Thirty-two square kilometres
of protected reef.
Watamu Marine National Park was one of the first marine protected areas established in Africa, and it covers roughly thirty-two square kilometres of coral gardens, seagrass and lagoon directly off the beach. Protection has done what protection does: the coral is in better condition than most of the Kenyan coast and the fish are used to people. Green and hawksbill turtles nest on these beaches, whale sharks pass offshore in the northern months, and Mida Creek and the Arabuko Sokoke forest sit just inland.
North of Mombasa
Watamu Marine National Park
Ideal length of stay
Best conditions
Why visit Watamu
One of Africa’s earliest marine parks, and the coral shows the benefit of decades of protection.
Green and hawksbill turtles nest here, with local monitoring programmes you can sometimes join.
They pass offshore roughly between October and February, and swimming with them is possible.
Mangrove channels behind the beach, best paddled at sunset on a rising tide.
The largest coastal forest left in East Africa, with species found essentially nowhere else.
A village rather than a resort strip, which keeps the beaches quiet.
What there is to do
Snorkeling & Diving
The reef sits close in, so both are shore or short-boat trips rather than long crossings.
Sea Turtle Watching
Local monitoring programmes track nesting sites, and hatchling releases can sometimes be joined.
Mida Creek Kayaking
Paddling the creek among the mangroves, timed with the tide and best near sunset.
Arabuko Sokoke Forest Walk
The largest remaining coastal forest in East Africa, with birds and mammals found almost nowhere else.
Deep-Sea Fishing
Beyond the reef for sailfish, marlin and tuna, with most operators running catch and release on billfish.
Marine life and wildlife
Sea Turtle
Green and hawksbill turtle feed on the seagrass and nest on these beaches between March and July.
Dolphin
Bottlenose and humpback dolphin work the reef edge, most often seen on an early boat trip.
Whale Shark
The largest fish in the sea, passing through between roughly October and February. Harmless and filter-feeding.
Colobus Monkey
The Angolan colobus is the coast’s signature primate, and Diani has one of the last viable populations.
Reef Fish
Parrotfish, angelfish, snapper and butterflyfish across the coral. Visibility decides how much you see.
When to go
The coast runs on two monsoons rather than a dry and wet season. Both have their advantages.
Kusi season
The south-east monsoon. Cooler, breezier and dry, with the best conditions of the year for being outdoors.
Kaskazi season
The north-east monsoon brings hot, still, humid days and the calmest, clearest water for diving.
Short rains
Brief afternoon storms that clear quickly, warm sea and noticeably lower rates.
Long rains
The wettest stretch, with reduced visibility underwater and some hotels closing for maintenance.
Add Watamu to your trip
Watamu suits travellers who want the water to be the point rather than the backdrop.