Watamu Marine Park and Sudi Island Tour: Experience Canoe Riding, Snorkeling and Dolphin Watching
4.7
25 Ratings
Watamu
Experience the beauty of Watamu Marine Park and Sudi Island on this exciting tour. Enjoy canoe riding, snorkeling, and dolphin watching, and explore the stunning coral wonderland of the Marine Park.
Duration:
9 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Watamu National Marine Park - Our driver guide will picked you from your hotel or desired pick up point early in the morning,then drive North towards Watamu via the Mombasa Malindi rd.Its 100kilometers from Mombasa and it will take\n\nroughly one and a half hours to reach watamu.\n\nOn your way you will be able see different land scape and plantations along the road. At around 9:30 am we arrive at the Marine park Watamu.Your driver will hand you over to the captain/guide who will make sure your marine park fees is paid, and then you will board a motorized 2 decor glass boat so you can lay on the top deck and bask in the sun or just relax\n\non the lower deck and enjoy the underwater life as you cruise towards the Marine park.Your excursion will begin with dolphins sighting where your captain/guide will take you to the hot spots where according to his experience you will be able to see and swim with the dolphins, remember this is for the adventurous souls. Once the dolphins stop moving around you can put on your snorkeling equipment (to be provided on board) and jump into the ocean so you can get close up\n\nwith the gentle creatures.\n\nAfter the mad fun, once again board the glass boat and continue towards the marine park. The Pristine white-sand beaches and reef-protected lagoons line the Watamu National Marine Park and Reserves, which are the oldest in East Africa and cover over 229 kmsq. It is one of the best kept secrets in the world with only the Great Barrier Reef itself having a bigger species list and that only in a far greater expanse! The marine protected area in Watamu is also recognized\n\ninternationally as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This means that the area is designated as a site of natural excellence, and should demonstrate how local people and the environment can coexist through careful stewardship of our natural marine resources and human assets. The Marine Park and Reserve is renowned world wide for its natural beauty and boasts a rich marine life. It is virtually impossible to snorkel without seeing at least a few dozen species inside the main reef; divers outside the fringe reef stand an excellent chance of viewing the magnificent whale shark and Manta Rays that are seasonal visitors. November is best for spotting these animals. The Park is also home to three species of sea turtle who also nest on the Marine Park beaches.\n\nThe Park and its coral gardens are one of the main justifications for visiting Watamu. Some of the more commonly seen fish include of course the parrot fish, whose digestion of the coral reefs over the millennia, have produced the white sand beach itself. Angelfish, groupers, file fish, lion fish and snappers are just a handful of the easily seen species within this superb, brightly colored underwater world. One of the best routes your captain is going to follow in this for exploration is a gentle cruise to the Larder in Turtle Bay. Head out in between the two rocky islands directly south of the KWS Blue Bay HQ. As the glass boat floats gently over the eroded coral\n\nledges, there are numerous damsel fish, young butterfly and angelfish, morays, groupers and octopus. Through the seagrass pass you’ll find blue spotted rays, mullet and snappers. Once you get to the edge of the grass area, around 100metres out, turn right and follow the grass edge along its contour line. After about 100m you’ll find the Larder to your left; a series of 6 or so large coral heads which are the home of hundreds of sweetlips, snappers and drummer fish. You’ll also find lion fish and crocodile fish if you look closely. Another bonus here are the large barracuda which hang around near the seabed in large groups. They are nocturnal feeders and sleep during the day so are easy to approach. There is an exceptional shoreline with Watamu voted one of the top ten beaches in the world; steeped in natural fauna and flora and with three stunning bays, Watamu, Blue Lagoon and Turtle Bay.\n\nHere you will also be allowed to get into the ocean for snorkeling and shallow diving into the ocean floor to see the magnificent coral caves hidden under the blue water.Get a chance to swim and touch hundreds of schools of fish and turtles\n\nAfter snorkeling next stop will be amazing, white sandy beach with crystal clear blue waters where you will be allowed to step off the boat for a swim on this magical waters for a while\n\nbefore returning to the boat and sail off to sudi island while enjoying the lush green mangroves along the creek side.\n\nAt around -1:00pm we will arrive at Sudi island where you will receive a warm welcome to the island followed by a little entertainment from the natives.\n\nThe captain and his crew will then quickly start preparing for where they will grill and serve fresh and delicious sea food with varieties like ; lobsters,king fish,baracuda,and crabs etc(chicken is available for\n\nthese who don’t eat seafood)..\n\nAfter lunch you can choose to take a canoe ride into mangrove forest on the island with a guide and learn a little history about the island and the creatures found there\n\nFor these who choose to remain on the island can take the opportunity to swim on the islands shores or just busk in the sun and take photos.Take some time and capture your last moments on the sandy beaches.\n\nEnjoy your last moments at the island and its environment.\n\nAt 4:30 its time to board the boat and head back to mainland where your driver will be waiting to drive you back to your hotel or desired drop off point in time for dinner. End of our program!!
