Kenya Safaris Destinations
Kiunga Marine National Reserve
⌖ Kenya Safaris
The water is clear enough to see the reef from the boat; the mangroves rise thirty metres above the waterline; and somewhere beneath the surface, dugongs move through the sea-grass, unhurried, largely unseen, and found in very ...
About Kiunga Marine National Reserve
The water is clear enough to see the reef from the boat; the mangroves rise thirty metres above the waterline; and somewhere beneath the surface, dugongs move through the sea-grass, unhurried, largely unseen, and found in very few places left on Earth. Welcome to Kiunga. Stretching along Kenya's northernmost Indian Ocean coastline within the Lamu Archipelago, Kiunga Marine National Reserve is one of the most ecologically complex marine protected areas on the East African coast. Its pristine ecosystem encompasses a chain of approximately 50 coral islands and reefs, mud flats, lagoons, sand dunes, sea-grass beds and Kenya's largest mangrove forest; all within a single reserve. The coral reefs are full of abundant reef fish, while the sea-grass beds and mangrove forests provide critical refuge for sea turtles and the dugong, Kenya's most threatened marine mammal, drawing conservationists and marine enthusiasts from around the world.
What sets Kiunga apart is its position at the convergence of two major Indian Ocean currents, a rare geographical condition that creates three inter-dependent marine habitats within a single reserve; mangrove forests, sea-grass beds and coral reefs. This convergence sustains an exceptional diversity of marine life and supports internationally significant nesting colonies of the Roseate Tern and Crab Plover, earning the reserve recognition as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Nature Kenya.
The reserve is accessible by road to Mokowe jetty, then by dhow or speedboat to Lamu and onward to Mkokoni. Visitors may also fly into Manda airstrip from Nairobi, Malindi or Mombasa and connect by sea, or travel via the Standard Gauge Railway to Mombasa and connect by road and sea thereafter.
Best Time To Visit
Kiunga Marine National Reserve is accessible year-round, but timing your visit makes a meaningful difference to what you will experience. The dry seasons: January to February; and July to October; bring calmer seas, clearer waters and the best conditions for snorkelling, diving and island exploration, with July to October being the longest and most reliable window for all marine activities. The long rains run from April to June and the short rains form November to December, during which sea conditions can be rougher and underwater visibility reduced.
For the best snorkelling experience, time your entry into the water within two hours before or two hours after low tide. At this point, the water over the reef is at its shallowest and clearest, bringing the coral, reef fish and marine life closest to the surface and most visible to snorkellers. Your guide or boat operator will advise on the precise low tide time for your visit date.
Activities
Snorkel and dive the coral reefs at low tide when the water is at its clearest; take guided boat trips across the archipelago's approximately 50 coral islands; explore the towering mangrove forests by boat or on foot; watch nesting colonies of Roseate Terns and Crab Plovers alongside a rich diversity of coastal and marine bird species; visit sea turtle nesting beaches; watch dugongs moving through the sea-grass beds; wind surfing; water skiing; sunbathing; sport fishing.
Safaris in Kiunga Marine National Reserve
