Off the beaten track cultural heritage?
Replies: 2 - Last Post: Mar 20, 2012 4:04 AM Last Post By: slofty
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Off the beaten track cultural heritage?
Hi everyone!I'll be spending a few weeks in Kenya next summer, which will mainly fall in July/August. While one of the main attractions is natural park/safari experience (and I intend not to miss it), I was wondering if anyone could help me track towns or villages where I could encounter traditional architecture or heritage besides Mombasa, Malinde or Lamu on the coast. It can be anywhere in the country and indications about charming places to visit, that can be reached by independent means, are very welcome! I was trying to avoid falling into a "cultural boma" (as a previous post alerted) and look for cultural and tribal life can be touched in mud hut villages or fishing villages or historical sites that have escaped the arrival of uncharacterized modernity.
Many thanks for any help!
1
Hi Safaro,I can highly recommend you to go to Wasini Island in the South. The Island can only be reached by boat, so there is no motorised traffic. It's a small Island with a little village. Beautiful coral garden. Close to a marine parc so a good place to do a snorkeling trip or to dive. The ocean there is like an aquarium: high visibility and a lot of colourful animals. August last year I have dived there between dolphins.
To get to Wasini, you take public transport from Mombasa to Shimoni. In Shimoni you take a small boat to Wasini (max 400Ksh).
I stayed at this lodge:
http://wasini-lodge.com/island.html
Very basic but clean, good food, ocean view, friendly and helpfull staff. They have a lot of rooms, but when I was there 2 months ago, there were only 2 guests so it's very quiet and peacefull.
If you decide to spend some time in Mombasa, you must stay at Mombasa Backpackers:
http://www.mombasabackpackers.com/
Best place along the Kenyan coast! It's very fun and lively, great place to meet interesting people. They have a swimming pool, a big garden, good food, free wifi, friendly and helpfull staff, close to the beach, restaurants and supermarkets. They have dorms, but you can also choose to stay in the privates is the back where it's more quiet.
We might bump into each other. I'll be in Mombasa in July/August. I'll spend most of my time in Mombasa Backpackers and I'll probably go diving in Wasini again for a couple off days.
Have a good time there!
Greets,
Inge
