Malindi
- Region
Kilifi County
Information status: VerifiedSource: The Eastleigh Voice (opens in a new tab) · checked 17 Oct 2026
- About
A coastal town in Kilifi County, about 120 km north-east of Mombasa, with the Vasco da Gama Pillar — a national monument managed by the National Museums of Kenya — and Kenya's first marine protected area.
Information status: VerifiedSources: The Eastleigh Voice (opens in a new tab); Kenya Tourism Board (Magical Kenya) (opens in a new tab) · checked 17 Oct 2026
- Highlights
- The Vasco da Gama Pillar, dated to 1498 or 1499 and gazetted as a national monument in 1935
- Malindi Marine National Park & Reserve, established in 1968: reefs, coral gardens, seagrass and mangroves
- Reef fish, sea turtles and humpback dolphins recorded in the marine park
Information status: VerifiedSources: The Eastleigh Voice (opens in a new tab); Kenya Tourism Board (Magical Kenya) (opens in a new tab) · checked 17 Oct 2026
- Good for
- Beach (only here among these)
- Culture
- Photography
KenyaPlus categories. Dark: only here among these places.
- Suggested time
At least 2 days
Information status: UnconfirmedKenyaPlus editorial guidance for a comfortable visit, not an official rule.
- Road time from Nairobi
~9 h, about 600 km — a long day
Information status: EstimatedDriving time on the road route from openrouteservice (OpenStreetMap data, built 2026-10-24), plus 20% for stops, towns and slower traffic. Real times depend on road condition, traffic and the time of day. Road routes © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT, map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
- When to go
Long rains March–May (peak expected in May in 2026); short rains October–December.
Information status: EstimatedA summary of Kenya's national rainfall pattern from the Kenya Meteorological Department: long rains March to May (with the peak in April inland and May on the coast, as KMD expected for 2026) and short rains October to December. Other months are shown as between the rains. Rain varies by year and place, and between-the-rains months can still be wet.
For Kilifi County, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains starting in the 2nd to 3rd week of October and ending in the 1st to 2nd week of December.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
A seasonal forecast, not a guarantee. KMD also issues monthly and weekly updates.
- Entry fees
KenyaPlus holds a fee record — see Malindi for figures and their label.
- Confirm before booking
- Marine park fees and boat or snorkelling trips (often tide-dependent)
- Opening hours and fees for the Vasco da Gama Pillar
- Flights to Malindi, or road conditions from Mombasa