Watamu and Malindi Malindi, located 75 miles north of Mombasa (two hours by car), has numerous beach hotels, nightclubs and shops. The Malindi-Watamu Marine National Reserve encompasses an area south of Malindi to south of Watamu, from 100 feet to 3 nautical miles offshore, and it has very good diving and snorkeling. Lamu On the Island of Lamu off the coast of Kenya, Swahili culture has changed little in the past few hundred years. You will see plenty of donkey carts traveling on the narrow, winding streets and a maze of alleyways add to the timeless atmosphere. Mombasa Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya, with a population of over 600,000. Situated on an island, 307 miles from Nairobi on a paved road, it is a cultural blend of the Middle East, Asia and Africa. On the Kenya Coast you have the choice to stay at one of the deluxe hotels located north or south of Mombasa, which have swimming pools, tennis courts, scuba diving and other water sports.