An old town reigns at Gede Ruins

Ngumbao Kithi

Gede Ruins, 94km North of Mombasa on the Mombasa-Malindi Road is an old historic site.

It is a major attraction to both tourists and the local people due to its history. Gede Ruins give the best example of an old-African town during the times of the slave trade and its significance to date.

Gazetted since 1927, the monument is now managed by the National Museums of Kenya. The excavated ruins on the shallow coral rag has grown a lowland semi-deciduous forest maintained by rainfall of around 1,100mm per year.

The monument and its environs were gazetted in 1927.

The 44-hectares site surrounded by farmland is entirely fenced and has about 35 hectares of Coastal forest. It is traversed by narrow paths that wind between the excavated buildings.

Despite its small size, Gede is an important site for the globally threatened spotted ground thrush. About 110 species of birds inhabit the area between March and October each year but these numbers have been declining over the years.

Historic site

The ruined walls and buildings, overgrown with beautiful forest trees, are extremely attractive, making the place a popular destination for tourists at the Coast.

The forest is now completely surrounded by farmed land, and up until recently, other forest patches in the Malindi-Watamu area.

The ruins have been protected and tourists and other visitors have the opportunity to learn how ancient villages existed and its importance to the local people.