Malindi Marine National Park

Background Information

Marine parks , the white sandy beaches, historical monuments, contemporary culture and the warm climate give the Kenya Coast a unique tourist product. Almost 47% of Kenya's tourism occurs here. Nationally about 52% of the total hotel beds are at the coast, and 95% of the visitors to Kenya use the coast as a base for inland safaris.

The marine and coastal environments include Indian Ocean territorial waters and the immediate hinterland areas that border the ocean. Another feature of the coastline is the fringing coral reef that runs between 0.5 km and 2 km offshore with occasional gaps at the mouths of rivers and the isolated areas facing the creeks. The shoreline is dominated in most areas by beaches, cliffs or mangrove forests. The coral-reef system and mangrove swamps serve the most important ecological role and the former is a major tourist attraction next
to the sun, sea and sand.

Marine parks are fully protected. In marine reserves specified traditional methods of fishing are allowed under controlled conditions, but commercial methods of fishing are prohibited. The reserves are buffer zones between parks and the unprotected surrounding waters.

Malindi/Watamu Parks and Reserves
Malindi Marine Park is 6 km2 while Watamu is 10 km2. Both parks
were designated as a Biosphere reserve in 1979. The reserve engulfing
the parks is 213 km2 extending 5 km into the sea and 30 km along the
tcoast. The area comprises fringing reefs, a series of coral reefs, coral
gardens inside the lagoons, sea grassbeds and the Mida Creek mangrove
forest. The coastline of the protected area has great tourist hotel
developments.

ACCESS

By Road: Malindi Marine National Park is situated on Kenya’s magnificent Indian Ocean coastline, Malindi town, some 110 km North of Mombasa
By Air: Malindi Airport is your arrival point

LOCATION

South Eastern Kenya

CLIMATE

Tempepature ranges from 20-300 c and rainfall from 200mm – 700 mm
Two rain seasons: Long rains – March & April & short rains – Nov/ December

SAFARI CARD REQUIRED?

Smart card required: at present the park does not operate on smart card system. Entry is by cash only (KSH or US$).

WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU

Footwear, e.g. sandals or flip flops (to protect your feet from the reef)
T-shirts (to protect your body from sunburn)
Snorkel, mask, fins, all of which are available for hire
Camera, hat, sunscreen, insect repellant
Guide books
Plenty of drinking of water
A friend(s)

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Fishes
Inverterbrates
Benthic cover
Corals
Dolphins

MARINE LIFE

Prolific marine life includes crabs, corals, sea urchins, jellyfish, sea stars, and sea cucumbers. Different varieties of coral species comprise of Acropora), Turbinaria and Porites

WHERE TO STAY

There is currently no accommodation in the reserve. Visitors can stay in Malindi town which offers various accommodation options. There are lots of luxurious, comfortable and culturally rich hotels and lodges to choose from in close proximity to the Park.
Camping Facilities
- Campsite has cool shade of indigenous trees which provides scenic and serene environment with a marked nature trail. Your stay here will bring back memories of unspoiled splendor because nature is precisely as it was intended to be. Equipped with 2 erected barbeque and cooking area, working security lights, 2 flush toilets, 2 pit latrines, 5 showers.

ACTIVITY OPTIONS

Swimming in the warm ocean water
Boat Excursion rides
Visits to the coral gardens to see tropical fish in their habitats
Trips to Manyugu, a tidal Island, where you can have fresh food
Glass bottom boat rides
Conferencing: A resource centre with audio visual equipment with a capacity of 50 and a library
An education centre with audio visual equipment