KISITE MPUNGUTI MARINE PARK & RESERVE, Kisite Mpunguti is one of the best Marine Parks in Africa. It is a world of color and sea life that seems to go on forever. It is a safe haven made up of a long, clean coral reef, and the diving and swimming there are some of the best in East Africa. Oceans this warm and clear are home to dolphins, turtles, and more than 360 kinds of fish that sparkle.

Along with the rainbow of fish, this oceanic rainforest is home to almost a million different species of marine life. The reefs are practically packed with species in every corner. You can also see humpback whales and large groups of seabirds, many of them breeding together, above the water.

The first part of this water safari is a dhow journey from Diani Beach. As you enter this water paradise, dolphins will likely jump out to greet you.

The Kenya Reef

The reef goes along Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast, from the beach city of Lamu in the north to the border with Tanzania in the south. It’s been called a “living coral garden.” It’s like an underground city full of fish, octopus, clams, sponges, and over 56 different kinds of coral.

You can swim, dive, or snorkel and see a wide range of fish, including blue parrotfish, snapper, butterfly and angelfish, grouper, and sometimes whale and reef sharks in the deeper water.

Dolphins, whales, and turtles

Where else can you go on a trip with dolphins? These beautiful cetaceans are hard to miss as they jump out of the water next to your dhow or while you’re exploring below the waves. Over 200 spinner, bottle-nose, or humpback dolphins live on the reef. If you’re lucky, you might be able to swim with one of them.

As you explore this underwater playground, you’ll likely come across the turtles that live in the park and cross their smooth glidepaths. And from August to October, when they are in season, you can see humpback whales migrating through these areas.

Don’t Forget…

The Underwater Experience: Your experience and the experience of all the other tiny living things that live in this amazing coral reef. So snorkel and dive in these clear, warm waters. There are lots of dive spots for all skill levels. Start your dive at a shallow depth of 2 m (6 ft) and work your way up to 32 m (100 ft), which is deeper and more difficult.

If you hear the word “kobe,” it means “turtle.” A turtle is a great treat in these rough seas. Look for green or hawksbill types that are gliding under the water or sitting on rocks.

Kisite: Come to this island to see the seabirds that live above the water in the park. In fact, it’s a sanctuary where roseate and sooty tern colonies are very busy. They are very busy in July, when they are breeding.

Shimoni: These holes were once “Kayas,” which were holy places where people worshiped for hundreds of years. In one of the strangest turns of events in history, these caves were used to hold slaves in the 18th and 19th centuries before they were sold in Zanzibar.

Mpunguti Marine Park survey.

The marine park is only 39 sq km (15 sq mi) and is made up of four small islands and the coral reefs around them.

The park is on the south coast of Kenya, close to the border with Tanzania. It is 120 km (75 mi) from the city of Mombasa. It’s 605 km (375 m) to the main city of Nairobi.

Climate: It rains about 19 inches a year along this coast, which is wet. Temps will be 220C (710F), which is cooler than most places in the middle of the country.

The best time to go is any time of the year because you can swim, dive, or fish there. Summer months (June through August) can have rougher seas, so the best time to dive is from October to March.

How to get there: Safari Trips to Kenya can help you book a tour. It will be a style trip because the 4×4 safari Jeep is specially equipped for it.

The park is like taking a deep dive into a coastal coral gem, with all the colors, shapes, and types of sea life that you can imagine. In this unique marine park, you can see fish, dolphins, turtles, eels, whales, and many other animals. It may be too much for your senses to handle.