Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park & Reserve

Home of the Dolphins and Coconut Crabs

Essentially unspoiled and entirely different in terms of culture and landscape from the mainland, this peaceful island invites exploration. It features a picturesquely sculptured rocky coastline, low rag coral forest cover, numerous baobab trees and two small villages. Once below the waves, but now merely washed by the incoming tide, the surreal grey-white coral gardens in Wasini Village are run by the friendly ‘Wasini Women’s Boardwalk’. They offer guided walks, cold drinks and a handicraft shop. The two and a half acres of petrified coral gardens and mangrove swamps have a meandering boardwalk through the circuit.

Beautiful and sun kissed, Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park was established to protect the scenic islands and special habitats of a wide range of endemic marine animals and breeding migratory birds. It lies in the coral gardens south of Wasini Island and encompasses three small coral rag forest islands, each with considerable areas of fringing reef.

Attractions & Activities

Kisite is one of the most rewarding snorkeling locations in the coast and additionally, visitors can enjoy bird watching, diving, boat safaris, coral viewing, sunbathing and swimming with the dolphins. Marine life comprises about 250 recorded fish species, dolphins, sea turtles, and whales, a genera of corals, sea grass and gastropods. Visitors can spot seabirds in large nesting colonies and internationally significant numbers of roseate terns and crab-plover.

The Kenyan barrier reef and the most outstanding feature of the Kenyan coast, is the pristine and well-developed coral barrier reef that extends all the way from Shimoni in the South to Malindi in the North, without significant break, except at the mouths of the rivers. The coral reefs referred to as the rainforests of the sea, are one of the most fascinating ecosystems on earth, sheltering nearly one million types of marine life.

The marine park is famous for its population of turtles: Green and Hawksbill turtles normally spotted in their hang out, Kijamba cha Kasa.

An enchanted realm of living coral gardens, sculpted islands, wheeling seabirds and sparklingly clear waters, this world famous Marine Park promises an underwater world of unbelievable color and vibrancy. The reef provides food and shelter for an entire marine community. A shifting rainbow of small fish, octopus and clams hide in the gaps between the rainbow corals.

Kisite Island is an Important Bird Area (IBA). IBAs are globally important habitats for conservation of bird populations. It is a flat, treeless rocky outcrop with many patches of grass and surrounded by a magical sandy beach that’s exposed during low tide. This makes it an ideal seabird habitat supporting the pelagic-feeders and breeding colonies of roseate and sooty terns commonly arriving to breed in July and leave with their fledglings from September every year.