Kenya's Coastal belt stretches nearly five hundred kilometres from the Tanzania border to the south, to Kiwayu on the Somali boarder to the north. Stretching for the whole of its length Kenya's beaches are protected by a coral reef within which are lagoons in which thrive the most fascinating and exotic marine life. In an effort to preserve these marine treasures for posterity, the Kenya Wildlife Services has developed Marine Parks at various intervals along the coast at places such as Shimoni, Watamu and Malindi making it possible for the holiday visitor to have quick and easy access to the parks where many tourists converge every day for snorkeling purposes.

The following are the main tourist resort areas along the Kenya Coast:

Mombasa
Mombasa is an island town with a history dating back some 2000 years when it played an important role as a trading hub linking with Persia, Arabia , Greece and other countries along the Mediterranean sea as well as countries in the Indian subcontinent and the Far East. Today Mombasa retains its importance not only as a major trading base, but also as an important tourist destination, valued for its rich and authentic culture clearly visible in the narrow alleys of the "Old Town" where Fort Jesus has pride of place. A bargain hunter's paradise, Mombasa's bustling Biashara street offers visitors a wide variety of local art and craft as well as many traditional clothes made from "vitenge" and the colorful world famous wrap - the "khanga'

South Coast
Characterized by palm-fringed brilliant -white sandy beaches and azure blue calm waters, the South Coast has long been Kenya's premier holiday destination. Diani Beach, is by far the most developed of the South Coast resorts with many excellent accommodation options to choose from. On these beaches visitors relax and enjoy water skiing, windsurfing, scuba diving, goggling and deep- sea fishing. For those who are inclined daily excursions are available to the exclusive Kisite -Mpungute Marine Park located in Shimoni or to Shimba Hills National Park for wildlife viewing.

North Coast
Covering a distance of about 70 kms, Mombasa's North Coast is an expansive tourist resort strewn with many fine hotels along the beaches of Nyali, Bamburi, Shanzu, Kikambala, Kilifi, and Watamu. Every year thousands of visitors to Kenya converge on these beaches to relax and enjoy a truly unparalleled holiday. With its fine array of golf courses, tropical marine gardens, facilities for water skiing, scuba diving, goggling, big sea fishing, bird watching, visits to museums, nature trails, forest reserves, tribal villages and sailing excursions, visitors to the North Coast have an inexhaustible choice of recreational activities.

Malindi
In 1948 the great Portuguese Explorer Vasco da Gama visited Malindi and was met by a friendly and hospitable sultan who assisted him on his onward journey. The same hospitality is still very much evident in Malindi today making this coastal town a favorite haunt and the preferred holiday destination of many tourists. Apart from its beaches, Malindi is famous as the location of Kenya's first Marine Park - a place replete with exotic marine life and some of the most beautiful coral gardens to be found anywhere in the world.

Lamu
If you want to step back in time one thousand years or more, or want to walk on a serene beach for miles on end with not another "tourist" soul in site, then Lamu is the place for you. Only accessible by air, Lamu is a laid back Swahili town, part of an old civilization that thrived here in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its tourist appeal derives from its rich and unique Swahili culture and the lifestyle of its folk which has remained intact over the years.

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