Combine an early morning trip to the Forest with lunch in Watamu and an afternoon trip to Gede Historical Monument where a long deserted Swahili town nestles amongst the coral rag forest.

There is still a lot to learn about Gede, as it was never mentioned in Portuguese and Arab writings of the period, although they were ensconced not 15 kilometres away in Malindi. The town was a medieval Swahili settlement, walled, covering about a quarter of a square kilometre. There is a palace, the Great Mosque and many houses to explore.

The actual reason for Gede’s foundation is not known, nor is the reason for its abandonment. Relatively, recently unearthed from the tenacious green grip of the jungle Gedi has still revealed nothing as to the identity of her inhabitants and the reason for their precipitous flight which remains shrouded in lurid tales of cannibalism, famine and plague. Perhaps some future archaeologist will be able to unravel the mystery.

Visit the Kipepeo Butterfly Farm, near the Gede entrance. The farm supplies overseas market with butterflies, providing jobs and training for local farmers to rear them.