MARINE PARKS
MALINDI MARINE PARK
was the first marine protected area in Kenya, established in 1968 and designated as a Biosphere Reserve under the Man & Biosphere Reserve programme of UNESCO in 1979. The park has a total area of 6 km2 and lie between Lat. 3o and 4o South. It is located south of Malindi town extending to Mida creek. It neighbors Gede ruins and Arabuko Sokoke forest. The park is enveloped by a national reserve and a 100 ft strip of coastal land starting from Vasco-da-Gama pillar to Watamu. The reserve covers 213 km2 and extends three and a half nautical miles out to seaward. Malindi Marine Park and Reserve was established for the following objectives: Encourage public education, understanding, appreciation, recreation and enjoyment of marine natural resourcesTo conserve and maintain representative areas of the marine ecosystemTo promote research of marine ecosystem To provide opportunities for generation of economic benefits The Park and Reserve has features such as being easily accessible by road and air, hosting rich and relatively unaffected marine biodiversity, beautiful beach and warm water safe for swimming among other factors to achieve the objectives outlined above.Malindi marine Park and Reserve is endowed with magnificent resources such as fringing reefs, coral gardens in the lagoons, sea grass beds, mangroves, mudflats, high fish diversity, marine mammals (e.g. dolphins), Turtles and Shorebirds.
The main biotopes of Malindi Marine Park include fringing and patch reefs distributed on the seaward edge of barracuda channel. The structure of these reefs is influenced by the prevailing physical conditions, especially wind, and sediments from Sabaki River which runs north of Malindi. The fringing reef is close to shore, 150m or less in some areas, and exposed during low tide, but drops gradually to a sea grass bed that descends precipitously to a deep channel, barracuda channel.
A small submerged patch reef with the top covered by algae and sides dominated by large heads of Goniastrea retiformis, occurs on the eastern edge of this channel. A large patch reef, north reef, has developed further offshore and this reef is the main focus of much of the tourism activity in the park.North reef has a shallow (5m at high tide) lagoon with an extensive sea grass bed where green turtles are often encountered feeding in the lush Thalassia beds. In the center of the lagoon, scattered patches of hard coral dominated by branching and massive forms of Porites, Platygyra and Goniastrea are found. The lagoon edges are dominated by branching Porites, Acropora, encrusting Montipora and the colorful Galaxea clavus. Many coral reef fish, including large schools of sweetlips, surgeonfish and parrotfish can be observed here. Many species of butterflyfish and damsels have also been recorded foraging and maintaining algal lawns amongst the corals.
The rare olive shell Ovula ovum is sometimes seen feeding on soft coral and other gastropods including tiger cowries, cone shells and helmet shells also occur here.The leeward side of north reef has low coral cover and slopes down to a soft bottom at 8 to 10 m depth. Large coral heads of Goniastea retiformis and Porites lutea rise up from the bottom. The wind ward side of north reef slopes down to a sandy bottom at 18 to 20m depth. The reef has a high coral cover dominated by Galaxia, Montipora and Porites. Several species of large sea cucumbers including the commercial Holothuria nobilis and Thelonata ananas are scattered along the bottom where they feed on the substrate. Large schools of Barracuda and the occasional reef shark are also commonly encountered as well as large rays that feed on the bottom.
The northern end of North reef is characterized by very large and old massive Porites heads up to 3 to 5m in height. Studies of cores taken from these corals have indicated an age of ~400 to 600 years and a climate record showing increasing sediment loads in the waters of these reefs. Tewa reef is a smaller submerged patch reef found to the south east of North reef. Surrounded by a sea grass bed, the reef has a high coral cover and very high visibility due to its distance from shore. Large schools of predatory fish including Barracuda are common here. On the eastern side of North reef lies a shallow rubble reef, Leopard reef, in the Malindi Marine Reserve. Much of the artisanal fishery in the reserve in this area is concentrated on this reef.The reefs of Malindi are seasonally inundated by silty waters from the Sabaki River. Maximum river discharges occurs during the long (April - July) and short (October - December) rainy seasons at the coast.
The waters of Malindi bay are colored red at this time and depending on when the winds switch from the Northeast monsoon to the Southeast monsoons, the sediment plume may reach as far as Malindi Marine Park. This sometimes decreases visibility and the aesthetic quality of the reefs in park.
GETTING THERE
Roads • 118 Kilometers tarmac road from Mombasa to Malindi town.
