Blogs from Watamu, Coast Province, Kenya, Africa
August 8th 2011
On Tuesday 26th July I headed off to Watamu for 2 weeks voluntary work on the coast. Decided to take the overnight train 'the iron snake' from Nairobi to Mombasa. Departure time was 7pm and due to arrive in Mombasa at 9am the next day. Had booked a taxi to pick me up at 5:30 to get me to the station at 6pm but due to a great thunderstorm just before I was to set of all traffic in Nairobi came to a standstill. Didn't get to the station till 6:45pm. Was starting to panic that I might miss the train, needn't of panic as true to form the train left 30 mins late. I decided to book a first class compartment as it was only £25. This got you a 2 berth compartment, dinner and ... read more
July 20th 2011
Ein Höhepunkt besonders für die Kinder ist ein Meeresschildkrötenprojekt in Watamu. In dem professionell geführten Schildkrötenheim werden kranke Tiere wieder gesund gepflegt und schließlich wieder im Meer ausgesetzt. Eine Pflegerin erklärt uns die Leidensgeschichte jeder einzelnen Schildkröte, und wir haben sogar das Glück, mitdabeizusein, wie eine noch recht kleine Schildkröte, die erfolgreich wieder gesundgepflegt wurde, unter Jubel wieder in die Freiheit entlassen wird. ... read more
July 19th 2011
Die Ruinen, die sich im küstennahen Wald verbergen, stammen aus dem 13.-17. Jahrhundert und zeugen von einer traditionsreichen Swahili - Kultur. Sogar den Kindern gefällt der mystische Eindruck, den die Bauten inmitten des Dschungels hinterlassen.... read more
July 18th 2011
Etwas nördlich von Mombasa in der Nähe des Ortes Watamu, am Meeresarm Mida Creek, gibt es ein von der lokalen Bevölkerung, den Giriamas, geführtes Eco-Camp. Wir übernachten in einer geräumigen Giriama-Strohhütte, mit einem Doppelbett auf einem Podest unter einem Moskitonetz. Es gibt zwar nur begrenzte Auswahl an Essen, doch der Fisch und das Hühnchen mit Reis sind sehr lecker. Das Essen wird in dem erhöht gebauten Restaurant serviert, sehr gemütlich und mit tollem Ausblick in die tropische Umgebung. Bei der Kanufahrt durch den Meeresarm und die Mangroven, erweist sich, dass wir in einem Vogelparadies gelandet sind. Wir fahren nahe an einen Schwarm Flamingos vorbei und entdecken noch jede Menge anderer Vögel, wie Sattelstörche, Kormorane, Reiher und Ibisse. ... read more
Watamu, diving and doing not much else...
Published: March 7th 2011Africa » Kenya » Coast Province » Watamu
March 6th 2011
I've just spend a great week in Congo sharing great moments and receiving great news from all over the world. As usual, I'm doing a little stop-over on my way back home. This time, it is Watamu, Kenya. I want to bring one day Leslie and Tiffany with us for a nice safari combined with some nice diving for Leslie (will happen hopefully one day to Tiffany too). I have already done the loop NgoroNgoro-Serengeti-Zanzibar, so my aim for this little 4 days trip is to check how Watamu rates compare to Zanzibar. I was first supposed to fly from Nairobi to Malindi. Malindi is a small airport only 25km from Watamu. Well...too easy, Kenya Airways cancelled my flight and I ended up being re-routed to Mombasa. Don't ask me much about Mombasa, it was already ... read more
February 7th 2010
Mida Creek We had read about a great sounding Eco Camp a couple of kilometers away called Mida Creek Eco Camp. After many frustrating hours trying to figure out the area codes for the phones (the whole region had changed leaving all the information in our book absolutely useless) we managed to get in touch with Billie the manager who booked us in to come and visit for a couple of days. Mida Creek is similar to a salt water estuary set on the mouth of the sea. It is a large, very wide and not so deep creek running inland, lined with pristine examples of mangrove forests. The area is well renowned for bird watching with many species living off the creek including migrations of pink flamingos. The ecological camp is a community project set ... read more
Gede Ruins - an archaeologists paradise
Published: March 3rd 2010Africa » Kenya » Coast Province » Watamu
February 3rd 2010
Gede Ruins Close to Watamu there is a large archaeological site known as the Gede ruins. Buried on approximately 45 acres of land they have uncovered 2kms2 of remains of an ancient Swahili town where the rich and elite lived, dating back to at least the 13th century. It was thought to be a trading point, receiving goods coming in from the coast and distributing to the local region. Shaded by an imposing 400 year old forest of giant baobab and fig strangler trees the area is stunningly beautiful and serene. With primary school children and other Kenyans visiting mostly in the month of December we were pretty much the only people there so were able to wander and enjoy the place at our own pace. The setting was such that as we wandered around I ... read more
January 1st 2010
I came to Watamu Kenya to volunteer for a month at the Local Ocean Trust, Watamu Turtle Watch (WTW). I spent New Years Eve on the most beautiful beech I have ever seen, where Green and Hawksbill turtles came frequently at night to lay eggs. Tonight there is a full moon so we can stroll on the beech at midnight admiring the stars and breathing warm moist air. I m told that January is the warmest month of the year and during the night temperature never falls below 80F. On January 5th I am starting my work for the WTW. So far I have learned that there are 7 species of sea turtles and 2 of them (Green and Hawksbill) are frequently found foraging in Mida Creek near Watamu. Green turtle got its name from the ... read more
March 17th 2009
Mombasa & Watamu As you probably see, I don't write as much now as I did in south america last year. The first part of this travel was studies, and I didn't feel that it was much to write about. The second part is like a short holiday. And this time I didn't really find the good feeling about writing. (the internet down here has not been as good as in parts of south america either...) But I give you a few photo's anyway. Maybe they can inspire you ; ) ... read more
October 19th 2008
Hello again! well not really gone to see the animals! things changed plans on the evening of my last blog! I realised that I had forgotten one of my HIV pills, ones that need keeping in the fridge, so I had to instead of going to the natural park and see animals, instead we made our way straight to Watamu, as I needed to go to a Hospital to try and get the pills I am missing. So we made our way by tuktuk to another part of Mombasa and got there a bus that brought us for 200shillings to a crosspoing on the high road, and from there a matatu to the village itself. We got welcomed by a gorgeous guy talking to us straight away in Italian, everybody suddenly was at it! a couple ... read more
