From breathtaking Safari Destinations to sandy beaches Kenya is known forthespectacular beauty it offers. Theless-knownfact about Kenya is that we hold seven UNESCO World Heritage sites–making us second only to South Africa (which has ten) in terms of the number of listed sites in an African country.
Gedi is one of many medieval Swahili coastal settlements that stretch from Barawa, Somalia to the Zambezi River in Mozambique. There are 116 known Swahili sites stretching from southern Somalia to Vumba Kuu at theKenya-Tanzania border. Since the rediscovery of the Gedi ruins by colonialists in the 1920s, Gedi has been one of the most intensely excavated and studied of thosesites, along with Shanga, Manda, Ungwana, Kilwa, and the Comoros.
Theruinsof Gediincludea walled town and its outlying area. All of the standing buildings at Gedi, which include mosques,a palace, and numerous houses, are made from stone, are one-story, and are distributed unevenly in the town. There are also large open areas in the settlement whichcontainearth and thatch houses. Stone “pillar tombs” are a distinctive type of Swahili Coast architecturefound at Gedi as well.
Gedi’s location along the coast and association with similar sites along the Swahili Coast made it an important trade centre. Although there are few historical documents specifically associating Gedi with Indian Ocean trade, thesite is thought to have been one of the most important sites along the coast.
Gedi’s architecture and an abundance of imported material culture including pottery, beads, and coins provide evidence of the city’s rising prosperitythroughoutits occupation from as early as the eleventh century to its abandonment in the early seventeenth century.
Planning your visit?
If you are planning to visit this historical Swahili city, werecommendvisitinginthe morninghoursor later in the afternoon to avoid the midday heat. These timesgenerallyoffer cooler temperatures and softer light for exploring the ruins and taking photographs. Additionally, going early in the morning can provide a quieter and more peaceful experience.
Wealso encourageyou to getone of our local recommendedguideswho will explain therichhistory of the ruins.Theywill alsobe helpful whentakingphotos. Making the experience more wholesome
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