Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Kenya Safari -Awesome Top 6 Coastal Attractions

By Karl-Heinz Straus

A traveler visiting the Kenyan coast has a range of options for sites to visit and activities. Watamu and Malindi are found in the coast of Kenya and they offer exciting activities like water sports, excursions on the pristine beaches, bird watching, game safaris and snake safaris among many others.

Safaris for travelers can be arranged from Mombasa Or Malindi towns. Malindi is just a two hour drive away from its nearest wildlife park. Parks found in Kenya offer safaris that will forever remain imprinted in your mind. A host of other activities are offered-

Kitesurfing

Kite surfing is coordinated from the Che Shale, in Watamu. The pristine beach provides very conducive conditions for kite surfing both professional riders and beginners alike. The Che Shale hotel provides an array of courses taught by professional instructors, state of the art equipment, rescue boats and everything else needed to learn safely.

Surfing

Malindi is the best spot on the Kenyan coast for surfing. The outer reefs attract a large swell all year round, peaking in June through September when the seasonal monsoons bring some excellent breakers. Surfers should bring their own boards and wax.

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Top notch diving sites are located on the North Coast. Diving usually goes on all year around though due to silting and high sea in the months of July and August visibility reduces. One of the most ideal sites is the Watamu marine National Park. They offer shallow corals ideal for beginners that gently slope out to the outer reef walls which make the advanced divers feel at home. Life under the sea is constantly humming with activity. You can be assured of sighting whales and sharks on the outer reefs during the February "March period of every year.

The Ruins at Gede

The Gede Ruins date back to the late 13th century and was abandoned in the early 17th century. The exact reason as to why the town was abandoned is not actually known though it is assumed that the town was plundered and destroyed by unknown invaders in the 17th century. A Nature Trail of deciduous forests dominates the inner and outer walls of the ruins and a small museum has been set up to exhibit ancient Arab, Chinese and Phoenician porcelain excavated from the ruins.

The Creek at Mida

This creek is found south of Malindi on the Mombasa Malindi road. The Mida creek is a 32km spectacle that comprises of mudflats and mangrove forests that are home to various flora and fauna. Many species of Mangroves can be found growing on this creek like Rhizophora mucronata, Avicenia Marina and Ceriops tagal and many others. On Sudi island along the edges of the mangrove forests the little egret, Osprey, Africa fish eagle and pied kingfisher are found. While the mudflats host the wooly necked storks, black and grey headed heron and yellow billed storks. Finally last but not least we find fiddler crabs, money crabs and ghost crabs along the sandy areas.

Snakes Safaris

The worlds largest spitting cobra Naja ashei was found and named after the late James Ashe who is the founder of bio-ken and a famous herpetologist. The bio-ken snake farm is 2 kilometers north of Watamu and is renowned for its large collection of snakes in Africa.

Naja ashei is a brown cobra which spits and a common reptile in the lowlands of Kenya. They are found in large numbers especially around the southern region of Tsavo East and Galana. This area is a favorite for snake lovers.

You may also visit the African Snake Farm off Mombasa-Malindi road just after Malindi Airport. Other snake farms worth visiting include the snake and crocodile farm near Malindi Marine Park and the Francis Ngombo Snake Farm near Gede.

The Amazing Arabuko-Sokoke Forest

This forest is a reserve located near Watamu where a number of rare endemic species of birds and animals live, including the Sokoke Owl, the Sokoke Cat and the Golden Rumped Elephant Shrew. There are guides and walking trails and it is a beautiful place for nature lovers and a birdwatchers paradise.

Malindi and Watamu have a lot more to offer, it is the ultimate tourist destination - 14915

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