Malindi Marine National Park

Malindi Marine National Park is located off the main coastal region of Kenya, covering an area of 6 square kilometers with over 600 species of fish recorded. This is one of Kenya’s top tourist marine park destinations, known for its natural beauty.
Malindi Marine National Park was the first marine protected area in Kenya and was recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve in 1979. The park is renowned for its crystal-clear water, beautiful beaches, and diverse flora and fauna. Malindi is also less crowded compared to Mombasa.
The park is endowed with mudflats, mangroves, sea turtles, seagrass beds, lagoons, coral gardens, reefs, prolific marine mammals, aquatic birds, and much more. Malindi National Park runs a monitored turtle watch program to protect the endangered sea turtles.
Entry Fees Kenyan citizen adults will pay KSh 200, while children pay KSh 125. Kenyan foreign residents will also pay KSh 200 for adults and KSh 125 for children. Foreign non-resident adults will pay $15, and foreign non-resident children will pay $10. Sometimes the Kenya Wildlife Service will change rates from year to year; therefore, they are subject to change, and you must look out for new updates.
History Malindi Marine National Park is the oldest marine national park in Africa. It was gazetted in 1968 and recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1979. The historical town was founded in the 1st century AD. Vasco da Gama’s Pillar is one of the historical monuments found in Malindi; it was built in 1498 to give direction to sea travelers traveling to India and is believed to be older than Fort Jesus found in Mombasa.
In the 16th century, Malindi was chosen as a supply station for Portuguese ships, which built their own station, administration, and infrastructure for their officials. Later on, Mozambique took over Malindi as a replenishment stop for Portuguese ships because the Portuguese couldn’t defend it. After the construction of Fort Jesus in the nearby town of Mombasa, Malindi began to decline and became deserted after 1593.
A fleet of Chinese explorers visited Malindi in 1414, and the Malindi ruler at that time sent a giraffe as a present to China with the Zheng He fleet. In 1861, appointed by Arab governors, the Sultan of Zanzibar refounded Malindi after the slave trade at the port became illegal in 1873.
A new European group started a rubber plantation in 1906 but abandoned the plantations by 1917 because prices declined as there was overproduction in Malaysia. Famine and drought devastated agriculture in Malindi from 1925 to 1938.
Today, Malindi is mainly a tourist city renowned for its beautiful coastal beaches and rich history.
Location Malindi Marine National Park is situated on the Indian Ocean coastline, 110 kilometers from Mombasa, the second-largest city in Kenya, and 28 kilometers south of Malindi town. The marine national park can be reached by air through Malindi Airport, with flights from Nairobi International Airport usually taking 1 hour and 35 minutes. By road, it’s a 7-hour and 47-minute drive from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
Best Time to Visit Malindi Marine National Park can be visited all year round due to its equatorial weather, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 34 degrees Celsius, although it gets cooler at night. The best time to visit Malindi would be during the drier months of June to September and December to February when it’s dry, which would be the best time for doing many activities.
Accommodation Malindi Marine National Park has only one campsite, Casuarina, with basic amenities like running water and toilets. Tourists can stay in hotels in Malindi town such as Marine Holiday, Eden House Cottages, Villa Fortuna Malindi, Ripasso Apartments, Lion in the Sun, Billionaire Resort, Kilili Baharini, Ocean Beach Resort and Spa, Leopard Point Beach Resort, Diamonds Dream of Africa, Malindi Dream Garden, Sandies Tropical Village, Malaika Beach Villas, The Lawford, Hotel Villa, Young Safari Hotel, La Malindina, Villa Mela Malindi, Kenyan House, Pearls and Corals Villas, Scorpio Villas Resort, African House Resort, Silver Rock Hotel, and Villa Amera Malindi, to mention a few. Accommodation in Malindi varies according to tourists’ budgets but ranges from budget to midrange and luxury.
Animals Malindi Marine National Park is a habitat for several marine life forms such as sea turtles, jellyfish, sea stars, sea urchins, halfbeaks, lizardfish, zebrafish, flutemouth, dolphins, starfish, leatherback turtles, whale sharks, and lionfish, among others.
