The Gede Ruins
A vanished Swahili town

Half day · 3:30–6:00 pm Gede National Monument

A 13th-century Arab-Swahili town mysteriously abandoned around 1400. Local tradition makes it both magical and feared — no local would venture in after sunset. A 90-minute walk among palaces, baobabs, monkeys and butterflies.

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What makes it special

Why choose this excursion

A 13th-century town

Founded around 1200, abandoned around 1400 for unknown reasons — perhaps the retreat of the sea or Galla invasions.

Ming porcelain

Excavations have uncovered Ming porcelain, glassware and Persian household items in glazed terracotta.

Forest and baobabs

The ruins are immersed in lush vegetation with centuries-old baobabs, monkeys and baboons.

A magical atmosphere

Local tradition fears this place after sunset. The cries of the monkeys among the ruins are unforgettable.

The programme

Half a day among the ruins

★Programme

3:30 → 6:00 pm — Watamu → Gede → Watamu

Guided tour and walk

Departure at 3:30 pm from your resort towards the Gede Ruins. Guided tour: a 90-minute walk through the forest among the remains of the Swahili palaces. The palaces are built with lime made from coral and earth. Lizards darting through the undergrowth, monkeys and baboons crying from the branches, large butterflies fluttering among the stones.