Abduljabbar Ali So, you are in a dilemma when it comes to choosing between Malindi and Watamu, they are both incredible destinations but you don’t know which you should choose.
I won’t tell you that you should travel to Watamu or Malindi. In this article, I will share my honest opinion about these two locations so you to make up your decision.
I traveled to Malindi, explored the town, and on the last day that I was leaving, I went to Watamu too.
So, I have an idea of how both of these places are, their taste and which is better than the other.
If you want to make the right decision, don’t think in terms of your budget.
Keep it aside and make a decision based on what these places have to offer.
You will decide later if your budget is solid enough to let you spend your days in Malindi or Watamu.
Malindi or Watamu which is better?
Malindi and Watamu are both amazing destinations. There are some things you can get in Malindi but you won’t find them in Watamu and vice versa. If you choose one place over the other you have to be ready for that.
I have been to Malindi and Watamu and what I can tell you is this, Malindi is better than Watamu because it offers a raw and authentic experience since it’s not filled with so many tourists.
As the number of tourists increases in an area the more locals tend to feel the need to change the scene to keep trapping more of them.
The locals search for a way to make more money from the visitors thus things are overdone to capture the eyes of the tourists.
It felt the same way in Watamu. Everywhere I tried to look, from the streets to the beaches, I saw thatched shades even in places that weren’t meant to be.
The number of people selling traditional artifacts and beads is just more.
At the beach, I saw a bunch of locals surrounding tourists just to sell them things. Others were following them everywhere.
I’m pretty sure if I was a foreigner, these people would have been pursuing me just to sell me some beads and shells.
I am not saying it’s bad but this usually increases as an area is highly influx by tourists.
Too much of something tends to ruin every authentic detail of a product or service.
When I look at the restaurants and coffee spots along the road heading to Watamu Beach, they are all designed to attract tourists.
This turns the place to be super fancy to the extent that the locals can’t afford anything but only the tourists.
I said that this ruins the authenticity of the place since it changes it. Watamu lately has changed because of the huge number of tourists living there.
That’s my honest opinion and review of Watamu.
On the other hand, if we talk about Malindi town still holds its authenticity because the locals aren’t obsessed with turning everything into a tourist attraction.
The locals handle their businesses as usual, the streets aren’t filled with people trying to sell you things and everything is just the way it’s supposed to be.
The originality is maintained throughout the streets to the beaches.
You can still find so many street food spots around the town — it’s not like Watamu every side is erected by a fancy and expensive coffee shop.
Do you know what this says? Malindi has maintained its originality hence making it a better choice than Watamu.
Leaving that aside, both of these locations have incredible things to offer.
What I have shared above is just my honest opinion about what I think of Malindi and Watamu.
But looking at the facts and what all these places have to offer, may give you more reasons to consider one place over the other.
Read also; 7 Unique Things To Do In Watamu
Pros and cons of Malindi
Pros of Malindi
- Malindi has more touristic sites than Watamu.
- It’s easier to find cheap accommodations in Malindi than in Watamu.
- Malindi has more markets to explore than Watamu.
- You can easily access the international airport within Malindi town, you can’t say the same when you are in Watamu.
- Most of the hotels and restaurants within Malindi town are more affordable than in Watamu.
Cons of Malindi
- Its beaches aren’t better compared to Watamu.
- The street roads aren’t as well kept as Watamu’s.
- You can easily get lost in Malindi town because of the poor arrangements of the buildings.
- In Malindi, you are a little bit far from Mombasa than when you are in Watamu.
- It misses the fancy and luxurious vibe that may be other travelers taste.
Lastly…
You should go to Watamu if you intend to explore the beaches and the amazing resorts.
If you want to spend your days in Watamu you have to be ready to cover the cost.
Most of the hotels and Airbnbs you will find in the proximity to the beach are super expensive.
Anyway, I don’t see why you shouldn’t also visit Malindi if your budget affords that.
The main historic site that takes people to Malindi is the Vasco Da Gama Pillar.
If you will leave Kilifi County without touching the pillar you haven’t done anything yet.
Both these destinations have incredible things to offer, you should include them both in your bucket list.
I enjoyed Malindi more than Watamu because I was on a budget. This may not be the case for you.
I advise you to explore all these places to the fullest and stick to where you will fall in love with the most.
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