The tropical coast retreats
- Author Peter Philip
- Published December 25, 2010
- Word count 750
Kenya coast offers one of the most amazing beauties of apt tropical tranquil that leave lifelong memories to holiday makers. From the south coast to the north, there are infinite matchless varieties of surreal holiday experiences.It is for this reason that African Adventure crew – your preferred, informative and authoritative travel informer have ‘pitched our tents’ along serene tropical coast.
In the next few consecutive editions of our Nature series, we will sample the utmost of Kenyan coast. And today, we start with Watamu, its contrasting environs, uniqueness and attractions.
Watamu is an amazing paradise of sun and sand with an international reputation for its reef-protected beaches, offering safe sunbathing at both high and low tides all the year round. The natural feature most obvious to the visitor is of course the marine park.
The park was created in 1968 and is part of the far larger Malindi-Watamu marine reserve, which includes Mida creek. The marine park extends from Blue Lagoon in the North to Whale Island in the south and is mainly a lagoon habitat with depths in the central channel up to 6 meters (approx 20 feet), and some isolated holes by the turtle reef of up to 12 meters (approx 39 feet)
For competent swimmers, snorkeling can be done direct from the beach. However, beware of tidal currents, especially near the entrance to the Mida creek. In addition to snorkeling, there is an assortment of other water sports, ranging from surfing, deep sea fishing and scuba diving which is rated the best in East Africa.
The most spectacular areas for snorkeling are around the Coral Gardens and the adjacent Richard Burnet reef, where a vast array of tropical fish can be seen. Theses include the surgeon fish, snappers, parrot fish, angel fish, puffer fish, butterfly fish, trigger fish and many other awesome spectacles of variety and color.
Rays can also be seen swimming through the water in a graceful flying motion while, on occasion, you might see some young reef sharks in the shallows. No need to worry – they are harmless and are usually just lazing around.Most of the hard coral species occurring in the Kenya coast have been identified with a healthy reef system. Most easily recognizable corals are the Porites Hump corals – which are slow-growing and may be up to 4 meters (13 feet) in diameter.
There is an ornithological paradise at Mida creek, a wide variety of tropical reef fish in the adjacent waters of Watamu and endemic flora and fauna in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest.The unique Kipepeo project which is located near the entrance of the Gede ruins is worth a visit. The project is a small community based butterfly farm that exports pupae to Europe and the United States for use in live butterfly exhibits.
With over a decade in operation, the project incorporates 150 butterfly farmers who mainly consist of local families that live adjacent to the Eastern border of the Arabuko Sokoke forest.
Here you will be able to see the delicate, gentle and inimitable rearing procedure and also sample a visitor centre illustrating interesting displays and information. There is also a large flight cage to wander through and see a selection of Arabuko Sokoke butterflies at a close range.
Another fascinating place worth a visit is Gede ruins. This historic site is known to be one of the ancient Arab towns which dotted the East African coastline. It dates back to the late 13th to early 14th century and was finally abandoned in the early 17th century.At its helm of prosperity, Gede had a population of over 2500 people.
The Gede ruins gained the status of Historic Monument in 1972 and much excavation and preservation work has been carried out over the years so that the larger areas of the town, especially within the inner walls are now revealed. Surviving ruins at Gede include the great mosque, the palace, residential houses and several pillar tombs. Between the inner and outer walls, there is a nature trail which is probably the best indication of the dry forest vegetation which existed on the raised coral reef before human habitation.
Two other sites have been found in the recent times at Dabasso Rock and Kalalu caves which are sacred shrines to the local Giriama people.It therefore important to note that, although visitors are welcome to these sites, it is essential to go with a guide interpreter and to observe and respect local customs as these places are still used for certain ceremonies and are held in immense esteem.
Natural Track Safaris is a Kenya based nature Safari Company catering for holidays in Tanzania, family outdoor adventures,budget camping in Tanzania, Kenya and uganda. For more safari information visit http://www.natural-track.com/safaris and http://www.natural-track.com
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- The Transformative Power of Yamaigel’s Certified Gel Eye Masks
- Checking account with cell phone protection!
- Keeping Cool This Summer: Air Conditioning Installation Services in Milwaukee
- A DIY Guide to Fixing Your Garage Door (with a Call to Garage Door Magnolia When All Else Fails!)
- Can a Bent Garage Door Be Bent Back into Shape? Don't Panic, Call Kiki Garage Door!
- How Can I Tell If My Garage Door Opener Sensor Is Bad?
- Maximizing Profitability: The Economics Behind Customizable Design Assets
- Exploring the Hidden Gems of Si Racha, Thailand
- DIY vs. Professional Movers: Pros and Cons in 2024
- MK Web Celebrates Top Position in Bourne's Premier Web Design Rankings
- The Road to Sobriety: Understanding Substance Use Disorders
- MotorKote Ultimate 40/60 Synthetic Hyper Mix 5W-30
- Exploring Denver on a Dime: A Frugal Travel Guide
- Top 10 Ways Production Scheduling in Business Central Transforms Manufacturing
- Strength Training and it's Incredible Benefits for Fat Burning
- Enhancing Home Security with Aluminum Shutters: A Focus on Weatherwell Elite
- 5 Easy Ways to Make Oral Hygiene Fun for the Whole Family
- Transforming Plastic Extrusion Machines into Recycling Powerhouses
- Unraveling the Potential of Plastic Extrusion Machines
- The Rise of Plastic Recycling Machines: A Step Towards Sustainability
- Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream: OMG! Unreal!
- The Advantages of Using Professional Home Cleaners in Ilford
- 8 Compelling Reasons to Hire Professional Home Cleaners
- The 12 Steps Narcotics Anonymous Program To Recovery
- Send Money to Tanzania: Effortless Transfers with SafariRemit
- Stylish Savings: 10 Frugal Ways to Stay Fashionable in 2024
- Fly Cheap With FlightPapa To Any City
- How Collaborating with a Software Development Company Can Propel Your Business Forward
- A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Best Hair Transplant Method
- 15 Frugal Tips for a Memorable Wedding Day