- Location: Coastal province, Kenya
- Nearest cities: Malindi, Mombasa
- Area: 10 km²
- Date of foundation: 1968.
- Cost of visiting: adult ticket - $ 20, child - $ 15
Rest in Kenya is created for those who want to enjoy the beauty and primacy of African nature, and at the same time to lie on the white coast of the Indian Ocean. Visiting the eastern part of the country is also interesting because one of the largest natural reserves here is the national marine reserve Watamu.
General information
The reserve was opened in 1968 in the homonymous city and is the first marine park in Kenya . The park is known for its beautiful landscapes and clear waters, which allow you to get acquainted with the amazing nature of the east coast. That is why in 1979 the complex of the Malindi and Watamu reserves was included in the list of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.
The water temperature in the territory of the national marine reserve Watamu varies between +30 ... + 34 degrees, and the annual rainfall norm does not exceed 500 mm. The main attractions for tourists coming to the national marine reserve Watamu are:
- visit the mangrove Mida Creek;
- walk along the shore of a turtle beach;
- Underwater diving to get acquainted with the inhabitants of coral reefs;
- Observation of whales migrating from Southern Africa.
Flora and fauna of the reserve
The main flora of the national marine reserve Watamu is coral reefs stretching for 300 meters from the coast. The physical and biological basis of the park is more than 150 species of coral, which are home to many marine life. The terrestrial flora is represented in the form of a mangrove forest Mida Creek, in which a lot of such exotic plants grow, such as marine avicenia and acuminate rhizophora.
More than 100 species of exotic birds, 600 species of fish and 20 species of squid live in the national marine reserve of Watamu. On the coast of the park you can meet sea turtles, which are protected by the state program "Watamu Turtle Watch". Thanks to this program it was possible to keep egg and green turtles of green and olive turtle, as well as turtle carrett.
Each fisherman, in whose network the turtle has fallen, can report this to the environmental organization and receive monetary compensation. The caught turtle is equipped with a special identifier and released back into the ocean. The WTW program allows you to monitor the movement of animals and monitor their population. In the national marine reserve Watamu, you can also find whale sharks, barracudas, rays, octopuses. In addition to large animals, there are innumerable crustaceans, mollusks, invertebrates, as well as kites, mouse birds, etc.
How to get there?
Watamu National Marine Reserve is on the east coast of Kenya . Just 120 km away is one of the largest Kenyan cities - Mombasa , and 28 km - the popular resort of Malindi . This convenient location allows you to easily reach the park from almost anywhere in the country. You can use buses for this.
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