Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park

Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park at a Glance

Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park is a no-take KWS marine park with a marine reserve beside it, reached by dhow or boat from Shimoni at the southern tip of the Kenya coast. Day trips from Diani combine dolphin watching, snorkelling over the coral gardens and lunch on Wasini Island. Dolphin sightings are likely but never guaranteed.

Our Wasini and Kisite day trip includes the KWS park fees, transport, the traditional dhow ride, snorkelling and lunch on Wasini.

Kisite Park and Reserve Zones

Kisite Location on the South Coast

Kisite lies in Kwale County, off the Shimoni peninsula and south of Wasini Island, about 8 km north of the Tanzania border according to KWS. Pemba Island in Tanzania is the next land to the south-east, across the Pemba Channel.

Kisite Visitor Numbers

Kisite is now the busiest marine park in Kenya. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics counted 96,600 visitors in 2024, ahead of Watamu with 88,200 and Mombasa Marine Park with 65,500.

Getting to Kisite Marine Park from Diani and Mombasa

Drive to the Shimoni jetty, 53.8 km by road from the Ukunda junction on Diani Beach Road, then sail into the park on a traditional dhow. The road is tarmac all the way through Msambweni and Ramisi. Most trips stop on Wasini Island for lunch on the way back.

Kisite Day Trip Timings

Traditional Dhow Ride from Shimoni

Our traditional dhow runs along the Wasini Channel, about 1.5 km wide, and out past Wasini Island to the park, using both its engine and its sail. The sail from Shimoni to the main snorkel sites takes about 1 hour. Shared dhows on this route typically carry 20 to 40 guests, while small-group trips usually cap at 16. KWS gives the park as 11 km off Shimoni, while the IUCN review places it 3 to 8 km off the Shimoni peninsula.

Kisite Day Trip Itinerary from Diani

A Kisite day trip from Diani takes about ten hours door to door, with the dolphins and snorkelling in the morning and lunch on Wasini Island in the afternoon. The order follows the tide and the sea, so the crew may switch stops on the day. Lunch is Swahili seafood with vegetarian options.

Kisite Day Plan

Included and Extra on the Kisite Trip

• Included: transport, KWS park fees, traditional dhow, snorkel kit, underwater photos, lunch, village walk
• Extra: drinks, lobster, calamari and octopus, the Wasini boardwalk fee, scuba diving
• Bring: swimwear, towel, sunscreen, hat, ID and small notes in KES

Best Time to Visit Kisite Marine Park

The best time to visit Kisite Marine Park is October to March, when the kaskazi wind is lighter, the sea is calmer and visibility is usually best. June to September brings the stronger kusi wind and a rougher crossing. Trips run all year, and an early start helps in any month.

Kisite Sea State by Month

October to December 2026 Outlook

The Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average short rains in Kwale and Mombasa for October to December 2026, starting in the second or third week of October and ending in early December. Rain usually falls in short showers, so most dhow days still go ahead.

Time of Day at Kisite

Our trip reaches Shimoni about 8:45 am. Mornings are usually calmer, dolphins are often active, and the snorkelling is done before the afternoon wind picks up.

Dolphins at Kisite and the Wasini Channel

Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins live around Kisite and the Wasini Channel all year, and most trips see them, but they are wild and no trip can promise a sighting. Research boats from 2006 to 2012 photo-identified 182 individual bottlenose dolphins in the area. Read why dolphin sightings at Wasini are not guaranteed before you book.

Dolphin Species at Kisite

Dolphin Watching Code at Kisite

• Boats approach slowly from the side, never head-on
• No chasing, cutting through or splitting a group
• Swimming only when the crew says the dolphins are calm
• Engines in neutral when dolphins come close

The area is listed as the Kisite-Shimoni Important Marine Mammal Area, and the humpback dolphin count has fallen, which is why the code matters.

Humpback Whales and Whale Sharks at Kisite

Humpback whales pass Kisite from the end of July to the end of November, and over half the groups recorded by KWS were mothers with calves. They travel north from the Antarctic to breed in warm water. Whale sharks pass the south coast from about November to March, most often in January and February, and sightings change year to year.

Humpback Whale Season at Kisite

Whales are most often seen from August to October on the crossing or past the outer reef. Boats keep their distance and switch off near a mother and calf. Ask us about recent sightings for your dates.

