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Eco Tourism Adventure in Kenya - Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
By Andrew Muigai | November 6, 2008
At the South Coast of Kenya are found two of the best snorkeling and scuba diving sites in the country - Shimoni Village and Wasini Island. Shimoni is a village found 76 km south of Likoma, and close to the Kenya-Tanzania border. The village is most renowned for the Shimoni caves in which are found such artifacts as the well-preserved wooden crates used by slave masters to transport slaves to Arabia during the slave trade. Shimoni also marks the launching point to Wasini Island, situated a few minutes from Shimoni.
Located close to Tanzania, the 6 sq km Wasini Island has for many years remained a traditional fishing centre. It is most popular for the ancient ruins, which date back to the 18th and 19th century Arab settlements, and the beatiful landscapes of exposed coral reefs, popularly known as coral gardens. The primary means of getting to the Island in by dhow. The island has no roads or cars. The Islands inhabitants are called the Fuba, a friendly bantu tribe that speak both Kifuba language and Swahili. The Fuba number about 1500.
Kenya’s most accessible marine park, the Kisite-Mpunguti marine national park, is situated just next to Wasini Island, about 75 miles south of Mombasa. Kisite boasts of a wide variety of fishes and coral, and has excellent weather conditions for diving all through the year. Snorkeling can also be done from the reef of a large rocky islet and the beautiful sand bar that appears above the blue ocean during low tide.
The marine park and the reserve are a marine life haven, boasting greatly diverse plant and animal life in the protected areas. They are also a great place for snorkelers and divers alike. The area also has a particularly interesting bird-life that includes the common fish eagle and the rare palm-nut vulture.
Green and Hawksbill turtles and seven species of dolphins have been found in the Shimoni complex, and both turtles and dolphins are seen by visitors virtually on a daily basis. Humpback whales are seen regularly on their yearly migration in October and November.
Several fish families have been observed in the area. They include butterfly fish, trigger fish, Emperors, Snappers, Puffer fish, Large Wrasse, and Groupers. The common species found there are Parrot fish, Wrasses, angel fish, Moray eels, Cardinal fish, Scorpion fish, Damsel fish, and rays.
The main snorkeling site, accessible from either dhow or from the beach at low tide is a fringing reef near Kisite Island in the centre of the park. Many of the dive-sites fall within the park as well as the reserve. Behind Wasini Island there are two uninhabited islands Mpunguti Yaa Chini and Mpunguti ya Juu.
If you want to travel to Wasini Island, you can take a bus or taxi from Likoni to Shimoni. At Shimoni, Mpunguti Restaurant operate a dhow that can take you to the island.
Topics: Travel&Leisure |
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