About Kilifi

Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads, Airports, Climate & National Monuments in Kilifi County

Geography of Kilifi County

Kilifi County has three essential topographical features. The first is the narrow coastal plain, which varies in width from 3 kms to 20 kms. The coastal plain lies below 30 ms asl, with just a few prominent peaks on the western boundary that include hills such as Mwembetungu Hill. Across the coastal plain runs several creeks resulting in excellent marine swamps that are endowed with mangrove forests utilized for tourism and aquaculture. This zone is composed of marine sediments including coral, limestone, marble, clay stones and alluvial deposits that support agriculture. The veritable Nyika Plateau, which rises from 100 ms to 340 ms, occupies about half of Kilifi County along the entire western frontier.

Land Use in Kilifi County

Much of the land in Kilifi County is dominated by 12 large-scale ranches with an average land carrying capacity of 3 livestock’s per hectare in dairy zones and 0.25 livestock’s per hectare in the rangelands. These ranches include Galana, Birya, Girya, Ndigiria Mapote, Mnagoni, Dola and Kilifi, among others. It is estimated that 11% of the households in Kilifi County are landless. Many of these people are squatters on private land.  This has also led to an emergence of informal and unorganized settlements about Malindi, Kilifi and Mtwapa Towns.

Highlights of Kilifi County

Kilifi County is endowed with diverse tourism attraction sites which include the beaches at Malindi, Watamu, Kilifi and Mtwapa. Important historical sites at Gede, Malindi, Takaungu, Mnarani and Rabai with most dated back to the slave trade period are also popular with travellers to Kilifi County. Other noteworthy places include the Kaya forests, Marafa Depression, Bore Valley, Mekatilili Wa Menza, Kapangani Rock, Sabaki Estuary in Magarini, and tropical mangrove swamps.

Kilifi County also offers excellent opportunities for sport fishing and marine research, especially for rare breading grounds of special fish like the Tewa. It is also home to the outstanding Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve, Malindi Marine National Reserve, Watamu Marine N. Park, and Kuruwitu Marine Conservancy.

Population in Kilifi County

Kilifi’s population density in 2009 was 88 people/km2, projected to increase to 96 people/ km2 in 2012 and further to 116 people/ km2 in 2017. Her population was estimated to be 1,217,892 in 2012, projected as 1,336,590 and 1,466,856 in 2015 and 2017 respectively, at growth rate of about 3.1% per annum.  Rabai constituency had the highest population density with 517 people/km2 while Magarini constituency has the lowest population density with 27 people/km2.  

Airports in Kilifi County

Kilifi County is served by Malindi Airport and Kilifi and Kijipwa airstrips.

Roads in Kilifi County

Kilifi County’s entire road network covers about 3000 kms. Of these, 1,320 kms are rural classified network roads and almost 450 kms are nationally classified network road, with the A104 Mombasa-Uganda Road and the B8 Mombasa-Malindi-Garsen Road being the principal lines of communication in the County.

Climate in Kilifi County

For the greater part of the year, the climate along the coastline is pleasurable, though humid. In the hinterland it is generally hot and adust, then humid and enervating during the rainy seasons. The annual temperatures in Kilifi County range between 21C and 30C. Temperatures are higher along the coastal belt ranging between 30C and 34C. Kilifi County has relatively low wind speeds, ranging between 4.8 km/hr and 12 Km/hr. Areas with highest rainfall include Mtwapa, to the north of the coastal strip, and around Arabuko Sokoke Reserve.

