Marine parks in Kenya
Marine parks in Kenya
Marine parks in Kenya: Kenya is a top safari destination recognized in the world for its diverse ecosystem, the park comprises of many national park habiting various species of animals and visited for Kenya wildlife safaris. Among the national parks in Kenya, there is Maine parks, these parks protect aquatic life in the waters of Kenya including flora and fauna.
Marine parks in Kenya are found on coastal Kenya and they include
Malindi Marine National Park
Malindi Marine National Park is a renowned protected destination situated south of Malindi coastal area on the Indian Ocean, this marine park lies in a distance of 118 kilometers north of Mombasa. Malindi Marine national park covering an area of about 213 square kilometers is said to be the oldest marine national park in the continent of Africa and is also referred to as a coral garden, the area of the park comprises of mangroves, coral reefs, mud flats, magical islands, white sand beaches, and emerald waters.
Malindi Marine national park was opened as a protected area in 1968 and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage, the park is a home to aquatic species such as dolphins, sea turtles, octopus and a range of fish species such as zebra fish, jelly fish, star fish and bird species on the shores. Malindi Marine national park is an excellent destination for a beach vacation and water safari activities such as snorkeling, jet skiing, scuba diving and wind surfing. Other Kenya safari activities offered at Malindi Marine national park are bird watching, visiting the islands, glass bottom boat rides, beach walks and camping
Getting to Malindi Marine national park
Malindi Marine National Park is accessed using both road and air means of transport, Mombasa as the main gateway to the North Coast on which this national park is located. By road, you can choose to use either a private or hired car driving on the coastal highways connecting to Malindi from Mombasa. There are also regular buses and matatus offering transport from Mombasa to Malindi. By air, scheduled flights are available from Mombasa, Nairobi and Lamu to Malindi Airport.
Mombasa Marine National Park
Mombasa Marine national park (Marine parks in Kenya) is a beautiful scenic national park and allure of national beauty, this park lies between Mtwapa and Tudor creeks on the Mombasa coast. Mombasa Marine national park was established as a marine park in 1986 covering an area of 10 square kilometers, the park protects a variety of Marine life including vegetation, marine life and birds. Vegetation include sea grasses and marine algae, birds include crab plover and roseate tern. Marine life include crabs, corals such as acropora, turbinaria and porites, sea urchins, jellyfish, sea stars and sea cucumbers.
Mombasa Marine national park is one destination you should never miss while on a Kenya safari as a excellent safari activities are offered in this park and they include sun bathing, wind surfing, water skiing, diving, snorkeling, bird watching and boat rides.
How to get to Mombasa Marine national park
Mombasa Marine national park is situated in a distance of about 487 kilometers from Nairobi, the park can be accessed by road from Mombasa city centre and by boat you connect to the national park from different beach points such as Serena Gate on beach of Serena Hotel, Severin Gate on beach of Severin Hotel, Travellers Gate on beach of Travellers Hotel.
Watamu Marine Park
Watamu Marine Park is another marine park and a haven of green turtle located in Watamu with Malindi and Mombasa as the nearest cities, this marine park lies in a distance of 140 kilometers north of Mombasa. Watamu Marine Park is a UN recognized World Biosphere reserve established as a protected area in 1968 covering an area of 1o square kilometers, this park hosts some of the great marine life in Kenya including coral gardens, over 600 fish species, 110 species of stony coral, invertebrates, molluscs and crustaceans.
Coral reefs in Watamu Marine Park are the physical and biological backbone of the park with over 150 species of hard and soft corals, these corals include fan corals, sponges and brain corals. On top of fish species there are also whale sharks, Manta rays, octopus, barracuda and various species of turtles including green, hawksbill and olive ridley turtles in Watamu Marine Park. Watamu Marine Park offers amazing Kenya safari activities diving, glass bottom boat rides, sun bathing, wind surfing and water skiing.
How to get to Watamu Marine Park
Watamu Marine Park is situated 120 kilometers north of Mombasa and 28 kilometers south of Malindi and reached using both road and air transport, by road there are routes connecting the park such as Mombasa-Malindi road. On this route you take a turn towards the Indian Ocean for a drive 11 kilometers to Watamu Marine Park. By air, domestic flights are available from Nairobi and Mombasa landing to Malindi airport then connect to the park by car.
Kisite- Mpunguti Marine Park (Marine parks in Kenya)
Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park is one of the most unspoiled beautiful; protected areas in Kenya located in the southern coast of Kenya near Shimoni and south of Wasini Island in Kwale district near the Tanzanian border. Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park covers an area of 39 square kilometers and made up of Kisite park covering an area of 28 square kilometers and Mpunguti reserve covering an area if 11 square kilometers.
Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park protects abundance of marine life including over 200 dolphin individuals (spinner, humpback and bottle-nosed), migratory whale sharks, trigger fish, moray eels, angelfish, butterfly fish, groupers, parrotfish, wrasses, scorpion fish, puffer fish, damselfish, rays, snappers, green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles. Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park offers a variety of Kenya safaris such as bird watching, scenic viewing, snorkeling, diving and sun bathing.
How to get Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park
Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park is located in Kwale district, coast province lieing in a distance of 11 kilometers from Kenyan coast at Shimoni and 8 kilometers from north of Tanzanian border. The park is only reached by boat from Shimoni pier.
