwalk at sunset as wading birds gather.
5. DepartureMorning on the beach, then fly back from Malindi.

Every Afritrek trip is private, so you can start on any date, add extra nights, and change any part of this plan.

What's included