Fringed by palms and fishing dhows, Kenya’s historic coast has lured traders, explorers, and beach lovers for centuries. Malindi—once a powerful Swahili port—still wears its layered past in coral-stone ruins, Portuguese-era landmarks, and spice-scented kitchens turning out the region’s beloved biryanis and coconut curries.

Just south, Watamu’s Marine National Park dazzles with shallow reefs and sea-grass meadows where dolphins, turtles, and technicolor fish patrol clear lagoons. Inland, the coast gives way to Tsavo East National Park, a legendary wilderness of red elephants, acacia-dotted plains, and big skies that glow ember-orange at sunset.

This 7-day itinerary weaves beach time with reef adventures, a community-run creek kayak, and a short, high-impact safari. Expect warm Indian Ocean water, Swahili hospitality, and wildlife encounters—plus practical tips on where to stay, how to get around, and where locals actually eat.

Malindi

Malindi mixes old-world intrigue and easy-going beach life. Visit the Vasco da Gama Pillar (1498), wander the old town’s coral-walled lanes, and browse markets brimming with spices and tropical fruit. North and south of town, broad sandy beaches unfurl beside casuarina groves and palm-thatched beach shacks grilling the morning’s catch.

• Top sights: Vasco da Gama Pillar, Malindi Marine National Park (glass-bottom boat/snorkel), Gede Ruins (mysterious 13th–17th c. Swahili city), Arabuko-Sokoke Forest (rare birds and butterflies), Marafa Hell’s Kitchen (wind-carved sandstone canyon).
• Great eats & coffee: Start at Non Solo Gelato for Italian coffee and pastries; try Osteria Malindi for fresh pasta and seafood; Bar Bar Restaurant & Pizzeria for wood-fired pies and salads; beachside at La Rosada for grilled octopus and prawn linguine; street-side snacks like mahamri (cardamom doughnuts) and viazi karai (spiced fried potatoes) from local vendors.
• Fun fact: Malindi long welcomed sailors with monsoon winds; Ming-dynasty porcelain shards still surface after storms.

Where to stay: Browse stays on VRBO Malindi or hotels on Hotels.com Malindi. Look for beachfront cottages near Casuarina Beach or boutique hotels in town for quick market access.

Getting in: Fly into Malindi (MYD) or via Mombasa (MBA). Compare fares on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com. Mombasa–Malindi road transfer takes ~2.5–3 hours; prebook a private ride with this airport/SGR transfer: MIA - Mombasa to Malindi Transfer.

Tsavo East National Park (Voi)

One of Africa’s great parks, Tsavo East is famous for its “red elephants,” lion prides, and endless horizons. The Galana River, Yatta Plateau, and Aruba Dam attract wildlife year-round, rewarding dawn and dusk game drives.

• Top sightings: Elephants dusted ochre-red, big cats on termite mounds at sunset, herds of zebra and buffalo, and raptors riding thermals.
• Safari rhythm: Pre-dawn coffee, sunrise game drive, siesta at the lodge pool or hide, golden-hour drive, fireside dinner beneath immense stars.
• Where to stay: Search lodges around Voi/Aruba on Hotels.com Voi or private bush stays via VRBO Voi. Many safaris bundle lodge stays and transport.

Travel logistics: Malindi to Tsavo East’s Sala or Voi Gate is ~3.5–4.5 hours by 4x4 depending on gate choice and road. Expect bundled costs ~$250–450 per person per day on a private overnight safari including park fees, vehicle, guide, lodging, and most meals.

Day 1: Arrive in Malindi, Beach Walk & Swahili Welcome Dinner

Afternoon: Land at MYD or transfer from Mombasa. Drop bags and decompress on Casuarina Beach—soft sand, calm water, and views of traditional dhows. If energy allows, stop by the Vasco da Gama Pillar for the Indian Ocean’s golden-hour glow.

Evening: Dinner at Osteria Malindi: order grilled lobster or octopus carpaccio and a simple spaghetti alle vongole—the seafood is landed hours earlier. Nightcap with passionfruit juice or a cold Tusker. If it’s Monday, Rosada Beach is known for a lively beach party after dinner.

Stay: Book via VRBO Malindi or Hotels.com Malindi.

Day 2: Malindi City, Robinson Island & Marafa Hell’s Kitchen

Full-day guided experience to get your bearings, snorkel, and catch the coast’s most dramatic canyon sunset.

Featured tour: Tour Malindi & Robinson Island & Marafa Hell's Kitchen

Morning: Coffee and ricotta-filled pastries at Non Solo Gelato, then meet your guide. Explore old Malindi, local produce markets, and the Vasco da Gama Pillar.

Afternoon: Cross to Robinson Island for sandbank swims and a simple seafood lunch (think calamari, snapper, coconut rice). Snorkel in the marine reserve if tides are right.

