August 12, 2013
Getting to camp on the Gedi Ruins near Malindi tops my list of the most glorious events of this trip. I adore Islamic artwork and architecture, and these ruins included the remnants of a great mosque, ancient wells and a spectacular courtyard. It is believed that the inhabitants deserted the town due to lack of water and the Arabian invasion. Now it operates as a fenced forest research area where 2 groups of Sykes' monkeys are being habituated - The Gedi Sykes Project.
The Great Mosque
Lost City
We tried to see how many of us it would take to encircle the baobab tree
We released this Sykes' monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis), which was snared
Sykes' monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis)
Sykes' monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis)
Along the way from Gedi to Tana, we stopped by Dr. Morino's former crab research post in the Mida Creek mangrove forest. Mangrove wood is uniquely dense and does not float. These trees live in salt water, their bark filtering the off excess salt as it flakes. A representative from the Mida Creek Conservation Community (MCCC) talked to us about the various kinds of income generating activities they have in the works to help preserve this ethereal ecosystem: crab farming, ecotour program, fisheries, boardwalk, hatchery, restaurant, education and children's programs.
Afterwards, we got to swim in Malindi, which is the Italian resort district near Mombasa.
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