Malindi: Kenya's finest holiday destination

From the clean beaches to the state-of-the-art resorts and villas, Malindi is the place to enjoy an unforgettable holiday, writes JECKONIA OTIENO

One of Kenya’s favourite holiday destinations for foreign and local tourists is Malindi. The mix of indoor and outdoor leisure sites leave visitors spoilt for choice.

The journey from Nairobi to Malindi is exhilarating and long, especially if you use road transport.

What is striking upon arriving at the town are the numerous tuktuks that are the main means of transport for tourists around the town. They rattle their way along the streets, to the beach, hotel or resort home.

Unforgettable about Malindi are the many resorts, villas and holiday homes, which are specifically designed for maximum leisure and pleasure, threatening to dethrone Mombasa that has for many years been the Mji wa raha.

My destination was Johari Villas, a few metres from the Malindi Marine Park that is usually packed by local and foreign tourists in the peak season.

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For those who appreciate architectural design, the villas that line the shore of the ocean are spectacular.

African art

As the tyres crunch the gravel inside the compound, the searing heat is unbearable and I am forced to quickly take cover under the nearest coconut bough. No amount of speculation from outside can match the splendour that meets a visitor once they walk into this holiday home.

The path that has well-trimmed flower shrubs winds beautifully along the wall before it ushers you into an open compound with an expansive swimming pool.

As you approach the swimming pool, the floor changes from stone to marble, which sparkles in the sunshine. I spent a few minutes admiring the beauty of the pool, its clean tranquil water and the beautiful marble floor beneath.

The modern structures are cleverly intertwined with traditional aspects of African art. The woodcarvings, seashells and mats at the lounge, along the wooden stairs and in the bedrooms speak of great appreciation for art. These relics are very indigenous yet they maintain the majesty of the villas.

The makuti roofs act as natural coolers, which make the place bearable, different from the sweltering heat that marks the coastal region.

Wood is generously used and the interwoven ropes that join the railings, which mark the balconies, add to the serenity of the area.

Beach football

Within the compound are short concrete pillars on which stand magnificent bulbs to light the compound at night. The coconut boughs are carefully spread out in the compound, offering shade to those who do want to sit on the verandas or lounges.

From a distance, the roar of the ocean is quite audible as it bashes against the reefs at the shore. For those who like staying indoors, the beauty of Johari would just be sufficient, but those who love the outdoors have an opportunity to venture out into the sea.

Just like many holiday destinations, the prices in Malindi differ with seasons. December, January, March and April are the busiest months, with most hotels insisting on early booking.

To encourage domestic tourism, villas offer special rates during the weekends so that it is not only left to foreign tourists. Domestic tourists are also given a special package.

The daring have the opportunity to engage in excursions into the deep sea, such as deep-sea fishing or snorkelling.

The other outdoor activity that is worth a visitor’s time, but has not been given much notice, is the beach football that gathers many local residents who sweat it out barefoot on a small sandy patch. The sport that happens almost every day is quickly turning into a social attraction for tourists.

Apart from the many public and private beaches where visitors can enjoy swimming, boating and other activities, there are other attractions such as the Vasco da Gama Pillar, the House of Columns and the Portuguese Chapel.

Malindi nightlife

Many of these sites have a rich history that is founded on early visitors to the Coast. Some of the earliest installations that were built by the Portuguese and the Arabs stand to date and a visit to Malindi is not complete without touring them.

Among the most notable sites is the Vasco da Gama Pillar, which was built by Vasco da Gama in the 1490s when he arrived at the Coast.

The pillar, which is currently under the care of the National Museums of Kenya, is a real gem in the history of Kenya because it is a reminder to generations to come that Kenya has come a long way.

Adding to the town’s history is the Portuguese Chapel, which was a safe haven for Christians during the early years when Christianity was trying to find its footing in Africa.

The chapel, which stands not very far from the seashore, has graves of Europeans who died during the period.

Also worth touring is the House of Commons, which is now a museum. The house has stood the test of time and has been a residential house before changing hands and name to become a museum.

Inside it lie many artefacts from the culture of the indigenous people like the Giriama, Duruma and the other member communities of the Mijikenda.

If you thought Karen Blixen only existed in Nairobi, you are wrong. Unlike its counterpart in Nairobi that is a situated in Karen and also acts a museum, the Karen Blixen in Mombasa is a coffee house situated right in the middle of town.

Nightlife in Malindi is a venture. From the many nightclubs where patrons dance the night away to the private beaches where tourists hang out late into the night, the warm nights are very vibrant.

With the building of Africa’s biggest port in Lamu, Malindi stands to benefit immensely.