Ever thought of a thrilling mesmerizing sight than watching dolphins, in Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve, dancing in the waves of the clear waters? Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park is among the best marine parks in the world that offers aesthetic marine life. Naicef will help you get the best experience of Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park and all the fun activities there are to do while in the park.
For a Kisite Mpunguti National Park Safari Package, contact Naicef Here, email my@naicef.com or call +254799922277. Naicef is the best tour company in Kenya.
Therefore, if you are visiting attractions in Kenya, and exploring national parks in Kenya, consider adding Kisite Mpunguti National Park to your list of beautiful Kenyan discoveries.
Interesting Facts About Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park
1. Marine Life: Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park harbors a wide range of marine life from sea animals, and coral reefs to the many seabirds.
The park’s coral reefs, Seagrass meadows, and Mangroves provide habitats for many species. The species are such as different species of fish, the playful Dolphins, Whales,, and Sea Turtles.
2. Geographical Advantages: Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park Kenya is strategically located in Kwale County on the Southern coast. It is 8km north of the Tanzanian border making it also accessible from our neighboring country.
It is also renowned to be Kenya’s largest marine protected area, making it home to a wide variety of marine species.
3. Blue Park Award: In 2021, Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve was awarded a gold-level blue park award making it the first in Kenya. This award made the park recognized as a marine protected area by the Marine Conservation Institute.
In 2023 Watamu Marine Park in Kenya was also nominated for the Blue Park Award being among the top nominees.
Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park History
The 39km sq marine pack was established in 1978 by the Kenyan government. It is managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service having also joined the Blue Parks around the world.
Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park Location
The park is located in Kwale County south of Wasini Island, on the south coast of Kenya. It is 6 km off the Kenyan coast and 8 km north from the Tanzania border.
It is 50 km south of Diani, which is world-renowned for its white sand beaches, making it 120 km from Mombasa.
How Do I Get To Kisite Mpunguti National Park?
By road: The park can be accessed via road from Nairobi which is 574km through Mombasa which is another 120km away from the park. Once reach Shimoni from Mombasa you can then board a boat to the park.
By train: However, you can also opt to take the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Nairobi to Mombasa, and then from there you proceed by road.
By air: You can also decide to take a flight from either Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi to Ukunda Airstrip. The airstrip is near Diani Beach where you will get to board a boat straight to the park.
Best Time To Visit Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park
The park can be accessible all year round, but it is best to visit during the dry seasons.
Dry seasons; December to March and July to September
During these periods you will get to enjoy the thrilling marine life especially best when they do their migration. These mostly do include the whales especially the Humpback Whales & Whale Sharks and the migratory birds such as the Roseate.
Also, during these periods, they are usually the best due to the favorable weather conditions for water-related activities such as scuba diving.
Fun Activities & Things To Do In Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park
1. Marine life experience
At the park, you will get to have an immersion into the underwater world where you will get to see the different kinds of marine life. They include over 360 fish species and over 45 different kinds of corals.
Are you a marine life lover, check out also Malindi Marine National Park, another protected area for the sea life, with the help of Naicef.
2. Dolphin Watching
Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park offers you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy watching the Dolphins. Also, the park makes the experience even more fascinating by allowing visitors to swim along the Dolphins and play with them.
Being a Dolphin paradise also opt to try out visiting the “Green Turtle Paradise” in Watamu Marine National Park located on the North coast of Kenya.
3. Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
The park allows you to explore the underwater world whether in shallow or in deep waters. This gives you, as a visitor, a chance to have up-close views of the diverse ecosystem shelters. These include the coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows.
4. Bird Watching
Are you a bird lover? Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park gives you the chance to best spot the migratory birds, especially during the breeding period.
Check out also the hidden gem, Arabuko Sokoke National Park, a habitat for different birds and butterflies rarely found in the world.
5. Visit to the Shimoni Caves
Get to experience the intriguing history of the British colonial slave trade caves. They served as placeholders where slaves were kept before being loaded onto boats and shipped to Zanzibar.
Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve Entrance Fees
The following are the 2025 park fees for the park.
a) High Season (July to March)
East African Citizens & Residents
- Adult – Ksh 300
- Child/Student – Ksh 150
Rest of Africa Nationalities
- Adult – USD 15
- Child/Student – USD 5
International Visitors
- Adult – USD 25
- Child/Student – USD 10
2. Low Season (March to June)
East African Citizens & Residents
- Adult – Ksh 200
- Child/Student – Ksh 150
Rest of Africa Nationalities
- Adult – USD 15
- Child/Student – USD 8
International Visitors
- Adult – USD 20
- Child/Student – USD 10
Accommodations Near Kisite Mpunguti National Park
The following are some of the luxurious accommodations to stay while enjoying your visit to Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park;
1. Mwazaro Beach Lodge
This 3-star hotel is 8.53 miles from the park and features luxurious rooms, a restaurant and a poolside bar. Also, they do offer an outdoor pool and free perks such as the local cuisine breakfast.
2. Chale Island Resort
This 4-star lodge is located 22.91 miles from the park and offers you authentic services. This does include; a private beach where you can enjoy beachfront diners,a full-service spa, and 4 restaurants.
3. Msambweni Beach House
This 4-star rated hotel is located 16.54 miles from the marine park and features facilities such as a private beach and a restaurant.
They do offer services such as an outdoor pool, airport pick-up services, laundry services, and free Wi-Fi among other services.
4. YU Resort
This 3-star hotel is located 18.78 miles away from Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park a 24-hour service operation.
They do offer services such as a full-service spa, a restaurant, and an outdoor pool with free cancellation.
Conclusion
Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park Kenya is among the best marine parks in the world, where you can watch the playful Dolphins.
It is a marine life haven that harbors different species from the Coral reefs, sea animals such as Dolphins and Whales, and also Sea Birds.
The marine park was established in 1978 and is under the management of KWS. In 2021 it was awarded a gold-level blue park award being the first Kenyan marine park to be awarded.
It is located in Kwale County on the south coast of Kenya, making it 120 km from Mombasa and 8 km north of the Tanzanian border.
The park can be accessible via road from Nairobi through Mombasa. It can also be reached via air through the Ukunda Airstrip where you can board a boat at Diani beach which is not far from Ukunda.
It is best to visit the park during the dry seasons which are December to March and July to September. During these periods it is usually best for the water related activities such as surfing and scuba diving.
Also, try out marine-related boat excursion activities in one of Kenya’s most visited marine parks, Mombasa Marine National Park.
Some of the fun things to do in the park include; Marine life viewing, dolphin watching, scuba diving and snorkeling, and bird watching.
Some of the best places to stay as you get to experience the thrilling Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park are such as;
Mwazaro Beach Lodge, Chale Island Resort, Yu Resort, and Msambwe Beach House.
Naicef has shown you all you need to know about Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve in Kenya. Moreover, we have listed all the other national parks in Kenya describing each of the parks here.
For the best Kenyan safaris, consider Naicef as your best top-rated African blog. Kindly reach us via my@naicef.com or +254799922277
You can also opt for our Naicef savings plan to plan your visit to any national parks in Kenya.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where is Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park located?
Kisite Mpunguti is located in the south coast of Kenya near Wasini Island in Kwale County.
2. Is Kisite Mpunguti an Island?
Yes, Kisite Mpunguti is among one of the islands that comprise the Marine park.
3. Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park is in which county?
The marine park is in Kwale County found in the south coast of Kenya.
4. Can I go diving in Kisite Mpunguti?
Yes, of course. You can go diving in Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park.
5. What are the fun activities in Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park?
Some of the fun activities to partake in the park are such as Marine life experience, diving and snorkeling, bird watching and dolphin watching.
6. How can I get to Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park from Diani?Â
From Diani you can head for Shimoni village where you can board on a boat to Kisite Island.
