Malindi

Malindi, the country's second-largest coastal town, is 120 km (75 mi) north of Mombasa and has been an important port for hundreds of years. In ancient Chinese documents,"Ma Lin De" is referred to as a stop on the trade route. The town battled with Mombasa for control of the coast, which explains why Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama received such a warm welcome when he landed here in 1498 but was given the cold shoulder in Mombasa. The Vasco da Gama Cross, made from Portuguese stone, sits on a promontory on the southern tip of the bay. Malindi, with its narrow streets, beautiful houses, and colonial hotels, is certainly worth a visit. It's a much more laid-back place than Mombasa and is an attractive place for an after-safari beach break. Lots of expatriates, particularly Italians, have made their home here, so you can expect a fair degree of sophistication in the hotels, resorts, eating places, and shops. The Old Town is still a great place to hunt for colorful fabrics and antiques, and the beach is clean and attractive, although it gets a bit seaweedy in spring. The coastal town has two nearby parks, Malindi and Watamu. These are marine parks where you can watch fish and corals from a glass bottom boat or snorkel, but the collection or destruction of shells is strictly forbidden. It also offers deep-sea fishing and other water sports. It's an easy place to get around because there are lots of tuk tuks and boda bodas (bicycle taxis), which are everywhere day and night.