Super User 09 August 2023

Best Travel Guide To Malindi Marine National Park Wildlife In Kenya

Malindi Marine National Park is a beautiful slice of Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline as it provides the perfect getaway, from swimming with zebrafish to windsurfing.

Malindi, Located on the East Coast of Kenya, is a popular tourist town with scenic beauty, clean white beaches, and a lot of history. It’s located in the Malindi town area in the Indian Ocean, off the Kenyan coastal line. It’s claimed to be the oldest marine park in Africa. The park lies about 118km north of Mombasa, Kenya.

The park is over 6 sq. km (2.3 sq. mi) and borders the larger 213 sq. km (82 sq. mi) reserve, which comprises beaches, mangroves, mud flats, a variety of coral reefs, coral gardens, lagoons, sea turtles such as hawksbill, olive ridley, and loggerhead, seagrass beds, marine mammals such as the Dolphins and several species of shorebirds. The park also has over 600 species of fish and over a hundred types of corals.

The park’s coral forms are home to several fish species such as the triggerfish, parrotfish, butterflyfish, grouper, emperor, and others. Other species inhabiting this active marine cape include sea anemones, crabs, lobsters, sea cucumbers, and octopuses.

The Marine Park and Reserve is renowned worldwide for its natural beauty; boasting a rich marine life from the visiting Whale Sharks and Manta Rays to three species of Sea Turtles. 229km2 of pristine white-sand beaches, reef-protected lagoons, and wide open sea comprise the Watamu National Marine Park and Reserves

The Park also provides a home to a colorful variety of marine species including crabs, starfish, stonefish, cucumbers sea urchins, corals, turtles, sea grasses, and interesting migratory birds including crab plovers.

During your visit to Malindi Marine National Reserve, you can get close and view some of the sea creatures some of which include the starfish, Octopus, dolphin, jellyfish, and zebra fish which you may have to swim along with, deep sea turtles, several birds a shore.

The park is also comprised of long coastal beaches with clean oceanic and warm waters, all best for swimming especially alongside zebra fish, diving, sunbathing, water skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, beach walks, camping, glass bottom boat rides, deep sea fishing and also good scenic viewing.

The park’s coral garden and the beautiful Indian Ocean coastline are indeed a perfect getaway and the best place to be. The park is easily accessible as it’s located just 110 km north of Mombasa and has Malindi airport as well. Accommodation is in plenty ranging from basic to luxurious.