This article focuses on Marine National Parks in Kenya. Marine Parks play a vital role in protecting our scenic beaches and our diverse marine life which includes dolphins, whales, sea turtles, corals, sea grasses, and sea birds.
Marine National Parks should be on your bucket list when planning your beach vacation to the Kenyan coast. Here’s a list of the best Marine National Parks in Kenya that you should visit.
Best Marine National Parks In Kenya
1. Mombasa Marine National Park
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Lies between the Mtwapa and Tudor creeks on the Mombasa coast. Mombasa Marine National Park is characterized by warm turquoise waters, swaying coconut trees, and beautiful sandy beaches. The park was established as a marine park in 1986. The park protects a variety of Marine life including vegetation, marine life, and birds. Vegetation includes sea grasses and marine algae, birds include crab plover and roseate tern. Marine life includes crabs, corals such as Acropora, turbinaria and porites, sea urchins, jellyfish, sea stars and sea cucumbers.
The park’s azure waters are great for windsurfing, water skiing, boat trips, birdwatching, snorkeling, and diving. Adults pay Ksh 200 while children pay Ksh 125 to access the park.
Contact: +254Â 20 2317371
Email:Â msamarine@kws.go.ke
2. Watamu Marine National Park
The Watamu Marine National Park is 120 kilometres North of Mombasa. The park was designated as a protected area in 1968 and is a UN World Biosphere Reserve. The park is characterized by Green turtles, unique coral gardens, and the Gede Ruins. Covering an area of 10 sq. Km, this park hosts some of the great marine life in Kenya including coral gardens, over 600 fish species, 110 species of stony coral, invertebrates, mollusks, and crustaceans.
Visitors can enjoy the white sandy beaches, snorkeling, water skiing, windsurfing, and glass-bottomed boat tours. They can also see the endangered green sea turtles, octopuses, and barracuda or dive into the Canyon to see rays and reef sharks. Entry fees are Ksh 200 for adults and Ksh 125 for children.
Contact: +254 729 548 373
3. Kisite Mpunguti National Park
Kisite Marine Park also known as the Home of Dolphins lies in the coral gardens south of Wasini Island. Unspoiled, beautiful, and sun-kissed, the Park was established to protect the scenic islands and special habitats of a wide range of endemic marine animals and breeding migratory birds. These include over 200 dolphins (spinner, humpback & bottle-nosed), migratory whale sharks, triggerfish, moray eels, angelfish, butterfly fish, groupers, parrotfish, wrasses, scorpion fish, puffer fish, damselfish, rays, snappers, green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles.
The park also encompasses three small coral rag forest islands (Mpunguti ya Juu, Mpunguti ya Chini, and Liwe la Jahazi) each with considerable areas of fringing reef. Kisite is one of the most rewarding snorkeling locations on the coast. Visitors can also enjoy bird watching, diving, and of course, sunbathing. Entry fees are Ksh 200 for adults and Ksh 125 for children.
Contact: 0723929766
Email: kisitenp@kws.go.ke
4. Malindi Marine National Park
From swimming with zebrafish to windsurfing, this beautiful slice of Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline provides the perfect getaway. Malindi Marine National Park is located south of Malindi town. The park was opened as a protected area in 1968 and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage. It is endowed with magnificent resources such as fringing reefs, coral gardens in the lagoons, sea grass beds, mangroves, mudflats, marine mammals, turtles, and various species of shorebirds
Visitors can also enjoy glass-bottom boat rides, snorkeling, camping, and beach walks in this veritable paradise. Adults pay Ksh 200 while children pay Ksh 125 to access the park.
Contact:Â 0202335684
Email: malindimarine@jambo.co.ke or malindimarine@kws.go.ke
5. Kiunga Marine National Park
Further north along Kenya’s spectacular Indian Ocean coast is the Kiunga Marine National Reserve. This pristine ecosystem incorporates about 50 calcareous offshore islands and coral reefs in the Lamu Archipelago.
Visitors can view the teeming sea life in the coral reefs, seagrass, and extensive mangrove forests which are a refuge for sea turtles and dugongs. The park also provides ideal opportunities for windsurfing, diving and snorkeling, water skiing, and sunbathing. Entry fees are Ksh 200 for adults and Ksh 125 for children.
Contact: 0721686034
