Once a fishing village, Watamu increasingly attracts tourists seeking beach pleasures. Yet this coastal town has managed to preserve its calm and authenticity. With its white sand beaches, coral formations, forests and mangroves, it boasts a privileged and protected environment. Discover what to do and see during a stay in Watamu.

Relax on Paradise Beaches

Watamu ranks among Kenya's most beautiful beaches.

Among them, you'll find:

• Jacaranda beach,

• Garoda beach,

• Turtle bay,

• Blue Lagoon bay,

• Watamu bay.

With its vast expanses of white sand and crystalline waters, Watamu is an ideal destination to unwind in the sun. It's the perfect spot to enjoy pure leisure in complete tranquility. Indeed, Watamu's beaches are far quieter and less crowded than those near Mombasa such as the famous Diani beach.

Dive and Snorkel at Watamu Marine National Park

Approximately 1 km offshore from Watamu lies Watamu Marine National Park. Established in 1968, it's one of Kenya's earliest protected marine parks. You'll find around 100 species of hard and soft corals, as well as 600 species of fish. You can also observe pelagic species such as reef sharks, dolphins, whale sharks (December to January), various species of rays (stingrays, marbled electric rays, spotted eagle rays...) and numerous sea turtles.

For all these reasons, Watamu Marine National Park ranks among Kenya's best diving destinations. If you prefer not to dive, you can always explore Watamu's seabed through snorkeling or freediving.

Good to know:

If you'd rather not get underwater, you can discover Watamu's coastline and marine life on a boat excursion. Among the most popular outings are:

• Glass-bottom boat tour,

• Traditional dhow excursion (at sunset),

• Dolphin encounter expedition…

See Sea Turtles and Visit Watamu Turtle Watch (Local Ocean Conservation)

Dream of seeing sea turtles? Watamu's beaches, particularly Turtle Bay and Blue Lagoon Bay, are major sea turtle nesting sites. To observe them responsibly, you can participate in Watamu Turtle Watch during a visit to Local Ocean Conservation, a center dedicated to protecting sea turtles.

Its mission? Treat injured turtles before releasing them, monitor and accompany turtles during nesting, educate local communities on turtle conservation importance, fight poaching and illegal trafficking...

Watamu Turtle Watch offers guided visits where you can explore the rehabilitation center and learn more about turtles' way of life and the center's work.

Practical information* :

Visits last 1 hour.
Visiting hours:

• Monday: 2pm to 3pm and 3pm to 4pm

• Tuesday to Friday: 9am to 10am, 10am to 11am, 11am to 12pm, 2pm to 3pm, 3pm to 4pm.

• Saturday: 9am to 10am, 10am to 11am, 11am to 12pm

• Closed Sundays.

Admission: A minimum donation of 1,000 Ksh per person is requested for the visit.
Note: Visits are by reservation only.

Try Water Sports

Beyond diving and snorkeling, adventure seekers can enjoy numerous water activities including kitesurfing, surfing, windsurfing, jet skiing, water skiing, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking…

Note that kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding excursions can be done either at sea or within the sublime mangrove forest of Mida Creek (see below).

Explore Mida Creek and Its Mangroves

Mida Creek ranks among Watamu's most stunning landscapes. It's a vast wild bay covering 32 km² surrounded by mangroves. Beyond its exceptional flora, this ecosystem is home to numerous animal species including:

• Resident and migratory birds such as marabous, flamingos, herons, kingfishers, terns... ;

• Aquatic species such as crabs, crayfish, oysters and numerous fish ;

• Land species including monkeys, monitor lizards, mongooses and antelopes.

To discover this natural gem, you can arrange a pirogue, kayak or stand-up paddleboard excursion. Additionally, Mida Creek harbors impressive underwater caves that you can explore during a scuba diving expedition.

Visit the Gede Ruins

History and culture enthusiasts shouldn't miss the Gede Ruins. Located just 4.5 km from Watamu village, this archaeological site contains the remains of a Swahili town whose origins date back to the 12th century. You'll find ruins of a palace, fort, mosques, houses and tombs with pillar graves, typical of Swahili architecture...

You'll also discover various historical artifacts testifying to the town's commercial importance of the era. Among them, you can admire Ming dynasty vases, Indian metal lamps, Venetian glass beads, coins...

Beyond harboring historical remains, the site sits amid lush vegetation where you can see magnificent trees and encounter numerous monkeys.

Practical information* :

Open daily from 7:30am to 6pm.
Admission:

• 500 Ksh per non-resident adult,

• 250 Ksh per non-resident child under 16.

Hike in Arabuko Sokoke Forest

Want to hike through an enchanted forest teeming with wildlife? Head to Arabuko Sokoke Forest, just 7 km from Watamu village. It's East Africa's largest remaining coastal forest. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the forest boasts impressive biodiversity.

To begin with, nearly 600 plant and tree species have been recorded here. These are distributed across 3 zones: mixed forest, Brachystegia forest (with African tropical tree species) and Cynometra forest (composed of trees and shrubs typical of tropical mangrove and rainforests).

Regarding wildlife, you'll discover over 482bird species including endemic, rare and endangered species such as Clark's weaver or the Sokoke scops owl.

Finally, Arabuko Sokoke Forest is home to numerous mammals, some endemic, threatened or rare, such as the golden-rumped elephant shrew, Ader's duiker, vervet monkeys, bushy-tailed mongoose, African civet... In the Arabuko-Sokoke swamp, you can also observe elephants (the site hosts about 200 elephants total) and buffaloes.

To discover all these natural treasures, you'll find over 100 km of forest trails to explore on foot or by bike. For viewpoint enthusiasts, don't miss the Nyari lookout point which offers stunning views over Mida Creek.

Practical information* :

Open daily from 6am to 6pm.
We recommend hiring a ranger or local guide for better chances of observing animals and learning more about the forest's riches.

Admission:

• 696 Ksh per non-resident adult,

• 174 Ksh per non-resident child and student.

Attention!
You must pay entrance fees via mobile money MPESA and obtain your ticket at the Gede forest station.

More information at friendsarabukosokoke.org

Visit Bio-Ken Snake Farm in Watamu  

Intrigued by snakes? Curious about how anti-venom is produced? Want to learn how to track snakes in their natural habitat? Then a visit to Bio-Ken Snake Farm is a must!

This research center houses 200 snakes—the largest snake collection in East Africa. Among them you'll find the black spitting cobra, horned viper, striking viper, black mamba. Specializing in anti-venom research and snake bite studies, the center provides emergency care to regional victims and offers snake education and conservation programs.

If snakes interest you, you can choose from several activities:

• Guided tour of Bio-Ken snake farm: you'll get a close look at various snake species, learn about their way of life, and see how snakes are "milked" for their venom and how antidotes are produced.

• Guided tours of nearby villages Jimbe and Gede where you'll learn to locate and identify snakes in their natural environment.

Good to know:

The farm also houses other reptiles and amphibians including several turtle species, lizards, geckos, chameleons, frogs, toads and even crocodiles! You can see them during a farm visit. 

Practical information* :

Open daily from 10am to 5pm. Admission: 1,000 Ksh

*Hours and prices are provided as a guide and are subject to change.