Culture and history

Wander the forest ruins of Gedi

Palaces, houses and a mosque emerging from the trees: Gedi has the atmosphere of a lost city — and it is just a short trip from the beaches of Watamu.

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A tall stone pillar tomb among the coral-stone ruins of Gedi, surrounded by forest

Where

What our sources say

The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024 — Kenya's eighth.
Information status: Verified
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Committee (opens in a new tab); National Museums of Kenya (opens in a new tab) · checked 17 Oct 2026
More in the guide: Watamu: reefs, turtles and the Gedi ruins
Gedi was one of the most important Swahili cities on the East African coast between the 10th and 17th centuries. Its buildings are of coral stone and lime mortar, and it lies 6.5 km inland from the coast.
Information status: Verified
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Committee (opens in a new tab) · checked 17 Oct 2026
More in the guide: Watamu: reefs, turtles and the Gedi ruins
The ruins include stone houses, a palace and a mosque, set in indigenous forest. The site is cared for by the National Museums of Kenya.
Information status: Verified
Source: National Museums of Kenya (opens in a new tab) · checked 17 Oct 2026
More in the guide: Watamu: reefs, turtles and the Gedi ruins