Four activities along the Kenyan coast
1. Visit Watamu turtles
The Watamu Turtle Watch
and Local Ocean Trust is a
not-for-profit organisation
that works to protect Kenya’s
marine environment. Watamu
Turtle Watch is a rehabilitation
centre in Watamu on Kenya’s
northern coast. Visitors
are taken on a tour of the
facilities and taught about
the myriad threats turtles
face, including pollution and
development of the beaches
where they nest. The turtle
project was started by local
residents and includes a
nest-monitoring programme.
Sick and injured turtles are
also rehabilitated at the
centre and then released
into the ocean. The centre is
open from Tuesday to Friday
from 09h30 to 12h00 and
14h00 to 16h00, on Monday
afternoons from 14h00 to
16h00 and Saturday mornings
from 09h30 to 12h00.
2. Snorkelling and diving
Kenya has four marine parks
– Malindi, Watamu, Mombasa
and Kisite Mpunguti – with
dive operators based in each
of these areas. The coral
reefs boast a diversity of fish
and marine creatures. Larger
species that can be spotted
on a dive include Green sea
turtles, dolphins, Reef sharks
and Manta rays. There are
also plenty of tiny species,
and wrecks and caves can be
explored. Although diving is
offered year-round, October
to February is considered the
best time. Recommended dive
spots include the Vuma Caves
near Kilifi Creek outside
Watamu, the purpose-sunk
MV Dania off the coast of
Mombasa, and the Pinnacles,
which offer an advanced deep
dive, north of the Mombasa
Marine Reserve.
3. Explore the Gedi ruins
The Gedi ruins are about
15km south of Malindi and
10km north of Mombasa,
on Kenya’s northern coast.
Local guides offer tours of
the ruins, which date back
many centuries. The ruins
were inhabited by a nomadic
Ethiopian tribe, the Aroma
people, between the 12th and
17th centuries, after which
they were abandoned. It is
not known why this happened,
although theories include
the lack of fresh water and
possible conflicts in the
area. The ruins are built from
crushed coral and cement and
are in a tropical forest. The
archaeological site has yet to
be fully excavated because of
a lack of funding.
4. Discover Mombasa
Mombasa, Kenya’s second
largest city after Nairobi, is
a historic city, with Kenyan
school history books placing
its founding as far back as
AD 900, while it is mentioned
as a trading town by Arab
geographer, Al Idrisi, in 1151.
The city is also a cultural
melting pot, with immigrants
from Portugal, Britain,
Asia and the Middle East
influencing its architecture
and cuisine. The historic old
town boasts spice markets
and ancient buildings,
including the Unesco World
Heritage Site, Fort Jesus, built
by the Portuguese and dating
from the 16th century.
Laikipia ups security for travellers
THE Kenyan government
is assuring tourists
visiting Laikipia that the
conservancies and ranches
in the county are safe. This
follows a series of incidents,
including the murder of
Tristan Voorspuy, co-owner
of Offbeat Safaris and
Sosian Ranch in Laikipia,
who was killed in an
ambush in early March.
Kenya Police spokesman,
Charles Owino, said police
had heightened security
in the county to protect
visitors, investors and
tourist facilities, including
camps and lodges.
According to the Kenya
Tourism Board and Kenya
Tourism Federation, the
present unrest is restricted
to a few localities and a
small number of ranches.
The well-known wildlife
conservancies, and tourism
facilities in the rest of
Laikipia are not affected and
remain calm and peaceful.
Sosian Ranch has
suspended its tourism
activities until the end of
April as a result of the
unrest in Laikipia. Other
operators in the region are
continuing with business as
usual and say they remain
unaffected.
Serena Hotels issued
a statement that read:
“Sweetwaters Serena
Camp and Ol Pejeta House
are on the 44 500-ha
Ol Pejeta Conservancy in
Southern Laikipia.
“We regret the current
problems brought about
by the drought in the area
and remain confident
that government, private
sector and the pastoralist
communities are working
hand in hand to reinforce
law and order whilst they
seek a lasting solution.”
The affected area is about
100km from the Ol Pejeta
Conservancy. “We remain
vigilant and will continue
to provide updates on the
situation,” adds Serena.
Book it!
RwandAir is offering promotional fares to destinations throughout Africa.
Flights from Kigali to Nairobi start from R5 750, Entebbe from R5 450,
Dar es Salaam from R4 470, Kilimanjaro from R4 470 and Mombasa
from R6 850, including taxes. Tickets must be issued on or before March
30, for travel up to April 30. Subject to availability of N-class only.
