5 Best marine parks in Kenya
5 Best marine parks in Kenya : Kenya is one of the famous safari destinations on the continent, this beautiful African safari destination is not only blessed with land wildlife, but also with marine wildlife thriving in various water bodies around the country most especially in the Indian Ocean.
The underwater world is such as a quieter ecological realm and visiting any of the many underwater parks along the Kenyan Coast allows visitors to truly experience the diversity of the area’s sea life.
Kenya has lots of sites for an essentially maritime exploration tour with countless coral reefs in the pristine seas of the beautiful Indian Ocean.
Here are the five of the best marine parks in Kenya.
- Malindi Marine National Park & Reserve
Malindi Marine National Park & Reserve is a beautiful marine national park situated south of Malindi Coastal Area, with an area of 213 square kilometers. The park was gazetted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and is considered one of Africa’s Oldest marine national parks.
The park’s coral gardens are mangroves, seagulls, fencing reefs, coral reefs, mudflats and a high diversity of fish, marine mammals, turtles, and shorebirds.
Malindi Marine National Park & Reserve offers a variety of activities making it a perfect destination for beach holidays and safaris, these activities include swimming, windsurfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, glass – bottom boat rides, jet – skiing, camping, bird watching and beaches.
- Watamu Marine National Park
Watamu Marine National Park is situated 120 kilometers North of Mombasa, the park was designated as a protected area in 1968 and is a UN World Biosphere Reserve. The park is at a size of 10 square kilometers, Watamu Marine National Park is home to a plethora of marine life including molluscs, stony corals, dugongs, crustaceans, and over 500 different species of fish.
Watamu Marine National Park is one of the best marine parks in Kenya and home to endangered Green Sea turtle, octopus and barracudas which visitors can see. Other marine creatures to lookout for include sea rays and reef sharks when you take a dive around the Canyon.
Watamu Marine National Park offers several water sports including Sunbathing on the white sandy beaches, snorkelling, water skiing, windsurfing, and glass-bottomed boat cruises.
- Mombasa Marine National Park
Mombasa Marine National Park is a stunning scenic marine park lying between Mtwapa and Tudor Creeks near Mombasa Shoreline, the park has warm turquoise waters, swaying coconut trees and beautiful sandy beaches.
Mombasa Marine National Park was formed in 1986, the park is home to array of marine life, indigenous vegetation and attractive migratory birds.
Mombasa Marine National Park’s azure waters are great for windsurfing, water skiing, boat trips, bird watching, snorkeling and diving.
- Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park
Also known The Dolphin Sanctuary, Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park is located on the South Kenyan Coast close to the Tanzanian border among the beautiful coral gardens south of Wasimi Island.
The park protects an abuncance of marine species including approximately 200 dolphins (bottle-nosed, spinner, and humpback), pufferfish, parrotfish, snappers, damselfish among others.
Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park comprises of three multiple small coral rag forest islands that is (Mpunguti ya Juu, Mpunguti ya Chini and Liwe la Jahazi) (Mpunguti ya Juu, Mpunguti ya Chini and Liwe la Jahazi).
The park offers thrilling activities such as snorkeling, bird watching, amazing beautiful vistas and lounging.
- Kiunga Marine National Reserve
Kiunga Marine National Park is an unspoiled section of rough coral islands surrounded by reefs of rainbow coral and part of the mystical Swahili domain of the Lamu Archipelago.
Kiunga Marine National Park is located further north along the Indian Ocean of Kenya Coast, the park includes approximately 50 offshore islands and coral reef in Lamu Archipelago.
Kiunga Marine Reserve protects live coral gardens, contoured coves, rolling seabirds, unique turtles, magic dugongs and incredible underwater beauty and adventure.
Kiunga Marine Reserve provides fantastic opportunities of windsurfing, diving and snorkeling and water skiing and sunbathing.
