Hells Kitchen

Hell’s Kitchen Marafa has a rich and diverse history that spans centuries. Originally known as “Nyari’ by the  Giriama  tribe. It means means “the place broken by itself”. Scientists believe this geological wonder was formed by the erosion of sandstone over millions of years.

The Local people have their own myth of how it was formed. The story goes that there was a family that lived at Marafa and would indulge in bathing in valuable cow milk. God got furious and punished them by opening the ground beneath their home, leading to their deaths. The symbolically milky white and blood red sandstone of hell’s kitchen serves as a reminder against wastefulness.

The gorges take shapes as if someone sculpted them. The place earned the name, “hell’s kitchen” because it can get up to 50 degrees celsius during the day.

In terms of human history, Malindi has been inhabited for thousands of years with evidence of Swahili culture dating back to the 7th century. However Hell’s Kitchen itself gained significance during the Portuguese colonization of the East African coast in the 16th century.

During this time Malindi became a vital trading post, attracting merchants from across the Indian Ocean region. Arab and Swahili traders brought goods such ivory, gold, spices and slaves, exchanging them for beads, textiles, porcelain and other commodities with the overseas visitors. 

Today Hell’s Kitchen is not only a geological marvel but also a great tourist destination. The plethora of rock colors ranging from white, pink, orange and crimson make it a wonderful sight especially at sunset. It draws visitors from around the world to marvel at its unique landscape and learn about its rich history.

If you need a local to show you all these amazing places or simply help you explore and enjoy the real culture of Malindi, Personal Lovemalindi Guides with language skills can be booked on this site. Low cost fixed price transport can also be requested with us in the same way to travel here. Click on the menu links at the top of the page or scroll down to find out more.

Check out our events page to find out whats happening in Malindi during your stay. There is so much going on. You will soon understand why we feel Malindi is the most wonderful place in the world!