Whale Sharks off the South Coast

Whale sharks are filter feeders and harmless to swimmers. They are seen off Kisite and Diani in some months, but they are not a daily sight.

Coral Gardens and Snorkelling at Kisite

The snorkelling at Kisite is over shallow coral gardens inside the no-take park, where reef fish are larger and more numerous than on fished reefs. The dhow ties up at a mooring buoy in calm water. The shallow coral gardens are 1 to 4 m deep at low tide, and the outer wall drops to 8 to 15 m. Masks, snorkels and fins are provided, and a guide stays in the water with the group.

Reef Life Seen Snorkelling at Kisite

• Hard and soft corals
• Parrotfish, butterflyfish, angelfish and moray eels
• Green and hawksbill turtles on some trips
• Starfish and sea cucumbers on the sand

Underwater Photos at Kisite

Our crew takes underwater photos and videos during the snorkel and shares them after the trip, so you can leave your phone dry on the dhow. Bring your own action camera on a wrist strap if you prefer.

Snorkelling at Kisite for Non-Swimmers and Children

Non-swimmers can snorkel in a life jacket while holding a ring or rope with the guide. Children from 3 to 11 pay the child rate, and the crew fits small masks and vests. Parents stay in the water with younger children. Our guide for children and non-swimmers on Wasini trips has more tips.

The Kisite and Mpunguti Islands

Kisite-Mpunguti takes its name from Kisite Island inside the park and the two Mpunguti islands in the reserve, small coral islets that are protected wildlife sites. The dhow passes them on the way to the snorkelling sites. A sandbar shows near them only at low tide.

Island Wildlife at Kisite

Dugongs were recorded off Wasini in 2008, though sightings are now very rare. Our guide to the Mpunguti islands and the Kisite sandbars explains which ones you see.

Kisite Conservation and the Blue Park Award

Kisite-Mpunguti was named a Blue Park by the Marine Conservation Institute in December 2021, the first marine protected area in Kenya with that award. The award recognises strong protection and good management. Park fees fund KWS rangers, moorings and reef patrols.

History of the Park

The marine park was first created in 1973 and the Mpunguti reserve followed in 1978, the date KWS gives for the whole area. Local fishers from Shimoni, Wasini and Mkwiro still fish in the reserve with traditional gear.

Kisite Management Plan

KWS runs Kisite under a management plan for the wider Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Conservation Area, which also covers the Wasini Channel and the community fishing grounds. The plan sets mooring buoys, limits on boat numbers at the dolphin sites and no-take rules inside the park.

Community Role at Kisite

Shimoni and Wasini boat crews, guides and restaurants earn their living from park visitors. Booking with a licensed local operator keeps that money on the coast.

Kisite Compared with Other Kenya Marine Parks

Kisite drew more visitors than any other Kenya marine park in 2024, and it has the strongest dolphin population of the four main coastal parks. Watamu and Malindi are a long drive north of Mombasa. Mombasa Marine Park is closest to the city but busier with motor boats.

Visitor figures are from the KNBS Economic Survey 2025. Of the four, only Kisite fits comfortably into a day trip from Diani.

Kisite Marine Park Rules and Safety

Kisite is a national park, so the reef rules are strict: do not stand on or touch coral, do not feed or chase fish, and use fins carefully over shallow coral. Wear a life jacket or snorkel vest if you are not a strong swimmer. Stay close to your guide.

KWS Rules Inside Kisite

• No fishing, shell collecting or taking anything from the reef
• No single-use plastics in the park
• Reef-safe sunscreen, or a rash vest instead
• Park ID checks at the Shimoni KWS office

Our post on Kisite fin rules and coral protection covers the details, and the KWS ID requirements for Kisite explain which documents to bring.

Seasickness and Sea State

The kusi months can make the crossing rough. Take a seasickness tablet before you leave Diani, sit near the middle of the dhow and tell the crew if you feel unwell. Read our guide to seasickness and the kusi season at Wasini.

Places Near Kisite

Kisite sits at the southern end of the Kenya coast, so the places near it are the Shimoni peninsula and the islands around it. Most can be added to the same day.

• Wasini Island: the lunch stop, a short dhow ride from Shimoni
• Shimoni Slave Caves: next to the Shimoni jetty, 54.0 km by road from the Ukunda junction
• Funzi Island: mangrove islands further north, 39.8 km from the junction to the nearest mainland road
• Diani Beach: the base for most Kisite trips