The Great Mosque
And its mihrab.
Mgiganteus — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Jeffmugendi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jeffmugendi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jeffmugendi — CC BY-SA 4.0
The ruins of a Swahili Muslim town hidden in thick forest near Watamu, which flourished between the twelfth and seventeenth centuries and was then abandoned for reasons that remain a mystery. The shade of giant trees and the monkeys roaming the walls give the place a magical air. You walk among the remains of the Great Mosque and its mihrab, the ruler's palace with its halls and courtyards, dozens of coral-stone houses with their rooms, latrines and wells, and tombs topped with stone pillars in the Swahili coastal style, all inside a wall around the town. Chinese porcelain, Indian beads and coins found here show the town's wide trade across the Indian Ocean, and the small museum at the entrance displays some of them, with an account of daily life. The ticket is USD 8 for foreign adults since May 2026. The site is shady and pleasant even at midday; bring insect repellent, and pair it with the beaches of Watamu and nearby Mida Creek.
And its mihrab.
Halls and courtyards.
Swahili style.
Near Watamu, about 16 km south of Malindi
The reason remains unclear; researchers suggest causes such as water shortage, raids or shifting trade routes.