Malindi, Kenya

Tourism may be Malindi's bread and butter, but the reality is a population of just 54,000 people - far smaller than the 119,859 reported in the 2019 census. While the town boasts historic sites like the Vasco da Gama Pillar, the climate is a tropical dry savanna, and bureaucracy has been a persistent headache since the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century. Malindi may appeal to those seeking a quieter, more traditional Swahili experience, but it's no bustling metropolis.