Malaika Beach Villas - Resort in Watamu, Kenya

+254 796 035766 | info@malaikabeachvillas.com

Exploring Mida Creek

For the daily episode of our virtual blog, we want to let you exploring Mida Creek.

Mida Creek is a natural inlet in the coast about 5 km deep south of Watamu which stands out from the surrounding nature for completely different fauna and flora creating a unique eco-system of its kind.

Mida Creek has been designated by UNESCO as Biosphere Reserve because it is here that one of the largest mangrove ecosystems in the world is preserved: there are nine types, along with thirty-three species of algae. With the Arabuko Sokoke forest, Mida Creek has been designated the second largest ornithological reserve in Africa.

Research indicated that the mangrove forest and other marine resources are a great economic, ecological and environmental resource for the local village communities. The forest provides construction timber for houses and boats, firewood, coal. Minor uses of mangrove products include medical and pharmaceutical applications, tanning material and furniture production.

Today, with its shallow fjords, ruled by the tides and protected by a tangle of rhizomes that seem to want to prevent any human passage, this large marine lagoon, a comfortable bed of aquatic plants (of the genus Posidonia) and corals, is a labyrinth of waterways where the Indian Ocean is wedged, forming several small islets.

Mida Creek is home to many fish species and a feeding site for sea turtles.

Moreover, it has been designated by UNESCO as Bird International Zone given that sixty-five species of birds live there, some settled, other nomads, storks, herons, pink flamingos among others.

There are several ways to visit Mida Creek: on a boat, crossing these channels to discover the vast multitude of birds that inhabit the surrounding jungle. Alternatively, you can visit the lagoon on foot, walking along the bridge, which, from the mainland, crosses a part of the lagoon and which is not by chance called ‘the Indiana Jones bridge’.

The lagoon is also an incredible destination for kayaking and canoeing, with endless small canals and passages through the mangroves to explore. You can also take a paddleboard.

Mida Creek, that is around Watamu area, is only 30 minutes away from the resort.

Our resort is located in a very strategic position so that many places to be visited can be reached in a very few time! Check the other excursions we can arrange for you!

We hope you enjoyed this “exploring Mida Creek”!
We also love to tell you that from August the first we will be able to re-open our resort. Stay tuned to visit our country deeply following our Facebook and Instagram page and, if you have any question, feel free to reach us from our contact page.

Discover Robinson Island and She Shale

Hi there! Hope everything is going well for you. For the daily episode of our virtual tour, we let you discover the island of Robinson Island and She Shale.

To discover the island of Robinson implies many other experiences in the meanwhile. Being an hour and a half away from Malindi, the departure is in the early morning. On the way, it will be possible to see pink flamingos and hippos. 
Sunny morning, fresh sky, and sounds of Africa in the surrounding: this is the situation you leave with. Along the way we will meet spectacular expanses of agave, baobabs and palms; moreover, we cross Sabaki river, the longest in Kenya (390 km).

Then we will stop to allow you taking some pictures with the giant hippos that populate the banks of the river and dive into the watercourse.
Shortly after we meet other animals: pink flamingos. Getting out of the car we go up in a pirogue and, after passing a small mangrove forest, we reach the island of Robinson. The name of the island is exotic as well as the atmosphere you breathe. The boat belongs to Karonte, a nice character that will cheer our short crossing with Italian songs.

Once on the island, we can sunbathe before heading to the characteristic restaurant made with mangroves where we can enjoy Robinson’s famous red crabsA small “siesta” after lunch is a Must and then we will return to the village. Along the way, there is another famous attraction: She Shale. It is the golden beach where it is possible to admire the pyrite flakes that colour the sand like so many fragments of gold. It is strongly suggested to visit it! This area is very aimed to be visited by the Kyte surf lovers. 
Regarding this, Malaika Beach Resort staff is pleased to help you finding someone who gives you some Kyte surf lessons!
Please check the other excursions and don’t lose the opportunity of living the real Africa!

We hope you enjoyed this step of our “virtual tour“!
We also love to tell you that from August the first we will be able to re-open our resort. Stay tuned to visit our country deeply following our Facebook and Instagram page and, if you have any question, feel free to reach us from our contact page.

The Blu Safari

When you talk about Africa, one of the things that came to mind at first are its colours.
For the daily episode of our virtual blog, we want to bring you some Blu…

The Blu Safari is an all-day-long excursion in a glass-bottomed boat and consists of a boat trip to admire the depths of the coral reef and spot dolphins in the open sea.
At 13 there will be a stop on the small island formed by a game of tides where you can have delicious grilled fish with barbecue in the water.

The Malindi and Watamu National Marine Reserve is the oldest marine reserve in Africa established in 1979 to protect 213 square kilometres of coast, coral reefs and open sea, from Mida Creek to Malindi.
The protected area also includes the small National Marine Park of Malindi and the National Marine Park of Watamu, which are among the areas of Kenya most suitable for snorkelling and diving, thanks to over 300 registered species of reef fish and a rich variety of reproduction of the embricata and green turtles, besides having been sighted also liutu tortoises and turtle bastard olive-trees.
The reserve of Malindi or Watamu is the point of departure to start the boat trip.

