Watamu is a small town located approximately 105 km north of

Mombasa Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of the British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital city status. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. The town is ...

and about 15 km south of

Malindi Malindi is a town on Malindi Bay at the mouth of the Sabaki River, lying on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is 120 kilometres northeast of Mombasa. The population of Malindi was 119,859 as of the 2019 census. It is the largest urban cen ...

on the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by ...

coast of

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

. It lies on a small headland, between the Blue Lagoon and Watamu Bay. Its main economic activities are

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism ...

and

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques ...

. The town has a population of around 30,000 in 2020 and it is part of the

Kilifi County Kilifi County was formed in 2010 as a result of a merger of Kilifi District and Malindi District, Kenya. Its capital is Kilifi and its largest town is Malindi. Kilifi county is one of the five counties that harbor the Kenyan Coast with 109k ...

Overview

The shoreline in the area features white sand beaches and offshore coral formations arranged in different

bay A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight. A cove is a small, circular bay with a nar ...

s and beaches: Garoda Beach, Turtle Bay, Blue Lagoon Bay, Watamu Bay, Ocean breeze, and Kanani reef and Jacaranda beach. They are protected as part of the Watamu Marine National Park. The Marine Park is considered one of the best

snorkeling Snorkeling ( British and Commonwealth English spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped breathing tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters ...

and

diving Diving most often refers to: * Diving (sport), the sport of jumping into deep water * Underwater diving, human activity underwater for recreational or occupational purposes Diving or Dive may also refer to: Sports * Dive (American football), ...

areas on the coast of

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the histori ...

. It is also rated the third-best beach in Africa, for its crystal clear water and silver sand beaches. In order to assist the managing authorities namely Kenyan Wildlife Service, in protecting the Park, local community groups, the tourist sector and environmental groups have formed a unique organisatio
Watamu Marine Association
Members of this group ar
Turtle BayHemingwaysOcean Sports
Arocha Kenya
Lonno Lodge
Mida Community Conservation group, Watamu Boat Operator, Safari Sellers and women's group. The ruins of Gedi (also known as Gede) are located near Watamu. File:Watamu Beach, Kenya 08.jpg Watamu Beach, Kenya Starfish.jpg Watamu Beach, Kenya 12.jpg File:Watamu Beach, Kenya 03.jpg Watamu Beach, Kenya 09.jpg

People of Watamu

According to archaeological findings, Watamu has been inhabited from the 13th Century. Watamu is home to the Bajuni people; who trace their origins from intermarriage between the local Giriama People and Arab traders. As of now, various tribes from inland Kenya such as the Luo, Kisii, Kikuyu, Kamba, Kalenjin, and Luhyas have all migrated to the area to work in the hotel industry. Notable people include: * Masha Mapenzi, gospel singer.

In popular culture

Masha Mapenzi's album which is titled ''Uhiko.'' Part of the events in the novel “Our Wild Sex in Malindi” (by

Andrei Gusev Andrei Evgenievich Gusev (russian: link=no, Андрей Евгеньевич Гусев, born 27 October 1952) is a Russian writer and journalist. He is the author of 10 inventions, 23 published scientific works. One of his co-authors is a winne ...

) takes place in Watamu. The novel describes a few years living in the

's suburb of Russian writer Andy and his wife, Jennifer, who was born in Kenya.

Natural environment

A newly discovered species of the largest spitting cobra in the world ('' Naja ashei'') was recently (2007) discovered in Watamu.Taylor, R
New Cobra Found in Watamu
/ref>

References

{{Authority control Swahili people Swahili city-states Swahili culture Kilifi County

Overview

People of Watamu

In popular culture

Natural environment

See also

References