Malindi is the second largest coastal town of Kenya, with two townships of Malindi and Watamu
It is situated about 120 km north of Mombasa just a little south of the equator. Malindi has a coastline of 155 kilometres,
The weather in Malindi is generally hot and humid throughout the year. The long rains come from April to July and the short rains from October to November. The mean daily temperature is around 22o Celsius minimum and 30,5o Celsius maximum.
Economically, the tourist sector is by far the most important industry in Malindi Municipality. The tourist attractions mainly relate to tropical water and beaches and the marine national parks. Today more than half of the local population benefit directly or indirectly from tourism. The most significant economy outside Malindi Township is agricultural based. Beside these there are some fisheries activities, manufacturing and commerce and trade.
Malindi Town is administration seat of Malindi District and the Local Authority Municipal Council of Malindi.
History
Malindi has been a Swahili settlement since the 14th century. Once rivaled only by Mombasa for dominance in this part of East Africa, Malindi has traditionally been a port city for foreign powers. In 1414, the town was visited by the fleet of the Chinese explorer Zheng He. Malindi’s ruler sent a personal envoy together with a giraffe as a present to China on that fleet.
The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama met Malindi authorities in 1498 to sign a trade agreement and hire a guide for the voyage to India, when he erected a still existent coral pillar. In 1499 the Portuguese established a trading post in Malindi which served as a resting stop on the way to and from India. A church dates from this era. The pillar stands to this day, though there have been calls by conservationists to take care of the pillar, since soil erosion might make the pillar fall into the ocean.
Many traditional buildings survive, including the Juma Mosque and palace on the beach, a stretch popular with tourists.