Mombasa Marine National park covers 10km² and its supplemented with a reserve which also covers a total land area of 200 km2. The park and the reserve are the most highly visited among marine protected areas in Kenya and their coastline is heavily developed with tourist facilities that every visitor must have a look at before leaving the Mombasa port city. The warm coast line gives a reason as to why many tourists prefer being here.
The park is 487 km from Nairobi and it can be accessed by road from Mombasa city centre, from the centre boats are used to connect to the park from the various points along the beach which include, Serena Gate on beach of Serena Hotel, Severin Gate on beach of Severin Hotel and Nyali Gate at Mombasa Marine Park Headquarters among others.
It’s believed that 47% of Kenya’s tourism occurs here at the coast and about 52% of the total hotels are at the coast, inland safaris are done best basing from the coast and this is what Mombasa Marine Park offers. Nature Adventure Africa Safaris Limited usually partner with the service providers around the park to provide services to their clients. Boats, water sporting facilities can be hired from along the coast.
After all other activities, to relieve stress and tiresomeness, diving in the blue waters of the cast around the various beaches offers an extra ordinary adventure to the tourist and diving gears are easily available from water sports desks.
Besides diving Crabs, corals, sea urchins, jellyfish, sea stars, and sea cucumbers are seen from the park where different types of coral species comprising of Acropora, Turbinaria and Porites are the order of the day at the coast hence making the park a number one place to visit.
Fort Jesus, which was used as a fort by the Portuguese against Sultan invasion after which the Portuguese were eventually evicted after a two year siege, is found around the Mombasa Marine National park on its island. This is a few minutes’ drive from the marine park.
Engage in a port tour where visitors will interact with the Swahili people who are the largest settlers around the old Mombasa town, visitors can enjoy the architecture of the buildings that were built in unique styles only afforded by them (Swahili) and other cultural encounters including learning how to speak Swahili and how to prepare the Swahili cuisine and the traditional folk songs and dances.
