Watamu
{{Short description|Town in Kilifi County, Kenya}}
Watamu is a small town located approximately 105 km north of Mombasa and about 15 km south of Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It lies on a small headland, between the Blue Lagoon and Watamu Bay. Its main economic activities are tourism and fishing. The town had a population of around 30,000 in 2020[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/kenya/cities/ Kenya: Provinces, Major Cities, Towns & Urban Centers - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information] and it is part of Kilifi County.
Overview
The shoreline in the area features white sand beaches and offshore coral formations arranged in different bays and beaches: Garoda Beach, Turtle Bay, Blue Lagoon Bay, Watamu Bay, Ocean Breeze, Kanani reef, and Jacaranda beach. They are protected as part of the Watamu Marine National Park. The Marine Park is considered one of the best snorkeling and diving areas on the coast of East Africa. In order to assist the managing authorities namely the Kenyan Wildlife Service, in protecting the Park, local community groups, the tourist sector and environmental groups have formed a unique organisation [http://www.watamu.biz Watamu Marine Association]. Members of this group are [http://www.turtlebay.co.ke Turtle Bay], [https://www.hemingways-collection.com/watamu/ Hemingways], [http://www.oceansports.net Ocean Sports], Arocha Kenya, [http://www.lonnolodge.com Lonno Lodge], Mida Community Conservation group, Watamu Boat Operators, Safari Sellers and women's group. The ruins of Gedi (also known as Gede) are located near Watamu.
File:Watamu Beach, Kenya 08.jpg
Watamu Beach, Kenya Starfish.jpg
Watamu Beach, Kenya 12.jpg
File:Watamu Beach, Kenya 03.jpg
Watamu Beach, Kenya 09.jpg
People of Watamu
According to archaeological findings, Watamu has been inhabited since the 13th Century.[http://www.watamu.biz/watamu-attractions.php?cid=128 History of Watamu, Kenya]
Watamu is home to the Bajuni people; who trace their origins to intermarriage between the local Giriama People and Arab traders. As of now, various tribes from inland Kenya such as the Luo, Kisii, Kikuyu, Kamba, Kalenjin, and Luhyas have all migrated to the area to work in the hotel industry.
Notable people include:
- Masha Mapenzi, gospel singer.
In popular culture
Masha Mapenzi's album which is titled Uhiko.
Part of the events in the novel “Our Wild Sex in Malindi” (by Andrei Gusev) takes place in Watamu. The novel describes a few years living in the Malindi's suburb of Russian writer Andy and his wife, Jennifer, who was born in Kenya.[http://mliterature.narod.ru/In_Malindi.htm Review of "Our Wild Sex in Malindi"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804031310/http://mliterature.narod.ru/In_Malindi.htm |date=2020-08-04 }} — on the site of public fund "Union of writers of Moscow", 2020Andrei Gusev [http://Gusev.webs.com/Malindi.htm “Our Wild Sex in Malindi”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009210533/https://gusev.webs.com/Malindi.htm |date=2020-10-09 }}, 2020Andrei Gusev [https://lady.webnice.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23284 «Наш жёсткий секс в Малинди»] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609223649/https://lady.webnice.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23284 |date=2020-06-09 }} — in Lady’s Club, 2020 {{in lang|ru}}
Natural environment
A newly discovered species of the largest spitting cobra in the world (Naja ashei) was recently (2007) discovered in Watamu.Taylor, R: [http://wildlifedirect.org/blogAdmin/savingsnakes/2007/11/30/new-cobra-found-in-watamu/ New Cobra Found in Watamu]
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{coord|3|21|S|40|01|E|region:KE_type:city|display=title}}
{{Authority control}}