Attractions of Watamu Marine National Park : Watumu Marine National park is located in Kenya, it was established in 1968, the marine was one of the Kenya’s first marine parks, located about 90 miles (140 km) north of Mombasa. Its coral gardens are merely 300 metres (980 ft.) from the shore and are home to approximately 600 species of fish, 110 species of stony coral and the countless invertebrates, crustaceans and molluscs.
Attractions of Watamu Marine national park.
The attractions, these play a particularly important role as they attract tourists from all over the world to the Watamu Marine national park; the various attractions in the park includes as below,
Coral reefs.
The watamu Marine national park represents an underwater haven of corals, fish and other aquatic marine life, the coral reef is comprised of 110 different species of stony coral and numerous crustaceans and the mollusks. The makeup of the coral reef includes 150 species of hard and soft corals that are home to over 500 species of fish, the surrounding marine area increases the species of fish to around 1000. The coral reef is a vibrant collection of corals and other marine wildlife, when most people think of Kenya Safaris ; they envision safaris, the big 5, and wildlife. Watamu is a different type of wildlife experience and a welcomed diversion into nature that is different than the typical African experience.
Unique Coral Gardens.
Watamu Marine national park is surrounded by the clean and white sandy nestled in the marine reserve it has unique coral garden and rich with the turtles, cute fishes making it perfect for snorkelling or the glass bottomed boat rides, hence which attracts tourists to view various coral gardens.
Birds.
Watamu Marine national park has got endowed with over bird species some of the birds are Common bubul, White brown coucal, speckled mouse bird, black kite, bright yellow canaries, lilac breasted roller, lizard buzzaer, Ospregolden palm Weaver’s and Kingfishers and among more, the best bird spotting areas in the Watamu Marine national park includes the Arabuko Sokoke Forest and Mida creek where you can be able to spot various bird species in the park.
Fish species.
Watamu Marine national park has got a variety of marine life ranging from the small fish to the bigger some of the examples include the Whale sharks, green sea turtles, angle fish, swordfish, spearfish, Marlin, Damsel fish, Batfish, porcupine fish, wrasse fish, lion fish, crocodile fish, octopus, drummer fish and many others. These various are found in the Watamu Marine national park, in the coral gardens entails a 100 meters stretch of coral heads at the end of the lagoon where at least 250 species of fish are found, the Coral gardens is the most popular area for the boat- based snorkelling activities as well as school of fish and coral reef in Watamu Marine national reserve.
Turtle species.
Watamu Marine national park has moreover, the park inhabits with different and more species of the turtles, which has contributed a lot to secure the main park’s beach as a 99% viable for endangered sea turtle, which can be viewed on nesting site in Watamu such turtle species are the green, olive ridley and the hawksbill.
White Sand Beach.
Watamu Marine national park has a beautiful white sand beach with a variety of precious and coloured fish, snorkelling, water skiing, windsurfing, glass bottomed boat tours. The beach has got the white sand where the tourists can enjoy as well as enjoying their swimming form the White Sand beach in Watamu Marine national park.
Gede Ruins.
In Watamu Marine national park, the Ruins of Gede are the relics of one of the Arab- African settlements found along the East- African coast. These towns were built by the Swahili people during the 15th and the 16 th century. Gedi’s location along the coast and the association with similar sites along the Swahili coast made it an important trade centre, although there are few historical documents specifically associating Gedi with Indian Ocean trade, the site is thought to have been one of the most important sites along the coast.
Kipepeo Project.
Kipepeo (Swahili for butterfly) is a community based enterprise that supports the livelihoods of people living around Arabuko Sokoke forest in coastal Kenya, East Africa; This provides an incentive for their participation in the conservation of a forest with high biodiversity and the endemism. Kipepeo seeks to demonstrate the tangible link between conservation and livelihood. Kipepeo markets butterfly and moth pupae and other live insects as well as honey and silk cloth produced by the community.
Watamu Marine national park is part of a complex of marine and tidal habitats along the Kenya’s north coast with rich and diverse birdlife, fish, turtles and dugongs, here in the park the visitors can enjoy the white sandy beaches, snorkelling, water skiing, windsurfing and glass bottomed boat tours which makes Watamu Marine national park to be the best park because of its amazing attractions.
