Mombasa is the major city on the Kenya coast and is itself actually an island. It has a long history dating back to 200 AD. There is an old harbour that is still visited by trading dhows bringing in Frankincense, Myrrh and marvelous Persian and Bokhara carpets for the Mombasa bazaars. A walk around the old town is a fascinating maze of narrow streets, overhanging balconies and mysterious doorways leading to dark interiors. Soon the old town gives way to the bustling fruit market and bazaars where the local people haggle over exotic spices and colourful fabrics. Nightlife in the town is limited mainly to eating out while many of the nearby beach hotels feature discos, casinos and nightclubs. North and South of Mombasa Island are the developed beach resorts with a wide choice of hotels.

MALINDI AND WATAMU 
About 140km North of Mombasa is the town of Malindi and Watamu bay. Although the town has plenty of history, it is now primarily a tourist resort with many beach hotels of varying styles. Watamu is an attractive beach with minimal development apart from a handful of small hotels. 

LAMU
A relatively isolated island off Kenya's northern coast with a history going back a thousand years or more. Lamu town is a bustling Swahili community where traditional Arab dhows still crowd the waterfront and cars are unknown. Life goes on much as it was in the days of the Zinj, over 500 years ago.