Thought I would take a bit of a break from the Marsabit County series and blog about my favorite coastal destination, Watamu. My last post on Watamu was about the marine park (https://www.safari254.com/watamu-marine-park/).
Watamu is a small town located approximately 105 km north of Mombasa and about 15 km south of Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It lies on a small headland, between the Blue Lagoon and Watamu Bay. Its main economic activities are tourism and fishing.
Sunrises are magical and the ones at Watamu are no different. This time I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking. Hopefully you’ll see why I love Watamu.
I took this picture last year, it was such a cloudy morning but the sunrise was breathtaking. The sun is hiding some place behind those clouds.
Image courtesy of Hemingways.
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My hotel.
It was a windy morning
Image courtesy of Hemingways.
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The landscape of Watamu beaches is amazing: characterized by long sugar white sandy beaches and emerald sea.
Just as the sun was beginning to rise…
I was seated all alone outside the room. It was one of the most tranquil moments ever. The only person who passed by was a security guard who was curious as to why I was up so early.
This is probably my favorite picture of the sunrise that morning. It does look surreal, doesn’t it?
After visiting the turtle rescue centre (a post for a another day) I spent most of the day just lazing around
As inviting as the pool looks, all I did was take pictures. Hopefully next time I’ll take a dip.
The next morning I left Timboni (where I had spent the night) for Watamu village. I had borrowed a bike the previous day and the plan was to ride along the beach with my friend so as to view the sunrise. My friend was a bit late, so I left without her. I ended up on the wrong side of the beach but eventually made it to the right side just in time.
How unique each sunrise is…this is the same beach I was on when I took the first picture.
Yes, those are cows. I didn’t expect to see a herd of cows on a beach.
Coral reef Island isolation s which are a few meters from the beaches and you can walk through the ocean to them when tides are low. The beach has extreme low tides at different times during the day.
I had decided to wait for my friend when I saw the children playing on the beach next to some fishing boats.
It was during the low season so some sections of the beach were covered in seaweed and rather messy. During the high season it gets cleaned up and is pristine.
Eventually my friend showed up and the man posing with the dog would not stop following us. We kept giving him one word answers but he would not take the hint. This is not at all uncommon at the coast. If you are a lone female it is guaranteed that a man will approach you and try to chat you up.
We also met these 2 very friendly dogs; they were much better company than the stalker. I think their owner lives close to the beach. I love the bead-work on their collars.
I imagine the dogs lead blissful lives. I know I would if I lived on such a beach.
We stayed on the beach way past the sunrise. It is always so calming just to sit on the sand and listen to the waves breaking on the shore.
Interesting use of driftwood.
My mode of transport.
I highly recommend a bike tour of Watamu. I had borrowed the bike from a friend but there is a shop in the village that rents out bikes.
Getting there;
The Coastal highway runs north of Mombasa all the way to Kenya’s northern frontier. Driving your own car or hired car as far as Malindi is very easy. There are regular buses and matatus along the North coast. Many hotels and resorts in this area have Mombasa shuttles or can arrange vehicle transfers. Private taxis from Mombasa will also take you to the North Coast beaches for an agreed fare. Malindi airport has daily scheduled flights to Mombasa, Nairobi and Lamu. The airport also serves Private Charters. There are scheduled flights to Malindi.
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34 Comments
Visited December 2012
I was staying in Mtwapa but had to come all the way to Watamu for it’s beautiful white-sand beaches.
I can attest, it is probably one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!
Definitely well worth the trip.
WOW. Those sunsets! I have always wanted to go to the Kenyan coast. I’d never heard of Watamu, but after this I might just have to add it to my list. Thanks for sharing!
So beautiful…
I am in awe of how beautiful Watamu is! Honestly, I’ve never heard about it too much (almost never yikes) but this is now on my bucket list of places to visit. Simply beautiful! Thanks for sharing 🙂
And so peaceful too. Honestly one of the most relaxing places I have ever been to.
Oh wow seriously gorgeous photos, would love to see those sunsets first hand one day!
Wow – looks so gorgeous!!!
Gorgeous beaches and islands and resort, when can I go visit?
You are welcome to visit any time of the year
I love this post. Great Photos, and I love beaches. Love the use of the driftwood. Gates are another love of mine. We have seen cattle on the beach in Essaouira in Morocco and Otres Beach in Cambodia. Great.
I’m speechless. Like I was reading a National Geographic magazine. You’re a star!
Wow wow wow – your shots are gorgeous!
What a gorgeous place, the colors here are just fantabulous! lol Never really crossed my mind to travel in Kenya but I guess Watamu is on the list now. 🙂
Great photographs Rachel, I love the first image of sunset. Watamu looks like a little piece of paradise!
I love love love Watamu…sitting by the beach was one of the most relaxing things to do. Those sunsets….breath taking
Beautiful series!! Boom & gary of the Vermilon River.
Rachel – you are the queen of sunrise and sunset photography. Your photos are always so stunning. I especially like the very first one and the pic of the cows on the beach – wow! Also, I love that driftwood gate. I want to go to Kenya right now!!! But for now, your pictures will have to satisfy my wanderlust.
Fabulous pictures Rachael, I love them all especially the ones of the sunrise.
As for the guy on the beach, if you told him that you didn’t like Blackburn Rovers do you think that would have got rid of him?
Beautiful shots Rachel. I will definitely visit Watamu
Oh my what a truly beautiful part of the world. Thank you for sharing
Mollyxxx
You’ve got some really lovely photos here, Rachel. I would love to visit this someday.
Absolutely beautiful pictures! I love the sunset one.
What a gorgeous set of photos of a part of the world that always seems so exotic to those of us living in North America. Too bad about the stalker – the only unpleasant distraction by the sound of things.
What a gorgeous place and such beautiful pictures, Rachel. Watamu just looks so lovely to visit and not the first thing that would pop in my head when I think of Kenya. I agree with Dana, you are the queen of sunrise and sunset photos. Truly worth waking up early for these views.
I feel so flattered. Thank you Mary.
[]images from the hybrid solar eclipse she recently witnessed at the Sibiloi National Park, or these captivating pictures from Watamu, Rachel’s favorite coastal destination in Kenya[].
What some awesome photos, and the sunsets – wow, ours are good in Western Australia, but I’d forgotten the density of the African ones. What a beautiful spot, and I just love those beaches.
Your photos are amazing! Those sunsets look so stunning. I have never heard of this place before, but now I would definitely like to visit.
Hi Rache,
Wow, Watamu is such a gorgeous place. When I think of Kenya I think of wildlife safari and not of paradise beach such as this. Your sunrise, sunset and beach photos are amazing. It should inspire everyone to explore Kenya beyond the safari line.
That sunrise is unbelievable! I would love to visit here.
That first photo is an absolute stunner. I love the incredible colors. That one of the sun over the house is one of my other favorites.
Fantastic photos Rachael! Looks gorgeous. Sorry about the stalker 😉
Frank (bbqboy)
[…] December 2013, I am in Watamu (again), I spend the days lazing around the beach with my camera marveling and snapping at the […]