The Kenyan coast is lined with a mixture of beautiful white sand
beaches and tourist resorts, interspersed with Arab and Portuguese
forts, overgrown ruins of Swahili outposts and old trading port
towns that are the remnants of its fascinating history. The first
traders along the coast were Arabs from the Persian Gulf and
several settlements developed during the 12th century. The
KiSwahili language that evolved as a means of communication between
the locals and the Arab traders is still spoken today. Trade
continued even after the Portuguese took control of the whole
coastal region in 1498 and throughout the towns the architecture
reflects the changes in occupation and their cultural
differences.
Spectacular coral reefs with colourful plant and fish life
provide world-class snorkelling and diving among pristine coral
gardens in the pleasantly warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The
marine parks at Malindi, Watamu Bay and Shimoni contain undisturbed
coral reefs and enormous fish due to the lack of coastal fishing
traffic.
Mombasa is the centre of activity in the region and Kenya's
second largest town. North of Mombasa the coast is lined with
resort complexes catering mainly to package tourists, with luxury
accommodation, fine cuisine and excellent services. Calm waters and
palm-backed beaches are in abundance. Further north is the resort
town of Malindi, as well as Watamu Bay, and the islands of the Lamu
Archipelago.
The south coast was once remote and inaccessible, covered in
lush forest and renowned for its slave trade and tropical
plantations, but today little of the forest remains and it has
become part of Kenya's mainstream tourism. The region's popularity
is due to its image as an idyllic haven with white beaches and
azure waters, where sheltered waters protected by coral reefs
invite underwater exploration. The coast is host to a wide range of
resorts offering excellent facilities, but also has many less
developed getaways. Further south the small fishing village of
Shimoni is home to a series of deep coastal caves and is a popular
base for diving and deep-sea fishing.
