DESTINATION GUIDE // KENYA COAST
Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve
Reef, seagrass and glass bottom boats a few minutes from the hotels of the north coast.
10 km2
PARK AREA
200 km2
WIDER RESERVE
1986
ESTABLISHED
Minutes
FROM HOTELS
Oct-Mar
BEST MONTHS
GENERAL OVERVIEW
About Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve
Mombasa Marine National Park protects 10 square kilometres of reef and lagoon directly off the north coast beaches of Mombasa, with a further 200 square kilometres of marine reserve around it. It was gazetted in 1986 and sits immediately in front of the hotel strip at Nyali, Bamburi and Shanzu.
That position is the whole point. This is the most accessible marine park in Kenya, reachable in minutes from a Mombasa beach hotel with no transfer, no flight and no early start.
Inside the park the fringing reef runs parallel to the shore, sheltering a shallow lagoon with seagrass beds and coral gardens. Because it is a national park rather than a reserve, fishing is prohibited within the park boundary, which is why fish life recovers here in a way it does not on the unprotected reef either side.
The outer reserve permits traditional fishing under licence, so you will see local craft working the water beyond the park, which is part of how the arrangement holds together.
MARINE LIFE
What You Will See In The Water
Fish. Angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish, snappers, groupers, moray eels and large shoals of fusiliers over the coral heads.
Coral. Hard and soft corals across the fringing reef, in water shallow enough for snorkelling to reach comfortably. The reef has suffered bleaching in warm years and recovery is uneven, which is worth knowing before you go.
Turtles. Green and hawksbill turtles are present in the seagrass, less numerous than at Watamu but regularly seen.
Rays and octopus. Blue spotted ribbontail rays over the sand and octopus in the reef crevices.
Dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins outside the reef, seen on longer boat trips.
Sea grass beds. Extensive and important as turtle feeding ground, and a habitat most snorkellers pass over without noticing.
THINGS TO DO
Activities In And Around The Park
Snorkelling. The main activity. Boats leave from the hotel beaches at Nyali, Bamburi and Shanzu and reach the coral gardens in fifteen to twenty minutes.
Glass bottom boat trips. The most popular option, often combined with a sandbank stop at low tide and a seafood lunch.
Diving. Several centres operate from the Mombasa north coast, with sites on the outer reef and a number of wrecks including the MV Dania.
Dhow trips. Traditional sailing dhows run sunset and full day trips, which is the more atmospheric way to be on the water.
Water sports. Windsurfing, kitesurfing and jet skiing operate from the hotel beaches, outside the park boundary.
Nearby on land. Fort Jesus and Mombasa Old Town, both UNESCO listed and twenty minutes away, plus Haller Park at Bamburi, a rehabilitated quarry that is now a wildlife sanctuary and one of the better things to do with children on this coast.
WHY VISIT
What Mombasa Marine Is Known For
Convenience, above everything else. The reef is directly in front of the hotels. For travellers on a Mombasa beach holiday with a spare morning, this is the shortest route to a coral reef anywhere in Kenya.
Value is the second reason. At 17 dollars a day for park entry and a modest boat charge, a snorkelling morning here costs very little.
The combination with Mombasa itself is the third. Fort Jesus, the Old Town and Haller Park are all within twenty minutes, which makes a day that mixes reef, Swahili history and wildlife entirely possible.
Be honest about the reef quality. Watamu and the southern reef off Diani both have better coral and clearer water. Mombasa Marine wins on access rather than on the reef itself, and bleaching in warm years has left patchy recovery.
ENTRY FEES
Park Fees And Practicalities
Mombasa Marine sits in the Marine category of the Kenya Wildlife Service tariff effective for 2026.
Non-resident adults pay 17 US dollars per person per day, with children and students at roughly half. Kenyan citizens and residents pay considerably reduced rates in shillings.
Boat charges are separate and paid to the boat operators, typically 20 to 30 US dollars per person for a snorkelling trip with mask, snorkel and fins.
Diving is priced by the dive centres and is not covered by park entry.
Park fees are paid through the eCitizen platform in advance. Book boats through your hotel or the KWS office at Bamburi rather than with individuals approaching you on the sand, both for licensing and for safety equipment.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
When To Go
October to March. Calm seas, the best visibility and warm water. This is the peak season on the Kenyan coast.
June to September. The kusi monsoon brings wind, swell and reduced visibility. Snorkelling trips are often cancelled and the water is noticeably cooler.
April and May, the long rains. The wettest and quietest period, with the poorest visibility. Some properties close for part of it.
Tides. Trips run around high tide and departure times shift daily, so a fixed morning plan rarely survives contact with the tide table.
Water temperature runs between about 25 and 29 degrees year round, so a wetsuit is optional for most people at any season.
