Ruins Of Gedi National Monument : Ruins of Gedi are the historical and archaeological site near the Indian Ocean coast of the eastern Kenya, the site is next to the town of Gedi in the Kilifi district within the Arabuko-Sokoke forest. The Gedi lies 94 km north of Mombasa on the Mombasa-Malindi road. The national monument was gazetted since 1927 and it’s under the management by the National Museums of Kenya. Where the monument protects the excavated ruins of an old Arab-African town that were abandoned in the seventeenth century. Gede Ruins is the recognized for its archaeological value and today it is one of the most highly studied relics on the Kenyan coast.
On a Kenya safari in Mombasa you explore Gedi, you explore the Swahili city in the forest. The Gedi was built on the extensive site during the 13th century and it was constructed with the rock and coral, as the town planners clearly knew what they were doing as the city was carefully arranged. As it has the water wells, advanced sanitation, drainage systems and among other facilities like the flush toilets. The city is consisted of a palace, mosques, mansions, tombs, houses, tombs and grounds for burial and among others.
During the period, the Gedi for Muslims grew rapidly and flourished until the period of 16th century when the an exodus occurred for the unknown reasons, then Gedi was abandoned in the period of early 17th century, as the city lost to the forest until 1894 when the British resident of Zanzibar investigated about the site, though it was not actually acknowledged until 1927 when the ruins were officially declared as a National Monument of Kenya.
Attractions at the Gedi Ruins.
When the tourists are entering Gedi at the entrance there is the Kipepo Butterflies Project, as this is the great place where that brings in the income to the local people. These special butterflies of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest are bred here then sent to live displays around the world.
The forest where Gedi Ruins Arabuko Sokoke National Park has got the great indigenous coastal forest in Kenya. Where various wildlife can be located in the park like animal species like forest elephants, lions, rare flora and fauna like the endemic Clarke’s Weaver and among others that makes the site to be the ecological hotspot hence attracting the various number of tourists to the site.
Things to do in Gedi Ruins.
Gedi is located in a stand of the beautiful indigenous trees, with the butterflies flit through the sun-dappled shadows and the tree canopy is a live with thee bird species and curious monkeys. The forest floor is a thick with the leaves and the rabbit sized shrews scuttle about, it’s in the atmospheric place and well worth to take a safari their during your visit in Mombasa.
Due to the fact that Gedi was excavated during the period between 1948 to 1958 and during that period most of the buildings and artefacts were not yet discovered, on a safari to the destination the travelers can get the opportunity to see the ancient porcelain embedded in the walks and the thrilling finding in the . A museum like the Venetian beads and scissors from Spain as well as the objects from China and India and the carved furniture that are such attractive. On a safari to the museum, the experienced guides at the museum takes you and keeps you around the entire site. On a safari the tourists can get the souvenirs and refreshments at the shop that they can buy and take home.
How to get to Gedi Ruins.
Tourists can reach the Gedi Ruins through the self-drive to the ruins or taking the tour from Malindi that is situated on the northern Swahili coast. Gedi Ruins is located south of Malindi that is about 16km (10 miles) from the town that is just off the Malindi-Mombasa Road in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest.