Airstrip
Malindi Airport
Facilities
3 single beds and 6 twin beds self-contained cottages. Comfortable and cost effective with a spacious dining hall. Kitchen can be hired for self catering services, or with service of a cook.Campsite has cool shade of indigenous trees which provides scenic and serene environment with a marked nature trail. Your stay here will bring back memories of unspoiled splendor because nature is precisely as it was intended to be. Equipped with 2 erected barbeque and cooking area, working security lights, 2 flush toilets, 2 pit latrines, 5 showers. A Resource center with conference hall for a capacity of 50 people with audio-visual equipment, a library and laboratory is available for hire.An education center with audio-visual equipment and colorful and informative posters displayed for visitor’s free access.
Activities
Swimming in the warm ocean water, Snorkeling, Boat rides, Diving, Dhow rides, Sun bathing, Educational tour, Picnic and barbeque on Island, Wind surfing (in the reserve), Beach clean up, Research, KWS patrols and much more
MARINE LIFE
Turtles
Green, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, loggerhead. Green and Hawksbill turtle breeds in the park
Fish
More than 300 species of fish have been recorded in the park with most common groups including: Angelfish, Barracuda, Butterfly fish, Goatfish, Fusiliers, Emperors, Groupers, Grunt/Sweetlips, Jacks, Parrotfish, Rabbit fish, Sharks, Snappers, Surgeon fish, Triggerfish and Wrasses.
Invertebrates
Over 135 species of gastropods and 12 species of echinoids have been identified in the park and reserve. The common invertebrates within the park include: Clams, Crown of thorns, Lobsters, Octopus, Sea anemone, Sea cucumber, Sea stars, Sea urchins, crabs and Shells.
Benthic cover
200 species of algae have been identified. A total of 55 genera and 145 species of hard coral have been recorded on the north reef. Generally the substrate is covered by Coralline algae, Halimeda, Dead Coral, Soft Coral, Fleshy algae, Sand, Hard Coral, Rubble, Algal Turf.Corals: (come in many colors, shapes and sizes!)Boulder coral, organ pipe Coral, Sea grass, Stag Horn Coral.
Birds
Variety of migrant shore and terrestrial birds,including petrels,ospreys,sea eagles,kingfishers,herons egrets,etc.
Plants
Generally a wide variety of terrestrial plants are found on the shore surrounding the Marine Park. Some of the species include; Suregada zanzibariensi, Turraea wakefieldii, Cainthium glaucitin, Flueggea virosa, Turraea nilotica, Casuarinas equisetifolia, Delonix regia, Azadirachta indica. On some of these plants, you will find insects of different kinds such as butterflies, moths, bees, ants, wasps.
Mammals
Dolphins and whales
WATAMU MARINE NATIONAL PARK
Watamu National Park is part of a complex of marine and tidal habitats on Kenyas North coast stretching from Malindi town to beyond the entrance to Mida creek. It is enclosed by the Malindi Marine National Reserve which also encloses Malindi Marine National Park. Habitats include intertidal rock, sand and mud; fringing reefs and coral gardens; beds of sea grass; coral cliffs, platforms and islets; sandy beaches and Mida Creek mangrove forest. The park was designated as a Biosphere reserve in 1979.Mida creek is a large, almost land locked expanse of saline water, mangrove and intertidal mud. Its extensive forests are gazetted as forest reserves and the extreme western tip of Mida Creek is part of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve.
GETTING THERE Roads
Access is via tarmac road from Mombasa or Malindi.
Airstrips
Mombasa or Malindi Airports.
Reptiles and Fish
See above
Arthropods
See above
Vegetation
Mida creek has important mangrove forests with a high diversity of species including Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Avicennia marina and Sonneratia alba.
MOMBASA MARINE NATIONAL PARK & RESERVE
The park is 10 km2 while the reserve is 200 km2. Both the park and reserve are the most highly utilised among marine protected areas . Their coastline is heavily developed with tourist facilities. There are various agents who offer for hire boats to get into the Marine Park. There are quite a good number of companies offering water sports facilities. These firms are spread along the beach. The place is ideal for diving. Diving gears are easily available from water sports desks. Mombasa itself is a mix of traditional and modern culture. The 17th Century Fort Jesus, which was used as a Fort by the Portuguese against Sultan invasion after which they (Portuguese) were eventually evicted after a two year siege, is within the Island which is a few minutes drive from the marine park. Mombasa Old Town is highly dominated by swahili culture especialy architecture.
Attractions
Beach, Coral gardens.
Arthropods
Crabs, Corals, Shells, Sea urchins, Sea cucumbers, Sea Stars, Jelly fish.
Vegetation
Mangroves, Sea grasses, Sea weeds.
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