Kenya · MALINDI & WATAMU TOURS
Good malindi & watamu tours fill up a season ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Florence may collect you from your Diani hotel by tuk tuk before guiding you to the glass-bottom boat. Captain John, Tobias, and Mishe have helped guests spot fish, eels, starfish, and sea urchins on the way to Robinson Island. You will snorkel, swim, and walk the sandbank before returning to Diani Beach.
“Great crew, very good value for money. You see a lot marin life”
Patrick organizes a private 4x4 safari from the Malindi area, with Tsavo East game drives, a two-hour night safari, and an African cultural village visit. Some bookings use a driver-guide such as Juma, while Patrick may handle the wider arrangements. Confirm the exact route, lodge, park fees, and driver before paying.
“The Watamu is well known for it's favourable place and activities like boat riding and beaches..”
Travel from Mombasa to Watamu for a glass-bottom boat ride, seasonal dolphin sightings, snorkeling, and a guided canoe trip through Sudi Island’s mangroves. You’ll also get a beach seafood lunch, drinks, equipment, and hotel transfers. Guides such as Derrick and Jim may lead the day, depending on availability.
“Such an amazing trip- great guides. Lots of dolphins. We did have weather on our side but the guides were amazing Derrick and Jim were so insightful and kept us comfortable.”
Set out from Watamu at 8:00 a.m. for a roughly seven-hour group boat trip through Watamu National Marine Park. You’ll snorkel in clear Indian Ocean water, look for dolphins, and eat lunch on Sudi Island or Love Island. Pickup, bottled water, and lunch are included. Groups can reach 30 people, and guides may include Kish.
“Cool place to have fun swimming with fish at the marine Park,Kish took care of us ,delicious seafood grill, nice to the the dolphins. I recommend kish .”
Spend two hours cruising from Diani Beach to a sandbank known as Robinson Island. Tina may meet you at your hotel, and the English-speaking captain shows marine life through the glass hull before guiding you to snorkel. Tuk-tuk transfers, gear, and a welcome juice at the Mashariki Breeze Centre are included.
“Tina picked us up from our hotel and we travelled to the departure area in our tuk tuk. Great trip and Tina stayed with us for the whole experience We loved it and thank you”
Start from Watamu in an air-conditioned vehicle for Malindi wood carving and market visits, then cross by canoe to Robinson Island for lunch. Finish with a guided sunset hike through Marafa Hell’s Kitchen, where eroded rock changes color in the evening light. This private, eight-hour trip includes lunch, water, transport, and entrance fees.
“It was a really good day with great food! The boat trip was a good addition where we could see a white sand beach and eat fresh fish!”
Start in Malindi’s Arab quarter and market, cross Kenya’s salt pans to Robinson Island by canoe, then walk through Marafa Hell’s Kitchen with a guide. The private 6 to 8-hour outing includes lunch, transport, fees, and pickup. Drinks and personal purchases cost extra.
“Très beau sites, seul problème le guide ne parle que très peux français, pas locasse et l'eau nous avons eu juste 1 petite bouteille à 17h pour midi il voulais nous la faire payer .”
Meet at Malindi Marine Boat Excursions at 10 AM for a glass-bottom boat ride, one hour of snorkeling in Malindi Marine Park, and a 7 km sail to Sardegna 2 Island. Swim, relax, and eat a seafood BBQ of local fish, seafood, rice, and curry served on the boat before returning around 4 PM.
“Everything was superb. We arrived on time at the Marine Park Gate and were greeted, everything was smooth. We enjoyed the seafood lunch and the island with its clear blue waters. Food, drinks and fruits were all in plenty of. The crew had amazing customer service! Highly recommend”
Travel north from the Mombasa coast to Watamu for a glass-bottom boat ride, dolphin spotting, reef snorkeling, swimming, and beach time. After lunch and a traditional dance on Sudi Island, you can pay extra for a guided canoe trip through the mangroves. Pickup, transport, equipment, lunch, drinks, and an English or Italian guide are included.
“This was really fun. Our guide was excellent. We felt welcomed and we got some incredible memories. I would really recommend”
Spend two private hours with Jonathan learning Kenyan cooking in Watamu. You will prepare ugali, chapati, and samosas, then eat together. Choose between a village visit or a class at your own house or resort. Pickup, cooking materials, and private transport are included. Jonathan teaches in English, Italian, or Swahili, for groups of up to 10 people.
“Mattina bellissima in compagnia di Jonathan che ci ha accolto nel suo villaggio. Abbiamo cucinato e mangiato chapati, ugali e spinaci. Tutto buonissmo. Esperienza unica, immersi nella vera Africa. Molto consigliato”
Spend about three and a half hours walking the Watamu mudflats and paddling a traditional canoe through Mida Creek’s mangroves. Guides such as Harrison and John explain village life, birds, mudskippers, oysters, and mangrove restoration before sunset behind Green Island. Finish in a Giriama village with fresh coconut or palm wine.
“Dans un premier temps on nous a oublié, on devait venir nous récupérer à l’hôtel. Finalement nous sommes allés en Tuk Tuk avec un tarif convenu au départ. Une excursion plus que sommaire un tour en barque quelques flamants Roses une heure environ. Retour à l’hôtel, et là on nous réclame encore plus d’argent. Dommage.”
Travel from your Malindi or Watamu hotel to Tsavo East in a safari vehicle with a pop-up roof. Look for dust-red elephants, lions, giraffes, buffalo, hippos, and more around Aruba Dam, the pipeline area, and swampy park loops. Guide Raphael is known for sharp animal spotting and useful wildlife facts.
“I had a great guide, and it ended up being only me on the trip - but it was fantastic! Saw loads, buffet lunch. Was about 2hrs drive to the park from Watamu.”
Spend 8 to 10 hours exploring Watamu Marine Park by glass-bottom boat, snorkeling among reef fish, looking for dolphins, and eating grilled seafood on a local island. Hotel pickup, equipment, park fees, lunch, water, and a soft drink are included. Dolphin sightings are seasonal, mainly from October to April.
“The activity was a disaster. late being picked up the told I had to hurry at the boat. snorkeling was only 10 minutes and the equipment was filthy. the young men on the boat didn't give any instructions or explanation of what was going on or what we were doing or for how long and they were constantly yelling and I king with each other. one man in particular yelled across the boat for the entire time.”
Travel privately from MOI International Airport or Malindi Airport to your hotel in Diani or Watamu with Destinazione Kenya Tours and Safaris. Kish or Matthew can arrange the pickup, while an experienced driver handles the road. The ride lasts about one to two hours and includes air conditioning, onboard WiFi, private transport, and bottled water.
“I had an amazing experience planning my groups airport transfer and excursions with Kish, he is the best of them all. Always ready to respond to messages, very friendly and patient.”
Travel privately from Watamu with a guide such as Juma to explore Gede’s jungle-covered coral mosques, palaces, and homes, then spend three hours seeing Malindi’s historic sites, neighborhoods, and market. The six-hour tour costs $159 per group of up to four, with pickup offered.
“Die Gedi/Malindi Tour mit Juma war toll! Interessant und abwechslungsreich, angefangen von den Ruinen von Gedi, über die historischen Orte von Malindi bis zum Walk durch die Stadtviertel und den Markt. Sehr empfehlenswert!”
Pick a park, a lake or a stretch of reef.
