Discover Kenya The Amazing Gedi Ruins
The Kenya Coast remains one the top travel destinations in Kenya, offering many diverse tourist attractions. Among such popular destination in the Coast are the Gedi ruins, which lie about 100 km north of Mombasa and 15 km south of Malindi. These ruins of the 15th century town of Gedi hold with them Kenya's great unknown treasures; a wonderful ancient town lying lost in the depths of the Arabuko Sokoke forest.
Not much is known about Gedi, and the ruins remain a puzzle to historians and archaeologists though many believe the town was abandoned early in the 17th century. No one is certainly sure of the reason why the town was abandoned. One school of thought believes that unknown invaders destroyed Gedi town in the 17th century. Researchers however dispute this theory since there are no signs of battle or disturbance in this ancient Swahili settlement. The population of the approximately 45 acres Gedi town is estimated to have been around 2500.
Some people argue that the Gedi's residents abandoned the town due to reduced water availability in the wells, caused by receding ocean waters. Others also allege that the Portuguese brought the deadly and incurable Black Plague, which killed the entire population of Gedi.
A relatively recent theory purports that the Gedi townspeople fled when faced with the threat of an invasion by the Galla, an inland tribe reputed to have been very hostile. However, there is no mention of any such large scale evacuation around that time in the local recorded history.
Gedi was declared a historic monument in 1927 and much excavation and preservation work was carried out revealing large areas of this ancient town, including the pillar tombs, the palace and a great mosque. But despite the extensive research and exploration, nobody is really sure of what happened to the town of Gedi and its inhabitants.
Between 1948 and 1958, excavations at Gedi ruins uncovered an Indian lamp, porcelain from China, spanish scissors, and Venetian beads among other items that point to engagement in some form of international trade by citizens of Gedi.
In 1948, the Kenya government declared Gedi ruins a national park. The area has since become one of the top tourist attractions in the Kenya coast. With its pillars and stone walls, and ruined mosques and tombs in the midst of trees, Gedi ruins still remain a mysterious place to visit.
Today, modern day villages surround Gedi, which, overgrown with plants and flowers, still remains an oasis tranquility. You can get to Gedi from Malindi, Mombasa, and Watamu. There is a small museum that exhibits ancient items retrieved through excavation work, including Arab wares, Chinese porcelain, and Phoenician artifacts. More artifacts from Gede ruins are also available at the Fort Jesus museum in Mombasa.
About the Author:
Andrew Muigai is the Managing Director of Africapoint.com, a Kenya travel agency that organises Kenya Safaris and reservations for Hotels in Kenya.