What to Do
Bird Watching Malindi National Park and its surrounding areas are home to several species of birds. Some of these include the golden palm weaver, pied crow, hadada ibis, African pied wagtail, common bulbul, African palm swift, Sokoke scops owl, black-headed heron, spotted wood dove, red-eyed dove, yellow-fronted canary, black and white mannikin, collared sunbird, bronze mannikin, common drongo, scaly babbler, black-crowned tchagra, speckled mousebird, tropical boubou, yellow monarch, black-headed apalis, eastern bearded scrub-robin, yellow-bellied greenbul, tiny greenbul, and many others.
Glass Bottom Boat Rides One of the unique ways to explore marine life at Malindi National Park, besides snorkeling, is by taking a glass-bottom boat ride. There are several companies offering glass-bottom tours in Malindi where you can book.
Snorkeling Snorkeling is one of the top activities to try out in Malindi. This is the perfect way to explore marine life in their natural habitat, providing an authentic experience for aquatic lovers.
Scuba Diving There are several coral reef-designated centers within Malindi where tourists can scuba dive. You can hire diving costumes at the beach or bring your own diving gear.
Wind Surfing The windsurfing conditions at Malindi are excellent, and even beginners are welcome and will be taken care of by well-experienced tourist guides.
Water Skiing and Jet Skiing Water skiing and jet skiing are some of the exciting recreational activities you can enjoy in Malindi.
Sun Bathing For tourists longing for the sun, Malindi has two dry seasons full of sunshine.
Guided Nature Walks You can take guided nature walks by the beaches, especially in the morning and evening hours.
Fishing Malindi Marine National Park boasts over 600 fish species, some of which are queenfish, mangrove snapper, barracuda, kingfish, marlin, tuna, yellowfin, sailfish, wahoo, and many others. Some places offer fishing opportunities, though you won’t be able to eat your catch in most cases.
Visit the People Malindi was initially inhabited by the Mijikenda community, a group consisting of nine tribes: the Jibana, Chonyi, Giriama, Kauma, Digo, Rabai, Kambe, Duruma, and Ribe. Other foreign tribes that conducted trade and some still reside in Malindi to date are Indian, Arab, and Portuguese, contributing to a mix of different ethnicities in Malindi, with most still observing their cultural values and beliefs. You can visit some of the communities and learn about their unique ways of life.
Camping The best way to sleep and wake up to the roaring sound of the Indian Ocean and singing birds is by camping by the ocean.
Picnicking There are various spots for daytime visitors to sit down and enjoy their packed lunch in a beautiful environment.
Attractions/What to See
Marine Life Malindi Marine National Park is home to diverse marine life. Some examples include octopuses, sea cucumbers, sea anemones, crabs, lobsters, loggerheads, hawksbills, green sea turtles, olive Ridleys, and much more.
Coral There are over 150 types of coral within the marine national park, including potato coral, staghorn coral, brain corals, sponges, fan corals, and much more.
Indian Ocean As the third-largest oceanic division in the world, the Indian Ocean is part of Malindi, full of marine life and aquatic birds. You can enjoy its beautiful beaches and all other activities it has to offer.
Beautiful Islands There are several islands off the main coast of Malindi for tourists to explore. Each island provides an unforgettable experience for travelers. You can visit Robinson Island, situated 40 kilometers north of Malindi town; the island is a pristine virgin wilderness with a quiet and peaceful environment, a very small fishing village, one school, and two restaurants.
Malindi Museum The Malindi Museum is located in a 19th-century building close to the marine park. The museum has a rich history of colonial times in Malindi town, plus several artifacts and temporary exhibitions. The museum was purchased from the Bohra community and was used to serve as Malindi Native Hospital. The museum also acts as an information center for travelers who want to know more about Malindi.
Mombasa Mombasa is the nearest city to Malindi and is the second-largest and oldest city in Kenya. Located close to Malindi, it is also a historical town. Its location on the coast makes it one of the top tourist destinations in Kenya, endowed with rich history, coastal beaches, marine national parks, diverse wildlife, and much more. You can combine your safari to Malindi with Mombasa for a more memorable and unforgettable experience.