Malindi Marine National Park is renowned as a beautiful Coral Garden that takes you through swimming with zebra fish to windsurfing. This beautiful slice of Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline that provides perfect getaway. More so, the park offers with magnificent resources like fringing reefs, coral gardens in the lagoons, sea grass bed, mudflats, marine mammals, mangroves, turtles and variety of shorebird species. While on visit, you can enjoy glass bottom boat rides, snorkeling, camping and beach walks in this veritable paradise. Malindi Marine National Park is fully administered by the governmental body called Kenya Wildlife Service.
More so, the park’s landscape is primarily plain, the climate is generally hot and humid throughout the year. Malindi Marine National Park ‘s temperature ranges from 20-300 degrees Celsius and rainfall from 200melimeters – 700 millimeters. It experiences the two rain seasons; Long rains – March and April and short rains – November to December. The small town of Malindi sits at the Centre of a strip of idyllic tropical beaches that offers visitors range of world class Resorts and quiet relaxing hideaways. Fortunately, Malindi is a famous place where Ernest Hemingway came in the 1930s in search of Starlin, sailfish and wahoo. Take note, the park offers an international bill fish contest during January and a yearly Sea Festival with fishing competitions between October and November.
More fact about, Malindi Marine National Park is also known as a protected coastal area south of Malindi and the park varies with white- Sandy Beaches, Emerald water and Colorful fish ‘’ fishing here is forbidden’’. On visit here you can see Technicolor fish of impossible shapes and many sizes including; Flute Mouths, Half Beaks, Hawk Fishes, Lizard Fish, Parrot-Fish, Porcupine Fish, Puffers, Thorns Heads, Trigger Fishes, Zebra fish and many more.
Travelers can engage Coral Reefs that allow for Diving and Snorkeling opportunities.
When it comes on the Northwest of Malindi, near Marafa Depression exists an Eroded Wasteland of Sandstone Cliffs and Precipices. They are locally known as Nyari or Hell’s Kitchen, exists also a small Arabian Town called Mambrui and visit small villages around called Ngomeni. You can also tour beautiful beaches, Coves and seascapes that exists in plenty.
Visit the Malindi Museum which was a former home of an Indian trader and was built in 1891. The museum displays early Photographs of Mombasa, wooden grave posts of the Gohu people, information about Vasco Da Gama.
Attractions in Malindi Marine National Park
Fishes
Beautiful Island
Clean oceanic beach and warm water
Sea turtles
Invertebrates
Benthic cover
Corals
Dolphins
Activities to do in Malindi Marine National Park
They include; Bird watching, Camping, Diving, Glass Bottom Boat Rides, Scenic, Snorkeling, Sun bathing, Walking, Water skiing, Wind surfing
Bird watching
The bird enthusiasts can enjoy the beautiful Malindi Marine National Reserve, where you are allowed to visit the salt water lagoon known as Mida Greek which is 20kilometers from Malindi and you can be able to spot various bird species.
Snorkeling
Through engaging in snorkeling, is the best way to enjoy fabulous marine through swimming on a body of water while equipped with a diving mask and a shaped breathing tube.
Where to stay in Malindi Marine National Reserve;
Malindi Marine National Reserve has got excellent range of accommodation start from budget, Mid-range and Luxury. Comfortable accommodations to spend your night, include; Diamonds Dream of Africa, Ocean Beach Resort and Spa as well as offering perfect campsites for the guests to experience the beautiful nature of the reserve.
What to carry with you;
Comfortable footwear for example sandals or flip flops which help to protect your feet from the reef.
T- shirts help to protect your body from sunburn.
Snorkel, mask, fins are available for hire.
Useful items like camera, hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, guide books as well as plenty of drinking mineral water.
How to get there;
By Road; Malindi Marine National Park is located on Kenya’s splendid Indian Ocean coastline, Malindi town, some 110 kilometers North of Mombasa. You can drive your own car or hired car as far as Malindi is very easy.
By Air; You can fly to Malindi airport which has daily scheduled flight to Mombasa, Nairobi and Lamu.
Kenya to Uganda; Fly from Wilson Airport Kenya to Entebbe International Airport Uganda. Fly to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for Gorilla trekking tours by a domestic flight Aero link Uganda can be booked from Entebbe Airport to fly guests to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrip ‘’1:30hours landing ‘’
