Vasco da Gama Pillar, Malindi
Malindi, Kenya
The Vasco da Gama Pillar is a cultural property and a National Monument of Kenya located in Malindi. It is one of the 6 most looked-up sights in Kenya on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The driest months to visit Malindi are January, February, and September, which see the least rainfall. April, May, and November are the wettest months, with rain falling on about 20 days during each of those periods. Daily high temperatures range from 26 °C in July, August, and September to 30 °C in March.
The pillar is located 3 km from Malindi International Airport. For international travelers, the hub Moi International Airport in Mombasa is 108 km away. The site is 426 km from Nairobi. Visitors often combine a trip to the pillar with the Ruins of Gedi, which are 15.7 km away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is March, with an average high of 30 °C. The wettest is May, with about 243 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Average low, °C | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 |
| Rainfall, mm | 18 | 7 | 51 | 153 | 243 | 132 | 84 | 56 | 43 | 92 | 86 | 63 |
| Rainy days | 5 | 3 | 10 | 21 | 20 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 17 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