GETTING THERE
How To Reach The Park
From the north coast hotels. Boats leave directly from the beach at Nyali, Bamburi and Shanzu. There is no transfer, which is the appeal.
From Mombasa city centre. Fifteen to twenty five minutes to the north coast beaches via the Nyali Bridge.
From Moi International Airport. Around thirty minutes to the north coast.
From Diani. An hour and a half to two hours via the Likoni ferry, which can be slow at peak times.
From Tsavo East. Around three hours via the Voi road.
The KWS marine park office is at Bamburi beach, and that is where tickets and licensed boat trips are arranged.
WHERE TO STAY
Hotels On The North Coast
Serena Beach Resort and Spa. Swahili style architecture at Shanzu, the most polished property on this stretch.
Voyager Beach Resort. At Nyali, family focused and all inclusive, with the marine park directly offshore.
PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort. Large, modern and good value at Shanzu.
Severin Sea Lodge. Long established at Bamburi with its own dive centre.
Bamburi Beach Hotel. Straightforward mid range, walking distance from the KWS office.
Guesthouses and apartments. A wide range in Nyali and Bamburi for independent travellers.
Because the reef is offshore from the hotel strip, where you stay determines how far the boat has to go, which is minimal in all cases.
SAFETY AND TRAVEL TIPS
What To Know Before You Go
Use licensed operators. Book through your hotel or the KWS office at Bamburi. Individuals selling trips on the beach may not carry life jackets or licences.
Do not touch or stand on the coral. The reef here is already under pressure from bleaching. Wear fins and stay off the bottom.
Reef safe sunscreen or a rash vest. Conventional sunscreen damages coral.
Sea urchins. Common in the shallows. Do not walk the reef flat barefoot.
Tides. Trips run to the tide, not the clock. Check the day before.
Beach vendors. Persistent on the north coast hotel beaches. Polite firmness works.
Malaria. The coast is high risk. Prophylaxis is necessary.
Prepay through eCitizen. Cash is not accepted for park entry.
TOURS WITH US
Safaris With Sola Safari Travels
Mombasa Marine is a half day rather than a destination. We build it into north coast stays as a morning snorkelling trip timed to the tide, usually followed by Fort Jesus and Mombasa Old Town in the afternoon, or Haller Park if you are travelling with children.
For travellers who want the better reef we point them to Watamu two hours north or Diani to the south, and we will say so plainly rather than sell the nearest option.
Park tickets are prepaid, boats are booked through licensed operators, and transfers run in a private vehicle with one of our own drivers.
SAFARI PACKAGES
Safaris That Include Mombasa Marine
Mombasa Marine is a half day off the north coast hotel beaches. All departures are private.
6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS
6 Days Tsavo and Diani
Red elephants in Tsavo East and West, then two nights on the white sand at Diani Beach.
From $980 per person
5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
5 Days Kenya Wildlife Circuit
Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha and the Masai Mara on the classic Rift Valley circuit.
From $850 per person
10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS
10 Days Ultimate East Africa
Amboseli, the Masai Mara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater at an unhurried pace.
From $2,300 per person
KEY QUESTIONS
Mombasa Marine Safari, Key Questions
Convenient rather than outstanding. The coral has suffered bleaching in warm years and recovery is patchy. Watamu to the north and the Diani reef to the south both have better coral and clearer water. What Mombasa Marine offers is a reef fifteen minutes off the hotel beach with no transfer.
17 US dollars per non-resident adult per day for park entry under the KWS marine tariff effective for 2026, with children and students at roughly half. Boat trips are separate, typically 20 to 30 dollars per person including snorkelling gear.
Not usefully. The coral gardens are offshore and reached by boat in fifteen to twenty minutes from Nyali, Bamburi or Shanzu. The lagoon between the beach and the reef is mostly seagrass and sand.
Yes. The water inside the reef is shallow and calm, glass bottom boats mean non swimmers can still see the coral, and Haller Park at Bamburi is twenty minutes away. It is one of the easier coastal days with a family.
October to March for calm seas and clear water. June to September brings the kusi monsoon with wind, swell and frequent cancellations. April and May are the long rains and the quietest.
Fort Jesus and Mombasa Old Town, both UNESCO listed and twenty minutes away, and Haller Park at Bamburi, a rehabilitated quarry that is now a wildlife sanctuary.
EXPLORE MORE
Pair Mombasa Marine With Other Destinations
The coast runs north and south from Mombasa, with Tsavo inland.
Your Mombasa Marine Safari Starts Here
Tell us your dates and group size. We will reply within 24 hours with a tailor made proposal and a clear price.
TAILOR MADE SAFARI
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Phone: +254 736 992 608
Email: info@solasafaritravels.com
