Malindi Marine National park lies south of Malindi town on the Indian coast beach near
Arabuko-Sokoke forest Park
and
Gedi ruins
. The park is fringed with raised coral reefs, coral lagoon gardens, mangroves, mud flats, sea grasses and other amazing tidal habitats.
The park is deal for diving and snorkelling off motor boats into the spectacular marine life. The dive site from Malindi Marine Park is one of the best in the world. Other activities on the beach include sea bird watching, nature walks along the beach, boat trips to
Manyugu Island
, fishing, swimming and skiing.
Sights at Malindi Marine Reserve
Some of the spectacular marine life from Malindi Marine park include dolphins, green sea turtles, olive ridley sea turtles, Hawksbill turtles and others over 300 species of fish are recorded within the reserve such as barracuda, surgeon fish, sharks, angel fish, lobsters, octopus, crabs, star fish an many others.
The Vasco Da Gama pillar was built in 1498 and is a unique historical attractions that was used for navigation near
Causuarina Beach
to the north. The
Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Nakuru Kenya, Lake Nakuru Kenya Safaris, Kenya Birds
are located on the highway before reaching the park. The crocodile park is open on all through the week.
The weather is good all year round with April to May for the long rains and October to December for the short rain period. You can thus visit this park all through the year.
Access
The Marine Park is accessed by guided boat trips from Mombasa beach. To reach Malindi, take the highway for a distance of 118km from Mombasa. Alternatively, use the airport from Malindi.
Malindi Park Entry Fees
Students Children adults
Citizens
Kshs 50 Kshs 50 Kshs 100
Residents
Kshs 100 Kshs 150 Kshs 300
Non-residents
USD 5 USD 5 USD 10
Where to stay
There are no facilities for accommodation in the reserve but there are there are conference and educational centers near the beach. Kenya Safari tourist will find accommodation from several Malindi hotels, lodges, cottages, guesthouses and apartments.
Camping along the beach is possible as long as you bring all supplies such as food, water and anything you may need. The camp site has 2 BBQ and cooking areas, 2 toilets with running water, pit latrines and security lights for the night. It is a cool way to spend a Kenya beach safari, with beats of the waves on the shores to mark the night.
Malindi Marine Park and Reserve happens to be the first marine gazetted area found in Kenya, established during 1968 and then run as a Biosphere Reserve. This particular park is southern of Malindi town going as far as Mida creek. It neighbours the Gede wrecks and Arabuko Sokoke forest. The park is enveloped using a national reserve as well as a 100 ft strip of coastal land right from Vasco-da-Gama pillar then towards Watamu. The entire park is without a doubt endowed with amazing features for instance fringing reefs, coral, sea grass, mangroves, mudflats, high fish plethora, underwater mammals, turtles and even shorebirds.
The edge reef is actually close to coast and even unveiled throughout lower tide but drops eventually to the sea grass bed which descends precipitously into the deep Barracuda Channel. The north Reef is rolling out of the coast and is particularly the main focus of holiday adventure.
The coastal weather is damp having mean temperature ranging from 22-34°C. Rainfall is approximately 500 mm every year.
Popular attractions consist of Glass-bottomed boat tours, coral gardens, boat rides, diving, snorkelling, ocean sports, under-water adventures, educational trips, picnic as well as island barbeques. Wildlife is made up of Turtles: Green, hawksbill, olive ridley, loggerhead. Green and hawksbill turtle breed from the Park. There are around 300 varieties of fish including angelfish, barracuda, butterfly fish, goatfish, fusiliers, emperors, groupers, grunt/sweetlips, jacks, parrotfish, rabbit fish, sharks, snappers, surgeon fish, triggerfish as well as wrasses. Invertebrates: No less than 135 types of gastropods and 12 species of echinoids including clams, crown of thorns, lobsters, octopus, sea anemone, sea cucumber, sea stars, sea urchins, crabs and with shells. Benthic covers 200 varieties of algae. An overall total of predominantly 55 genera and 145 species of hard coral are already documented on the north reef. Corals: Boulder coral, organ pipe coral, sea grass, stag horn coral. Birds integrate a Number of migrant shore and land birds nevertheless dolphins include the mammals in this marine park.
Connection by roads is actually on the 118 km tarmac road from Mombasa to Malindi and flights are serviced by Malindi Airport.
Accommodation -You will find no accommodation inside the park. Tourists can reside within KWS self-catering accommodation and within Malindi. The reserve is open for visits all year round.
