| An enchanted underwater world | | | | time when the greatest amount of marine life is |
| A Pristine string of rugged coral isles, ringed by | | | | revealed. Kenyas coastal waters are warm all |
| rainbow coral reefs the reserve offers living coral | | | | year round so diving without a wet suit is also |
| gardens, sculpted coves, wheeling seabirds, rare | | | | rewarding. |
| turtles, magical dugongs and an underwater world | | | | What To See |
| of unbelievable color, discovery and vibrancy. The | | | | A shifting rainbow of small fish, worms, shrimps, |
| Reserve is part of Lamu archipelago, a cluster of | | | | octopus and clams hide in the gaps while blue and |
| hot low-lying desert islands that run for some | | | | yellow parrot fish use their hard beaks to chew |
| 60km parallel to the coastline of Northern Kenya. | | | | off lumps of coral. Snappers, zebra fish, butterfly |
| The last survivor of one thousand year-old | | | | fish and scorpion-fish shimmer in the clear waters |
| civilization, Lamu was founded by the Arabs in the | | | | while sharks, rays, turtles and starfish prowl the |
| seventh century and traded for centuries | | | | reef in search of prey. Fierce moray eels hide in |
| thereafter in ivory, rhino horn and slaves. Today it | | | | holes, while small crabs, wrasses(long, spiny-finned |
| offers a unique showcase for traditional Swahili | | | | fish) and sharks lurk in the caves, sea urchins, sea |
| culture, a bustling historical town with some of the | | | | cucumbers, brittle stars and numerous species of |
| most pristine beaches in Africa. | | | | mollusk feed on algae and transparent prawns |
| The Kiunga Marine National Reserve is made up of | | | | dance through the waters alongside shifting clouds |
| a chain of 51 coral islands lying some 2 km | | | | of tiny demoiselle fish. The Reserves creeks and |
| offshore of the fringing reef. They run adjacent | | | | inlets also serve as a substantial breeding ground |
| to the mainland Dodori and Boni National Reserves. | | | | for the rare mermaid-like creature called the |
| Varying in size, the islands are composed of old, | | | | dugong. A completely aquatic, warm-blooded |
| eroded coral and shelter lesser kudu, bushbuck, | | | | mammal, the dugong is thought to share a |
| monkey, porcupine and wild pig. | | | | common ancestry with the elephant, dugong have |
| Reefs, the rainforest of the sea | | | | an average length of 2.5-3.2 meters, may weigh |
| Coral reefs are one of the most fascinating | | | | anything from 140-170kg, and live on the marine |
| ecosystems on earth, sheltering nearly one million | | | | grasses growing in the shallower waters of the |
| different types of marine life. Forming only in | | | | Reserve. |
| warm seas, corals are made by battalions of tiny | | | | The outer islands of the Reserve host many |
| polyps, miniscule sea anemone-like creatures that | | | | seabirds. Species nesting here include roseate |
| live together in colonies, some create a hard | | | | tern, sooty gull, white-cheeked tern, bridled tern |
| skeleton outside their bodies which eventually | | | | and brown node. Crab plovers are also plentiful |
| forms into stony coral. Corals come in many | | | | while other migrant waders frequent the more |
| shapes, sizes and colours including the | | | | sheltered flats and creeks. |
| open-branched stag shorn coral, the pincushion-like | | | | Where To Stay |
| acropora coral, the wavy-branched plate-like | | | | Kiwayu Island is the only inhabited island to be |
| pavona coral, the massively solid favia coral and | | | | included in the Kiunga Marine National Reserve. |
| the convoluted brain coral. | | | | What To Take With You |
| Activity Options | | | | Footwear(to protect your feet from the reef), |
| Diving and Snorkeling paradise | | | | T-shirt, snorkel, mask, fins, camera, hat, |
| Thw best time for snorkeling over the reefs is | | | | sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, guidebooks |
| two hours either side of low tide, which is the | | | | and plenty of drinking water. |