Watamu sits on Kenya’s north coast, just south of Malindi. A protected marine park meets a stretch of coastline that has been drawing couples for decades: white sand, warm water, and a slower pace than Diani or Mombasa further south. It’s a small place, easy to get your head around in a weekend, which is part of why it works so well for a couples‘ trip; there’s enough to fill 2 or 3 days properly without ever feeling rushed.
This guide covers what there actually is to do in Watamu as a couple, on the water and on land.
In other words, it is what we call Watamu Romantic Getaways. So, you can see plainly what each one includes and which occasion it’s built for.
On the Water;
Watamu Marine National Park is the centrepiece, one of the oldest marine protected areas on this coast. It’s the reason so much of what there is to do here happens on or under the water. A boat trip out to the park or across to Mida Creek is the easiest way in, and from there.
Here are some of the activities that you can book through Tripsasa Tours:
- Snorkelling and diving over coral gardens inside the marine park, with clear water for most of the year
- Glass-bottomed boat tours, an easy way to see the reef without getting in the water
- Dhow cruises, traditional sailing boats used for both daytime trips and sunset sails across Mida Creek
- Jet skiing, for a faster-paced afternoon on the water
- Kitesurfing, Watamu is one of the better-known kitesurfing spots on the Kenyan coast, with steady wind for much of the year
Any of these can be booked as a standalone activity or built into a package itinerary.
On Land
A short drive inland opens up a different side of Watamu entirely:
- Bio-Ken Snake Farm, a guided walk through one of East Africa’s better-known reptile collections, more interesting than it sounds even for visitors who aren’t especially fond of snakes
- Kipepeo Butterfly Project, near the Gede Ruins, a working butterfly farm and a genuinely easy, relaxed way to spend an hour
- Mida Creek Boardwalk, a walkway out over the mangroves with some of the best birdwatching on this stretch of coast, particularly early morning or late afternoon
- Gede Ruins, the remains of a 12th-to-17th-century Swahili town, about 15 minutes from Watamu
- Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, the largest remaining coastal forest in East Africa, good for a guided walk if either of you wants something a bit wilder
- Marafa Hell’s Kitchen and the Malindi Museum and Vasco da Gama Pillar, both a little further out but reasonable half-day additions if you have the time