Evening: Drive to Marafa Hell’s Kitchen as sandstone chimneys flare with sunset colors. Back in town, dine at Bar Bar—share a thin-crust diavola pizza and a crisp salad.

Day 3: Watamu Marine National Park – Dolphins, Reefs & Sandbanks

One of the coast’s iconic days out: turquoise channels, shallow reefs, and a chance to spot dolphins.

Featured tour: Full Day Private Safari Blue Tour from Malindi

Morning: Transfer ~30–40 minutes to Watamu. Board a dhow or speedboat; scan for spinner and bottlenose dolphins en route to the reef. Snorkel among parrotfish, butterflyfish, and giant clams.

Afternoon: Beach barbecue on a sandbank—try grilled kingfish with kachumbari (tomato–onion salad) and coconut chapati. More reef time if tides permit.

Evening: Sunset dinner in Watamu at Papa Remo Beach Restaurant (lemon-butter prawns, wood-fired pizza) or Amandina at Medina Palms (coconut crab curry). Return to Malindi.

Day 4: Gede Ruins, Arabuko-Sokoke & Mida Creek Kayaking

Morning: Light breakfast—try mahamri and spiced tea—then head to the Gede Ruins. Wander through buttressed fig trees engulfing coral-stone palaces and mosques of a once-prosperous Swahili city. Continue to Arabuko-Sokoke Forest with a local guide to spot rare birds like the Sokoke scops-owl and golden-rumped elephant shrew.

Afternoon: Glide through mangrove tunnels and mirror-still channels on a guided kayak:

Featured tour: Mida creek mangrove Kayaking adventure in Watamu, Kenya

Evening: Eat on stilts above the creek at Crab Shack Dabaso, a community-run spot famed for crab samosas, pepper crab, and epic sunsets. Back in Malindi, grab gelato from Non Solo Gelato for the ride.

Day 5: To Tsavo East – Red-Earth Safari Begins

Morning (departure): Leave Malindi by 5:30–6:00 a.m. for Tsavo East (3.5–4.5 hours depending on gate). Coffee and mandazi to go.

Featured safari (overnight): Safari-Tsavo east national park -2 days 1 night

Afternoon: Enter the park via Voi or Sala Gate; game drive to your lodge near Aruba Dam. Expect elephants dust-bathing, towers of giraffe, and maybe lions in the shade of acacias.

Evening: Settle in, then head out for a golden-hour game drive. Dinner under the stars back at the lodge; listen for nightjars and afar hyena calls.

Day 6: Dawn Patrol & Return to the Coast

Morning: Pre-dawn coffee, then sunrise game drive when predators are active. Keep an eye on waterholes for buffalo, impala, and elephants arriving in stately lines.

Afternoon: Early lunch and checkout, then drive back to Malindi (arrive ~4–6 p.m.).

Evening: Freshen up and celebrate with dinner at La Rosada on the sand—order grilled seafood platters, plus coconut beans and sukuma wiki (collard greens) for a coastal-meets-upcountry side.

Day 7: Easy Beach Morning, Shopping & Departure

Morning: Slow breakfast at Osteria Bakery (cornetti, espresso) or a plate of vitumbua (coconut rice cakes) from a street vendor. Swim one last time at Casuarina Beach or walk the shoreline near the Malindi Marine Park entrance.

Afternoon: Pick up souvenirs—kikoy wraps, carved soapstone, and Zanzibari spices—from Malindi market. Depart for the airport. If flying via Mombasa, allow 3 hours to MBA by road; prebook the MIA - Mombasa to Malindi Transfer for reliability.

Evening (if staying later): Final Swahili dinner: try pweza wa nazi (octopus in coconut), pilau, and kachori at a local eatery. Toast the trip with fresh sugarcane-lime juice.

Practical Notes

• Best time: Dry seasons (Jul–Oct, Jan–Feb) for safari visibility and calm sea conditions; Nov and Apr–May can be rainy/choppy.
• Health & safety: Consult on malaria prophylaxis; use reef-safe sunscreen; carry small cash for park fees, tips, and market shopping.
• Connectivity: Safaricom SIM/eSIM offers excellent coast-and-park coverage.
• Getting there: Compare flights on Trip.com and Kiwi.com to Malindi (MYD) or Mombasa (MBA). Private coast–park transfers are bundled in the safari above; independent private hires run ~$200–300 each way for a 4x4.
• Where to stay (quick links): VRBO Malindi, Hotels.com Malindi, Hotels.com Voi (Tsavo East).

This one-week Kenya coast itinerary balances lazy beach hours with reef adventures and a compact big-five safari. You’ll taste Swahili flavors, learn coastal history, and come home with the red-dusted glow of Tsavo sunsets lingering in memory.