What the day looks like
Established in 1968, Malindi Marine National Park was Africa’s first marine national park, and more than fifty years of protection shows in the water. Just 5 kilometers from town, the park’s fringing reef and coral gardens hold over 600 recorded species of fish and more than a hundred types of coral, alongside sea turtles, rays and, occasionally, dolphins passing through.
A short boat ride takes you out to the reef, where the water is calm and shallow enough for easy snorkeling, timed around low tide for the clearest visibility. If you’d rather stay dry, a glass bottom boat gives you the same view of the coral gardens and marine life without getting in the water, a good option for kids or anyone not keen on snorkeling.
Your guide points out what to look for among the reef, and keeps the pace relaxed, this is a calm, shallow water experience rather than an open ocean adventure, suited to beginners and confident swimmers alike.
