Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve
The Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park & Reserve is situated along the southern coast of Kenya and as Kenya’s largest marine protected area, and a popular tourist destination, the park is home to some of the most diverse and plentiful marine life seen in the region, 250 recorded fish species, 70 resident dolphins, 56 genera of corals, 10 species of mangroves and dozens of sea turtles, whales, seabirds, gastropods, and endemic crustaceans such as the coconut crab. The fringing and patch reefs, channels, seagrass meadows, and mangroves in the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park & Reserve provide critical habitat to many ecologically and economically important species which fuels the prominent yet sustainable, tourism and small-scale, local fishing economy in the region. The park covers an area with four small islands surrounded by coral reef.
The park has been recognized by the IUCN for its effective and comprehensive management efforts using a range of SMART technologies in surveillance and wildlife monitoring efforts to further their mission of marine conservation. Designated as a marine protected area in 1978, Kisite-Mpunguti has successfully showcased its impressive biodiversity and management efforts over the decades. To recognize these accomplishments, the Kisite-Mpunguti Mark Park & Reserve was recently awarded a gold level Blue Park Award. Marine life includes; trigger fish, moray eels, angelfish, butterfly fish, groupers, parrotfish, wrasses, scorpionfish, pufferfish, rays, snappers, green sea turtles, whale sharks, dolphins among others which are seasonal.
Things to do in the kisite mpunguti marine park
The park offers a cool and relaxing place to view the marine life and adventure the real life of the sea and has got quite a number of activities that leaves tourists mind back to the area but the best engagement activities include;
Viewing marine life
The park boosts with lots of beautiful marine life seen in clear waters of Mpunguti marine park and some of them include; Puffer fish, morays, angle fish, humpback whales, whale shark, snappers, hawksbill turtles, dolphins, damselfish, Ray’s, groupers, parrot fish and triggerfish and many other species giving tourists’ amusements.
Birding
Birding at Kisite Mpunguti national park is impressive during rainy seasons when migratory birds from North Africa and Europe while the residential birds are breeding and aquatic birds are seen around during this season.
Snorkelling
This is quite exceptional experience as you dress up in right gear and go into clear Indian ocean water and get rewarded with marine life while swimming with the dolphins which is worth amazing. The activity is very interesting and enjoyable to people who are water lovers where they experience whales, sharks and more.
Fishing
Mpunguti marine national park is blessed with over 200 fish species of which deep sea fishing can be conducted and the fishing equipment’s can be hired at the park. This activity helps tourists boost their skills in fishing by practicing here.
Sunbathing
Here sun bathe experience is amazing which can be done at the sun worshipped beaches of the mag coastal area with panoramic views of the views of the ocean shores. Tourists enjoy this experience while enjoying their cold cocktails under the umbrellas of the beaches.
Diving
The park has got very many diving sites available and diving lessons are provided for those who would love to learn how to do it at the park which helps you to explore the life under waters with oxygens provided at the area.
Swimming
Travelers get a chance to swim back and forth to the reefs at the dhow anchors at the edge of the reefs, between 4 and 8 meters deep. It is done with protective jackets that make it safe for even first-time swimmers making it quite amazing to see.
Guided walks
This is an interesting activity where a tourist is able to walk along the beach shores and come across beautiful Marine life like turtles which walk on the see shores. Tourists also touch these turtles as a way of feeling them their shell and skin.
Sailing
Best time for sailing in the park is in the dry seasons when the waters are clearer for better gainful views of Marine life and snorkelling.
Boat ride
For more enjoyment of experiencing the ocean, travellers can go for boat riding along marine waters with packed lunch box as you will be sailing on water vessel while getting amazed with great views of marine life which gives lots of excitements.
Best Time to Visit the reserve
Kisite mpunguti marine national park is best visited during the dry seasons from June to October and December to Mid-March. During this dry season, waters are very clear and travellers enjoy views of the marine life clearly with a good temperature encouraging to do activities like diving, snorkelling, boat drives, swimming perfectly. Whales can be greatly viewed between August and October. However, wet seasons that occur from November to Mid-December and March to May make the safari and activities very challenging time to enjoy.
How can you access the national park?
Kasite Mpunguti Marine national park is positioned in Kwale at coastal province of Kenya, just 8km north of Tanzania border and 11km off the mainland, the distance from Nairobi Capital city is about 500km and from Mombasa is 90km. You can as well access park by boat from the main land. The Park can only be reached by boat and Kisite National Marine Park is located about 50km south of Diani offering daily boat trips to the Marine Park, from Diani to Kisite for snorkelling and dolphin watching as well as lunch on Wasini Island.
Contact the Kenya wildlife service warden who is 200 meters south of the main Shimoni Pier or your hotel or local travel agent.
Where to stay in Kasite mpunguti marine park.
Saruni Ocean Beach Hotel
Saruni Ocean Beach Hotel Diani has 18 suites located on Kenya’s secluded south coast on the unspoiled Msambweni beach which is 30-minutes south of Diani. This stylish and luxurious property perfectly caters for honeymooners looking for a secluded retreat or families wishing to spend some quality time together.
Mpunguti Lodge
Mpunguti Lodge & restaurant started off with only a restaurant in the 70s when the Marine National Park was gazetted and the first tourists arrived in larger numbers on the island. Shortly afterward, the first lodging house was built and several more were added over the years.
Firefly Ocean Camp
Firefly Ocean Camp is an eco-camp located on shores of Shimoni south of Diani Beach. The camp is a hidden gem in the coastal forest canopy overlooking the Shimoni Channel and Wasini Island making it a perfect place to visit whether for the day or for a few nights. The camp offers diving excursions, dhow trips to Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park and sunset cruises
Blue Marlin Beach Hotel
Blue Marlin is a small family-run hotel set in the most beautiful part of Diani Beach making it perfect for anyone looking for a relax in a quietly arranged beach setting. The hotel is perched on a small hill overlooking the Indian Ocean and pristine white beach and the hotel is surrounded by lush greenery which provide an idyllic backdrop for long daytime lunches and fine dining in the evening breeze.
The rooms are designed in minimalistic coastal Swahili style with air-conditioned and with large terraces which provide an exclusive ocean view through the flourishing crowns of the palm trees.
Shimoni Reef Lodge
The lodge is located in Shimoni a rural area and on the beach with local points of interest which include Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park which is minutes away. The lodge is perched on the edges of the Wasini channel with commanding views of the Tanzania.