Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Najib Balala lands after a skydive in Watamu recently. TOP: Medina Palms, a hotel in Watamu. [PHOTOS: GIDEON MAUNDU and JAMES WANZALA/STANDARD]

Watamu means “sweet people”, and its a true testimony of what sweet pleasures there are in this town. The name came from a practice where Arab slave traders used to distribute sweets to entice the local population before taking them as slaves.

Watamu is a small town located approximately 105 km north of Mombasa and about 15 km south of Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya in Kilifi County. It is a beautiful and peaceful village, nestled between pristine beaches and a lush tropical forest.

It lies on a small headland, between the Blue Lagoon and Watamu Bay. Once a remote Swahili outpost at Gedi, this area has remained a haven of peace and tranquility and is still one of the coast’s least developed regions.

The presence of pleasant getaway facilities could be the major attraction of the town. The shoreline in the area features award-winning white sand beaches and offshore coral formations arranged in differents bays and beaches.

Some of the common bays and beaches are Garoda Beach, Turtle Bay, Blue Lagoon Bay, Watamu Bay, Ocean breaze, Kanani Reaf and Jacaranda Beach. They are protected as part of the Watamu Marine National Park.

The park is considered one of the best snorkelling and diving areas on the coast of East Africa. It is also rated the third best beaches in Africa, for its crystal clear water and silver sand beaches.

Activities

Turtle Bay Beach Club, Hemingways Resort, Ora Resort Watamu Bay, Ocean Sports Resort, Arocha Kenya,Lonno Lodge, Jacaranda Beach Resort, Medina Palms, Temple Point Resort, Eden Village Watamu Beach are just some of the top hotels in the area according to TripAdvisor.

I got an opportunity to fly to Malindi for work, and stayed at award-winning Medina Palms for two days sampling what Watamu has to offer.

The town is an ideal place for a break. You can do a lot of activities while here since it neighbours some of the best beaches. The town’s beach has been voted the best severally. In 2012, it was ranked among the best three out of 25 in Africa by CNN Travel Magazine, which placed Watamu and Diani second and third after Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh beach.

In 2015, Watamu Beach in Kilifi County took 14th position on the African continent in Traveller’s Choice Awards by TripAdvisor while Diani was voted third among the 25 beaches in Africa.

On one end of the beach you have Turtle Bay Beach Club, named the Silver winner of the Best Beach Tourism category at the World Responsible Tourism Awards 2015. On the other side of the reef within the park reserves it is not unusual to encounter Manta Rays, Whale-Sharks, Dolphins and Turtles.

You cannot visit Watamu without enjoying some of these top activities in the town which include water sports(snorkeling, scuba diving ,deep sea fishing, kayaking,boat riding, stand up paddle, kite surfing.

Mida Creek

If looking for a breezy romantic and quiet evening out, an excursion to Turtle Bay’s Mida Creek Dhow is a great place to be. Cruise along the calm waters of the Mida Creek with beautiful views of Kirepwe island, sunset and the mangroves.

You will see small islands and sandbanks that overlap with the landscape, and mangroves, stop for snorkeling at the marine park and then joined the mida, a natural split in the deep costs about five kilometres south of Watamu. It is distinguished from nature for fauna and flora, creating a completely different eco system-unique.

Visiting the historical sites to know more about the history of the like Gede Ruins is another outdoor activity. Not to forget fishing sports at Hemmingway’s Hotel to catch big game fish.

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