National Monuments in Kilifi County

  1. Takwa Milinga Ruins
  2. Districy Officer’s Office
  3. Kaya Fungo
  4. Kaya Kauma
  5. Kaya Chivara
  6. Mnarani Ruins
  7. Mtwapa
  8. Mambrui
  9. Takaungu South
  10. Da Gama Pillar
  11. Kilepwa Island
  12. Jamadra Mosque
  13. Sheikh Said
  14. Sheikh Othman
  15. Takaungu North
  16. Jumaa Mtwapa
  17. Mgangani
  18. Gedi Ruins
  19. Ngomeni Shipwreck
  20. Bedida Sacred Grove
  21. Kaya Mudzi Muvya
  22. Kaya Lunguma
  23. Muyu wa Kae
  24. Kaya Fimboni
  25. Kaya Mzizima
  26. Ronald Ngala’s Site
  27. House of Columns

Touring Kilifi County offers a delightful blend of coastal beauty, lovely beaches, cultural richness, natural wonders, and fascinating ancient ruins. Whether you’re seeking pristine beaches, historical sites, or vibrant cultural experiences – or a combination, Kilifi promises a memorable and enriching travel experience.

A Guide to Kilifi County



A Summa Digest of Kilifi

About Kilifi Way Back When

95 Destinations in Kilifi County, arranged as one would visit these - south, north, east then north - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:

Shimo la Tewa Prison, Mtwapa Creek, Mtwapa Ruins, The Moorings, La Marina Restaurant, Jumba la Mtwana, Kikambala Beach, Vipingo Mosque Ruins, Kinuni Ruins, Kuruwitu Conservancy, Neem Tree House, Vipingo Ridge, Chasimba Cave, Kilifi Sisal Plantations, Vuma Cliffs, Old Town Takaungu, Takaungu Creek, Kitoka Ruins, Takaungu House, Beneath the Baobab Festival, Kilifi Creek, Kilifi Bridge, Kilifi Boatyard, Distant Relatives Lodge, Mnarani Ruins, Mnarani Snake Park, 3 Degrees South, Kamili House, Mazingira Park, Bofa Beach, Saltys Kitesurfing Bar & Restaurant, Bush Baby Kilifi, Casa Dalton, Panga ya Saidi Cave, River Rare Geo Park, Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Mwangea Hills Forest, Watamu Marine National Park, Uyombo Ruins, Rock & Sea Resort, Mida Creek, Sudi Island, Kirepwe Ruins, Watamu Beach, Ocean Sports Watamu, Medina Palms, Hemimways Watamu, A Rocha Eco Lodge & Conservation Centre, Watamu Treehouse, Garoda Beach, Tribe Watersports, Kite House, Local Ocean Conservation, Bio-Ken Snake Farm, Kiburugeni Ruins, Mgangani Ruins, Mida Creek Nature Camp, Gede Ruins, Kipepeo Butterfly Farm, Malindi Museum, Henry the Navigator Monument, Malindi Pier, Malindi Pillar Tomb, Malindi Waterfront Park, Portuguese Chapel, Vasco da Gama Pillar, Malindi Beach, Ndoro Sculpture Garden, White Elephant Sea & Art Lodge, Malindi Crocodile & Snake Farm, Malindi Marine National Park, Malaika Beach Sunbeds & Restaurant, Sawa Sawa Dhow Excursions, Lo Sfizio Coffee Shop, Lennox Art Gallery, Falconry of Kenya, Hanging Gardens, Malindi Golf & Country Club, River Sabaki Delta, Marafa Depression, Dakacha Woodland, Mekatilili wa Menza Site, Mambrui Dunes, Mambrui, Mambrui Tombs, Kibirakani Ruins, Che Shale Hotel Kitesurf Center, Ngomeni Shipwreck, Luigi Broglio Space Centre, The Nyika Plateau, Galana Conservancy, Ngala Mausoleum, Rabai Museum, Kaya Kambe Shrine, Thomas Wakefield Memorial Church

Know More About Kilifi County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments

Kilifi can be split into three zones – the narrow coastal plain, varying in width from 3 kms to 20 km; few coastal hills lying below 30 ms asl, and the Nyika Plateau rising from 100ms to 340 ms asl.

For the greater part of the year, the climate along the coastal plain is pleasurable, though humid. Temperature ranges between 21C and 30C along the coast, and between 30C and 34C further inland.

Know More About Kilifi County…