Discovering Watamu

February 2022

Pana & I traveled to Watamu on a ‘Watamu Discovery’ trip. Besides spending the week checking out the hotels and other properties in the area, we also enjoyed the many restaurants and water activities that Watamu is famous for. Watamu is a peaceful village on the Kenya Coast, nestled between pristine beaches and lush, tropical forest. Watamu was a remote Swahili outpost at Gedi and is still one of the Coast’s most undeveloped and natural areas. Watamu is a haven of peace and tranquility, known for its unique, relaxed and laidback life. Whether it’s a family holiday, a romantic getaway or an active coastal adventure, Watamu has it all. Many thrill seekers come to Watamu – deep sea fishing, snorkelling, diving, stand-up paddle boarding with the dolphins, ending the day with sunset dhow cruise on Mida Creek. Check out below what we loved about Watamu.

A Must Do!

Stand Up Paddle Boarding with the Dolphins

#ahnasaexperiences

What an incredible experience – no wonder it’s a Magical Kenya Signature experience. This was one of the activities that we were most keen to try, and the best people to make it happen are Ben & Ellie at Tribe Watersports in Watamu.
After a brief lesson on how to get on the paddle board and to use the paddle (unfortunately, we’ll have to have a few more tries before we can stand up), we got on the boat and went out in search of the dolphins. It was a beautiful morning, not too hot and we were the only boat out at that time. Once the dolphins were spotted, the paddle boards were lowered into the water, we hopped on and started paddling to keep up with the dolphins! Dolphins swam all around us, swimming up close and some even flipping over! It was truly an incredible experience!
If you visit Watamu this is one experience not to miss, and the best people to do it with are Tribe Watersports. However, it’s important to note that paddle boarding with the dolphins is a seasonal activity.

Visit East African Reptiles

Previously known the BioKen Snake Farm, now it’s the East African Reptiles and Venom Supplies (EAVS). Many people are fearful of snakes but we strongly believe the fear is due to the lack of knowledge regarding these reptiles. EAVS is the most professional place to see many different snakes and learn about them. With my recent fascination for snakes, EAVS was on the top of the list of places to visit in Watamu. We toured around the facility with Baraka, a most knowledgeable guide and learnt about the snakes they keep, such as Cobras, Mambas, Vipers, Pythons and many other species, as well as Monitor Lizards. We also got the opportunity to watch the professional snake handlers milk three black mambas. Milking of the snakes takes place daily at 11:00am and is perfectly safe to watch.
The snakes at EAVS are mainly rescued snakes from local community areas, they are milked to collect their venom for research and the production of antivenin.
EAVS has a number of different activities on offer which are all centered around education of the reptiles and you’re always in the company of trained professionals. Activities range from the Rangers Clubs for children, snake safaris and photographic workshops (I had a quick impromptu photo session with a Gaboon Viper – one of the most beautiful snakes I’ve ever seen). We’ve got a full list of the activities, so when you’re planning your trip to Watamu – get in touch with us for your ‘reptile experience’.

Watersports

Watamu is most certainly the place if you’re looking for an active beach holiday! With so much on offer, from the Magical Kenya Signature experiences of Stand Up Paddle Boarding with the Dolphins and Kite Surfing, other wonderful activities include Wake Boarding, Big Game Fishing, Deep Sea Diving, Snorkelling and Water Skiing (which you can see above how gracefully I’m doing!!) With great guidance from Ben of Tribe Watersports I did managed to get up on the skis for a few seconds! Check out my video on our instagram page @ahnasaluxury. Watamu is a protected Marine Park with incredible under water wildlife – it’s an amazing place to enjoy all these activities on the surface or below. If you’re visiting Watamu and are interested in any of the activities, let us know and we’ll get it organised for you! Maybe I’ll see you when I go back to perfect my water skiing skills and also to have a hand at kite surfing.

The Food Scene

Anywhere one travels, indulging in good food is on the top of most people’s list. Watamu’s Italian influence means visitors are in for a culinary delight. Most of the restaurants offer incredibly delicious Italian food and fresh, delectable seafood. There are many restaurants and sundowner spots for visitors to enjoy, below are some of our favourites:
Pizzas – You can’t beat Ocean Sports – they serve the best thin pizzas and it’s also the local watering hole!
Sundowners – Hmm, that’s a tough one! – Pilipan for Cocktails at sunset, or the Dhow Cruise on Mida Creek.
Overall Great Food & Drink – Visiwa Boutique Hotel
Get out of Town for a lunch – Baby Marrow in Malindi
There are so many more dining options – we’ve got a full list we can recommend.

Getting Around

The Tuk Tuk is the way to go! Noisy, but available almost immediately! Distances in Watamu are not too far, usually everything is only about 10 minutes away.

Discovering Watamu