Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve

Watamu Marine National Park is part of a complex marine and tidal habitat along Kenya’s north coast. Malindi Marine National Park and Reserve encloses Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve. Habitats include intertidal rock, sand, mud, fringing reefs, coral gardens, coral cliffs, sandy beaches, and the Mida Creek mangrove forest. Marine life attractions include fish, turtles, dugongs, and crabs.

The Mida Creek forest has a high diversity of mangrove species, including Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera gymorrhiza, Avicennia marina, and Sonneratia alba. These provide refuge to a variety of both resident and migrant bird species. Its extensive forests are gazetted as forest reserves, and the extreme western tip of Mida Creek is part of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve. The park was established in 1968 and is one of Kenya’s first marine parks. Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve was designated a Biosphere reserve in 1979.

Major Attractions and Activities

• A haven of the Green turtle, Hawksbill, and Olive Ridley turtles.
• Unique coral garden – over 150 species of hard and soft corals, such as fan corals, brain corals, and sponges.
• Over 500 species of fish in the main park and over 1000 in the reserve
• Mida Creek
• Kipepeo Project
• Gede Ruins
• Over 100 species of birds.

There are also whale sharks, manta rays, octopuses, and barracuda, as some of the larger species in the park.

How to get to Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve

Roads: Watamu is 118 km north of Mombasa and 28 km south of Malindi. At Gede, which is on the main Mombasa-Malindi Road, you turn towards the Indian Ocean. Watamu is 11 km away from the main road.

Air: You can access the marine park through Mombasa Airport or Malindi Airstrip.

Other Park Details

Park Size: 10 sq. Km

Climate: The Coast is humid with mean annual temperatures ranging from 22-34 C. Rainfall is about 500mm pa.

Park Fees: Go to KWS Website or contact the tour operator.