The stop for snorkelling is right before reaching the Sardegna 2 Atoll and the Island of Love visible only in case of low tide. The peculiarity is that you really see the formation of the island. Here, you can sunbathe lying on the very white coral sand, refreshing yourself with shallow and clear water.

Blu safari is for everyone: adults and children. Children will be enchanted by the infinite species among which there is the pufferfish. It’s funny behave will amaze you: it becomes puffier when going out of the water because when it is inside its natural environment it has a regular fish size.
You will never forget the colours of that day, of that sea, of that fishes.

For the day after Malaika Resort offers you many others excursions: experience Africa with us and don’t lose any of our suggestions!

We hope you enjoyed this step of our “virtual tour“!
We also love to tell you that from August the first we will be able to re-open our resort. Stay tuned to visit our country deeply following our Facebook and Instagram page and, if you have any question, feel free to reach us from our contact page.

We are back!

To our dear customer customers and friends,
we are thrilled to announce that, starting from August the first, we will be able to be back doing what we love.

This period was very tough for all of us and it was a very weird situation and, this place without you was empty.
We did this in order to protect firstly you, beloved customer, and our fellow employees.

If you want to make a reservation you can contact us clicking HERE.
We can’t wait to see you again;

Sincerely yours,
Malaika Beach Villas

Tsavo East National Park

Here we are for our third episode of our Virtual Tour! Today we want to amaze you with the tale of Tsavo East National Park, a magical place where nature is still the ruling force and human must be careful and respectful.

If there is a country in the world that boasts all God’s creations enclosed in its boundaries then Kenya is that country: diverse sceneries, ancient granitic hills, desert, coral reefs, wildlife, history and different cultures.

Each day offers you a new experience! Wildlife splendour ranges from the famous Big five of Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and Buffalos to the aquatic attractions like dolphins, hippos, crocodiles…all awaiting you.

There you can encounter the wild animals in their majestic natural settings.

The excursions offered are many and one of the most amazing experience is doubtless the safari in the Tsavo East National Park.

The Park provides undeveloped wilderness homes to vast numbers of animals.

It is considered one of the world’s biodiversity strongholds, and its popularity is mostly due to the vast amounts of the diverse wildlife that can be seen, including lion, cape buffalo, maltitudes of elephants, cheetah, hippo, species of antelopes, leopard, hyena.

Moreover, 500 bird species have been recorded in the area, including ostriches, kestrels, buzzards, starlings, weaver birds, kingfishers, hornbills, secretary birds and herons.

Covering an area of about 13,747 square kilometres, Tsavo East National Park indeed is one of the oldest and largest parks in Kenya.

If you visit Kenya you cannot lose a Safari here.

It takes only 2 hours by car to reach the park from our resort. There is a paved road that is not something to be taken for granted in Kenya. Along the way you start enjoying the wonderful surrounding so that your safari starts before reaching the park.

You can choose between two options: you can spend one day leaving early in the morning and coming back in the evening, or you can stay one or even two night sleeping inside the savannah of the park.

For this latter option, the range of selection is from the cheapest to the most luxurious choice.

The cheapest one implies the adventure of sleeping in. Most people choose it not only for the price but even because it represents a unique experience.

If you like to sleep in a more comfortable situation, inside the park there are many lodges where you can sleep surrounded by the wildlife enjoying at the same time the amenities of a luxurious hotel.

The place where you will sleep does not matter very much: the most the recommended thing is to spend the night inside the park as you will live a once in a lifetime experience: the one to see the Savannah and its inhabitants at dawn.

We hope that you have enjoyed this third episode of our virtual tour, stay tuned to visit our country deeply following our Facebook and Instagram page and, if you have any question, feel free to reach us from our contact page.

Why Visit Africa

Dear traveller, we know that this is one of the worst periods for people like you.
We have no other choice so that we want to walk you through a virtual tour.
During next weeks we will bring you close to our beautiful land so that you will understand Why Visit Africa!

Why Visit Africa

Fascinating and mysterious, Africa is an attractive continent worthy to be visited for several reasons. It’s a unique place. You cannot think to find the same environment elsewhere in the world.

First of all, the colours are breathtaking. Sunsets, trees, Savannah, animals, sea, everything has special colours, different from ours, and they will remain in your heart! We are used to calling it The Black Continent but it’s a huge mistake. Africa is the most colourful place in the world.

Moreover, Africa is uncontaminated. This is the biggest peculiarity for those who travel from other continents, the so-called ‘developed countries’ where people live in the cities among buildings and pollution. You can live the ancient dimension of human being, in a natural environment.

Maybe this is the reason why people is so outgoing. They are very polite and respectful. They are a quiet population, also peaceful and never arrogant. People represent another reason why going to Africa will recreate you! Their kindness and their smiles will make you happy!

If all this is not enough to book a flight, then have a check of our excursions and suggestions, so that you will immediately get convinced. Talking about baggage is a good point to make a decision.

You don’t need many things inside your bag: beachwear, summer clothes and flip flops are all you need. Coats or scarves will be useless and this will make you feel so free.

We hope that you have enjoyed this “virtual time” together, stay tuned to visit our country deeply following our Facebook and Instagram Page and, if you have ay question, feel free to reach us from our contact page.