Things to do in Watamu Marine National Park
Things to do in Watamu Marine National Park
Watamu Marine National Park is located about 90 miles (140 km) North of Mombasa, Kenya’s second-largest city; the park was established in 1968. The Watamu Marine national park is the park of a complex of marine and tidal habitats along Kenya’s north coast with rich and diverse bird life, fish, turtles and dugongs, there is the White Sand Beach, snorkeling, water skiing, windsurfing and glass-bottomed boat tours to thrill while on Kenya Safaris .
The park is all the traveller’s dream that gives the best and most amazing memories, like bird watching, experiencing the marine life and all the related activities that are greatly influenced by the good number of Watamu Marine national park attractions. The activities available in the park are unique, allowing visitors to identify various marine species, engage in water sports, and fish in Watamu Marine National Park.
Watamu Marine national park is one place where you will enjoy all the water activities. There are diving excursions to the best diving spots in the park. Snorkelers can experience the reefs directly, or for an array of the reefs, take a boat excursion to the coral sites; landlubbers can enjoy the reefs from a comfortable glass-bottomed boat. There are also guided tours to the Mida Creek Mangrove Forest, either on foot down the boardwalks or by canoe.
Things to do in Watamu Marine National Park
Snorkeling.
Watamu Marine national park has the greatest coral reefs and sea gardens in the park; over 150 species of soft and tough corals can be seen. Again, you cannot miss spotting fan corals, sponges and brain corals, which attract over 1000 species of fish.
The impressive thing about the Watamu Marine national park is that the fringing reef is 300 meters offshore, which makes it possible for everyone to enjoy the underwater. The clear waters offer excellent visibility to snorkelers; for scuba divers, there are more than 20 prime dive sites to explore and dive at; these diving sites are just 30 minutes offshore.
Big-game fishing.
Big game fishing activity though its prohibited in the Watamu Marine national park, the protected waters are perfect breeding grounds for many fish species, and this causes excitement among fishers. These protected waters of Watamu are among the best spots for game fishing along the African coastline and fish like the Sailfish, Marlin, Spearfish and Swordfish are commonly found here.
During the big-game fishing season, which is from December to March, there are deep-sea charter companies available for both beginners and seasoned fishermen, and fishing competitions are held during this prime season.
Bird Watching.
Watamu Marine National park has the most spotting, with four strategic bird areas to watch from, as they include Whale Island, Mida Creek, Dakatcha Woodland, and the Sabaki River Mouth. The interest is on water birds and the myriad egrets, Plovers, Sandpipers and the Terns are seen here. Others include the migrant birds such as Warblers, Flycatchers, Shrikes, Sunbirds, Orioles and others.
Turtle Watch.
At Watamu Marine national park there is the Turtle watch here you can learn more about the interesting turtles and the great work done to protect the threatened creatures. The rehabilitated turtles are later released to the sea and the hatchlings are allowed to make their way there.
Dolphin-watching.
In Watamu Marine national park there are Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, which are the Indian Ocean humpback dolphins in the world, naturally. Watamu Marine Excursions are the established dolphin-watching tour guides with over 20 years’ experience; these guides provide an informed experience compliant with dolphin-watching guidelines.
Sailing on a traditional Arabic Dhow.
In Watamu Marine national park offers great opportunities for the guests as a way of enjoyment as they view various features of the park for example the fish species and the bird species, which gives them unforgettable memories. Also, the glass-bottomed boat rides are done in the Watamu Marine national park.
Watamu Marine National Park as well offers various activities like water skiing, windsurfing, and sunbathing, which are done near the park; these activities are also one
Best Time To Visit Watamu Marine national park.
Watamu Marine national park is near the equator, making it warm all year round. October through April are the best months for diving, snorkeling, and fishing, while turtle nesting and hatching are year-round activities.
Watamu was voted one of the top ten beaches in the world; when you’re at Watamu, it’s a lifetime experience steeped in natural fauna and flora. A visit to Watamu while on Kenya Safaris is easily justified after delving deep into the coral reef gardens inside the park as you’re walking into the sky-blue clear sea and spot the parrotfish, whose digestion of the coral reefs over the millennia has produced the white sand beach its self, other common species of fish comprising the brightly colored underwater matrix include angelfish, groupers, filefish, lionfish, and snappers.
