Mombasa Marine national park
Mombasa marine national park is a marine national park type of protected area and one of the most visited marine protected areas in Kenya lieing between the Mtwapa and Tudor creeks and the blue waters of Indian Ocean. The park is both a marine park and national reserve, Marine Park covers an area of 10 square kilometers and the national reserve covers an area of 200 square kilometers.
Mombasa marine national park is situated in Mombasa on of the most prominent tourism towns in Kenya, the park was first established as marine park in 1986 stretching around a part of a lagoon, back reef and reef crest habitant of the Bamburi – Nyali fringing reef.
Attractions at Mombasa marine national park and reserve
Marine life
Mombasa marine national park and reserve is situated along Indian Ocean a great habitant support a very large population of marine life, the same marine species in the Indian Ocean are available in Mombasa marine national park since the park lies on the ocean and these species include jelly fish, sea stars, crabs, turtles, starfish corals, jelly fish, see stars, eels, sea cucumbers, sea horses, urchins, stingrays, acropora, green parrot fish, multi-colored angel fish, lion fish, small damselfish, turbania, porites, butterfly fish and many more. In the waters of Mombasa marine national park and reserve there is also larger marine wildlife such as sharks, turtles including loggerhead, leatherback, hawksbill and green sea, rays, humpback and dolphins in many kinds such as bottlenose dolphin, spinner and humpback dolphin.
Sea features
Mombasa marine national park is a very aquatic scenic destination with a great ocean ecosystem created by many sea features dotted round the sea bed, these features make the park more tranquil and they include coral reefs. These coral reefs are of different colors, shapes and size. Coral reefs are very much visible in the park while on diving experience and they include brain coral, pavona coral, Favia coral, Acropora coral, Open Branched stag’s horn coral and many more.
Vegetation
Mombasa marine national park and reserve is gifted with a variety of water vegetation which are dotted around the sea bed and in the water, the vegetation include sea grasses, marine algae and many more
Birds
Mombasa marine park and reserve is an important birding site, the park hosts many bird species mainly water bird species such as crab plovers, roseate terns and many more.
Activities offered at Mombasa marine national park and reserve
Marine life viewing
Marine life viewing is one of the main highlights of Mombasa marine national park and reserve, the park is a habitant for many marine animals which are viewing on marine life. Mombasa marine national park and reserve has a glass bottom boat from where you can view the marine life, viewing from the glass bottom boat is perfect for those who need to see the marine life and stay dry at the same. For tourists who do not care about getting wet diving is your perfect experience, marine life viewing in Mombasa marine national park you view species like stars, crabs, turtles, starfish corals, jelly fish, see stars, eels, sea cucumbers, sea horses, urchins, stingrays, acropora, green parrot fish, multi-colored angel fish, lion fish, small damselfish, turbania, porites, butterfly fish, sharks, turtles living in the water of Indian Ocean.
Diving in Mombasa marine national park for marine life viewing is done in two categories that is beginners dive and experienced dive
Beginners dive – is a dive from coral gardens of 23 feet to Kasa of 32 to 65 feet, this category of dive is for beginner divers.
Experienced dive –these dives are for experienced divers and offered as night dives or wreck dives. These dive takes place at MV Dania at the range of 82 to 155 feet.
Diving in Mombasa marine national park does not only offer you views of the marine life but also various sea features such as coral reefs which are dotted around the sea bed. Diving equipment are rented on the water sports desks at most hotels in Mombasa.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling experience in Mombasa marine national park and reserve is a great experience involving sailing on the calm waters of Indian Ocean in a glass bottom boat, as you sail you get views of most of the aquatic life in the waters of the ocean. You view aquatic wildlife such as sea cucumbers, sea horses, urchins, stingrays, acropora, green parrot fish, multi-colored angel fish, lion fish, small damselfish, turbania, porites, butterfly fish, sharks and ocean features such as the coral reefs.
Wind surfing and water skiing
Mombasa marine national park and reserve is a great destination for water sports perfect for water lovers, the park offers wind surfing and water skiing on the calm waters of Indian ocean. These activities are done with the assistance of the wind and the waves prevailing on the sea and it is such a great amusement for water lovers.
Sun bathing
Mombasa marine national park offers sun bathing experiences, the park consists of sand shores/ beaches where tourists are privileged to rest and enjoy the tropical sunlight rays and the cool breeze of Indian Ocean.
Boat trips
Mombasa marine national park offers boat cruises on the calm waters of Indian Ocean, boat rides in the park offer the most magnificent endlessly views of the blue ocean waters. on the cruise you also get to take the most beautiful memorable pictures to last for eternity.
Best time to visit Mombasa marine national park and reserve for a safari experience
In most of Kenya’s tourist destinations dry season is always the best time to visit for a safari and so is Mombasa marine national park and reserve, the park experiences dry season in the month’s period of July to October and January to February. These periods are characterized with clear skies and calm waters giving you clear view of the marine life and an opportunity to participate in most of the water activities without being disrupted by storm.
Where to stay while on a safari in marine national park and reserve
Mombasa marine national and reserve is surrounded by many comfortable and affordable hotels and lodges offering accommodation for tourists visiting the park for a safari, these include Travellers beach hotel, plaza hotel, hotel English, New palm tree hotel, Kahama hotel, Afro chic Diani, Alfajira villas, Creekside hotel and much more. Campsites are also available for tourists who are fun of camping.
How to get to Mombasa marine national park and reserve
Mombasa marine national park is situated in Mombasa city which makes it a very accessible tourist destination, the park is situated in a distance of 487 kilometers from Nairobi the capital city of Kenya and a location where most safaris begin from. Mombasa marine national park and reserve is accessed by tourists using main gates situated in different directions of the park that is
- Serena gate on beach of Serena hotel
- Severin gate on beach of Severin hotel
- Travellers Gate on beach of Travellers Hotel
- Nyali Gate at Mombasa Marine Park Headquarters
- Voyager Gate at Voyager water sport Area
From Nairobi city and Mombasa city the park is accessed using road, from the center of Mombasa city it is a drive of 19-30 minutes’ drive of 9.6 kilometers.
