The coast of Kenya is full of natural paradises. These are especially ecosystems linked to the inlets of the Indian Ocean and their islands.
One of these is the Tsunza peninsula, just inside the many indentations of the island of Mombasa, which as we know is only joined to the mainland by bridges. On the Kwale County side, the Tsunza Peninsula is one of the most accessible and least known natural paradises on the Kenyan coast.
It is a spectacle of lagoons, islands, dense mangroves. It is a favourite spot for bird watchers but also for fishermen who, with their typical boats, enter a thousand labyrinths of canals and waterways that mix the saltiness of the ocean with the sweetness of the rivers that flow here.
From the beach of Mkupe to Miritini, not far from the port of Mombasa, boats take tourists on an excursion that in just twenty minutes already offers visions of unspoilt scenery, peering out from the tangles of mangroves. The eye can only go to the wildlife, mostly birds that prefer the cool heathland on the banks of the canals, while predators fly close to the water to catch fish.
From the eastern slopes of the peninsula, the contrast of Mombasa harbour with its gigantic cargo-lifting cranes and ship traffic in the harbour turning basin.
In Tsunza, the local community is developing sustainable tourism, using canoes and boats to provide authentic experiences for tourists, combining them with a day at the beach or traditional lunches on the islets along the creek, where ancient customs survive as well as mysterious legends waiting to be discovered.
This is why areas have been set up for visitors, with handicrafts and traditional Kayamba and Zandale dances of the Duruma tribe, one of the nine that make up the Mijikenda ethnic group, among the lesser known. One can learn about the construction of the traditional 'chivoti' flute. This small wind instrument with four holes is still made by hand from mango wood. A nail was heated and used to make a hole in the wood. The chosen tree has a soft pith centre, which can be pushed out with a stick, and the end is plugged with tree gum.
It is played by men and boys at festivals evoking harvest times and transhumance.
For those who want to immerse themselves in the ancient culture of this tribe, visiting sacred caves known as 'kayas' is also an opportunity to be hosted by village communities through a local association and learn about local animism rituals and customs.