Why Malindi is Kenya’s little Italy

Some billboards are advertised in Italian Only!

Joyce Muchiri
3 min readFeb 21, 2021
A resort in Malindi, Kenya

The small Kenyan coastal town of Malindi is a gem! It is well known internationally, especially in Europe as one of the best holiday places in the world. It is located in the Kenyan Coast, around 347 miles from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya and 68 miles North of Mombasa Town.

Celebrities like Naomi Campbell and Flavio Briatore spend quite a bit of time in this ever Humid town. For 365 days a year, it’s always warm. The coldest months are July and August when the temperatures get to 21 degree (70 °F), at the lowest.

Language and culture Influence

You will be surprised to find billboards advertising in English and Italian, grocery stores stock shelves of Italian necessities like deli slice salami & prosciutto and wine. There are countless numbers of pizza joints all very italian style.

Malindi is basically the Maldives on Italian steroids! One would prefer it as it has a lot less populated large white sandy beaches. Locals love to exercise on the Beach especially in the morning. The area is quiet and slower paced compared to the rest of Kenya. The Locals are friendly as well as helpful and Italian is widely spoken. Taking a walk in Malindi feels like walking in another italian…

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