— Kenya

Watamu Marine Park & Reserve

Watamu National Park is a component of a complex of marine and tidal habitats on Kenya’s upper coast stretching from Malindi town and ahead of the entrance to Mida creek. It is surrounded by the Malindi Marine Reserve which also includes Malindi Marine National Park. Weather conditions are humid with mean annual temperatures around 22-34°C. Rainfall is about 500 mm per annum.

Habitations here consist of inter-tidal rock, sand and mud; bordering reefs and coral gardens, layers of sea grass; coral cliffs, platforms and small islands; sand beaches and Mida Creek mangrove forest.The park was gazetted like a Biosphere reserve around 1979. Mida creek is mostly a huge, more or less land surrounded surface of saline water, mangrove and inter-tidal mud. The lush forests are actually protected as forest reserves additionally , the extreme western tip for Mida Creek happens to be part of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest reserve.

Tourist Attractions

Popular Attractions consist of the Haven of green turtle- a unique coral garden and also Mida creek. Wildlife from this park includes Reptiles/fish: fish, turtles Insects/arthropods: crabs. Activities traditionally include; surfing, snorkelling, water skiing, laying in the sun as well as diving.

Getting there

Road access is by using tarmac road away from Mombasa and / or Malindi. Using flights, Mombasa and even Malindi Airports are used.
There is actually no accommodation in the Reserve but a variety of alternatives are available around nearby Malindi town. The reserve and park may well be enjoyed throughout the year.