What is Mambrui beach like?
Long, open and uncrowded: a broad beach of golden sand on Malindi Bay, with no reef offshore, waves on windy days and very wide sand flats at low tide.
Photo: Andrea Albini / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Unlike the reef-sheltered beaches at Watamu or Diani, Malindi Bay opens straight onto the ocean, and the Sabaki River feeds it with sand. That makes the beach wide and the dunes high, and after heavy rain the river can tint the sea brown near the mouth. Further north, towards Ngomeni, the water clears.
When is the best time to swim at Mambrui?
Around high tide on a calm day; at low tide the water can be a long walk out. There are two high and two low tides a day; check a tide table for Malindi before you go.
- The Kenyan coast has large tides, biggest around new and full moon.
- With no reef, waves reach the shore directly: swim where you can stand, and stay out when it is rough.
- There are no lifeguards; do not swim near the river mouth, where currents run and crocodiles live upstream.
Can you kitesurf at Mambrui?
Yes. The open bay catches the monsoon winds: the north-east kaskazi from about December to March and the stronger south-east kusi from about June to September. Kite schools operate on this stretch of coast.
- KitesurfingSteady side-shore winds in both monsoons
- The dunesWalk from the beach into Kenya’s “little Dubai” (guide)
- BirdingTerns, gulls and waders at the Sabaki mouth
- Long walksKilometres of sand at low tide
Do sea turtles nest on Mambrui beach?
Yes. The sandy shores either side of the Sabaki mouth are turtle nesting beaches, so the beach is worth protecting.
Hatchlings head for the brightest horizon, so lights shining onto the beach lead them inland. If you build near the shore, shade outdoor lights and point them down, keep the dune vegetation, and report nests to local conservation groups. At Mambrui Beach Bay we ask owners to do the same.
Where can you stay on Mambrui beach?
A handful of beach hotels and villa resorts line the Mambrui shore, such as Karibuni Villas and Angels Bay, with more choice in Malindi 15 km south.
Or stay for good: Mambrui Beach Bay sells 3-acre lots behind the beach in a quiet, low-density estate, so you can build your own home here. See the 3-acre lots and building your home.
Questions about Mambrui beach
Where is Mambrui beach?
On Malindi Bay at Mambrui, 15 km north of Malindi town, north of the Sabaki River mouth.
Is there seaweed?
Seaweed washes up on parts of the Kenyan coast at some times of year, mostly during the south-east monsoon.
Is the beach public?
Yes. Beaches in Kenya are public below the high-water mark.
Come and see the estate
Walk the 3-acre lots and the beach, see the roads and services going in, and go through the title documents and the estate plan with us. Want less than 3 acres, or more? Ask.