Watamu over Easter

Elephant rock on the beach below my grandparents old plot at Watamu

We have just got back from the most wonderful holiday at Watamu on the Kenyan Coast which was a much needed and much enjoyed break from the office in Nairobi. The white sand beaches with a protective reef and coral gardens are just so beautiful and I must admit that this is one of my favorite places. This is also probably due to the fact that my grandparents bought a plot of beachfront land here in 1946 and that over the years I've grown up coming down to Watamu. My grandparents ashes were scattered under a baobab tree and Amanda and I were married on the clifftop on this plot with the Indian Ocean at our backs. Sadly this plot no longer belongs to the family but we still love to stay on this lovely part of the Coast.

An evening sundowner trip on JJ and Titch's lovely dhow

We managed to fit an awful lot of stuff into this vacation but one of them was to join a couple of old friends, JJ and Titch with their children on an afternoon out on their dhow. The dhow is moored on Mida Creek which has a narrow outlet to the sea. We first of all sailed out of the creek to the outer reef and then we had a free ride by holding onto a rope out the back of the dhow and watching the coral heads and fishes as the current pulled us into the creek with the flood tide. It was fantastic to see so much since the current was pulling us along at walking speed. Later on we set the sail and explored along the creek until we found a little beach from which to enjoy the sunset and some ice cold wine and beers.

Sebastian harvesting coconuts on a friend's plot

We did manage to drag ourselves away from Watamu a couple of times and on one expedition visited some friends north of Malindi along a stretch of long flat beaches towards a place called Ngomeni In fact we drove down the beach to get to their home which is built on the beachfront with a grove of coconut trees which Sebastian tested his climbing skills on to provide us all with delicious coconut milk. We also spent a cool afternoon body surfing in the rollers as high tide approached on the long flat beach

Driving down the beach to Ngomeni

Another day we cadged a ride from Watamu to Kilifi on a deep sea fishing boat which JJ was taking to a boatyard for the off season and some repairs and maintenance. The kids helped out with some fishing and caught us some yummy Mahi Mahi which we call Felusi along this coast but in any man's book is still one of the most tasty fish from the Ocean. A plate of sashimi for lunch and then a couple of fish for our freezer and a good day all around.

Phoebe working hard for her Sashimi

Here it comes!

As we came into Kilifi Creek after a beautiful day on the Indian Ocean on Albatross with JJ we admired the cliffs with ancient Baobab trees and the local fishermen with their dugout canoes and I have to admit that I am lucky to live in such a beautiful country.

Baobabs at the mouth of Kilifi Creek.