What's Included
- Carbonated beverages included
- Private transportation provided
- Snorkeling equipment available
- Complimentary bottled water
- Lunch is included
- Guided canoe tour of Sudi Island’s mangrove forest
- All fees and taxes included
What's Not Included
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Items of personal nature
Additional Information
Embark on a day-long adventure to one of Kenya’s premier beach safari spots, situated north of Mombasa, the quaint seaside community of Watamu, famous for the Watamu Marine National Park. This park is known for its three glittering bays, pristine white sandy beaches, and a spectacular underwater coral universe, making it one of the top destinations for snorkeling and diving along the East African shoreline. This enchanting haven is enveloped by a wealth of natural splendor dotted with vibrant tropical rainforests and mangroves. Engage with dolphins, commonly found in the vicinity, and visit Sudi Island to interact with its residents. Embark on a canoe journey into the deep recesses of the island’s mangrove forest and discover its diverse ecosystem.
Location
Watamu National Marine Park
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(25 Ratings)
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Gary_a
Feb 5, 2024
Great trip to Watamu - Excellent excursion with African Tours and transfers. Good driver Eric. We saw Dolphins, good snorkeling, Canoe trip into mangroves followed by a delicious seafood lunch bbq on the beach.
Review provided by Viator
Brandy
Feb 3, 2024
Worth it! - This tour was a great experience. From pick up to drop off. They came right to our Airbnb door in Watamu. Drove us to the beach and our driver/guide Derrick stayed with us the entire time. We jumped on a boat and went searching for dolphins. We found a family which was cool to see. Then we went to the reef to snorkel. That was the highlight of the trip. Warm calm water, a beautiful reef and fish like you’ve never seen before. And I’ve been to the Great Barrier Reef and grand Cayman. This was definitely in my top 3! We then carried on to swim at a lovely beach with a cool sandbar. Later we made our way to the mangroves and had a very nice lunch with king fish, prawns and lobster. We got a private canoe ride of the mangroves and participated in a traditional Kenyan dance. It was just a short boat ride back to the car. Our driver let us stop for gelato at Non Solo Gelato, which I also highly recommend. Everyone was always making sure we were happy. Shout out to Derrick. It was a fabulous tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leonien378
Oct 24, 2023
Beautiful tour - Whouaaa.....amazing expérience... swimming with fishes😍 and the pictures are just astonishing..... Will definitely come back .
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Dawidsg1086lo
Feb 17, 2023
Great one day trip :) - Fantastic trip with marvellous lunch ( many types of sea food) and great opportunity to see dolphins
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Pwirth158
Nov 27, 2022
Great day out on the water - We did a Watamu beach area tour and it was totally awesome from start to finish! It felt like we were hanging out with a group of close friends and Victor in particular was the best!!
We were picked up from our hotel and taken to Watamu marine park where entrance fees were already paid for. Spent some time with bottle-nosed dolphins and then went snorkeling and saw a ton of beautiful fish in the most pleasantly warm water ever.
Relaxed on the shore for a bit before enjoying a freshly caught seafood lunch, followed by a mini tour of the mangroves of Sudi island.
The various stops along the way were all amazing but even more so was the feeling of being welcomed in as a friend by the amazing tour team at African Natives.
Thank you!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eric254_g
Jan 6, 2022
Awesome just awesome! - The pick up from the hotel by Mr Francis was awesome he is respectful on time and so professional he is knowledge and he is so reliable i recommend him if you have the best sudi island experience
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Pinkincs
Apr 10, 2021
Day Snorkeling and Dolphin Watch - We spent a half day with the crew dolphin spotting and snorkeling. Although we didn't see any dolphins (the wrong time of year so chances were slim anyway), we had a great time snorkeling. The guides were amazing with the children. They took them out in a life ring so my husband and I could enjoy the reef too without having to worry too much about the children.
Initially my eldest was petrified (as was I). It was her first time in open water and with fish. The guides were patient, kind and reassuring. She ended up loving it!!
Our youngest was over confident and kept trying to go way above her physical.limits. Again they were supportive and reassuring to us while taking great care of her!
I cannot recommend the company enough.
Thanks for a great day!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wayne_a
Jan 24, 2024
Breathtaking Scenery-Memorable-Superb Food-Dedicated Staff Members-High Quality Experience For The Cost! - It was cool seeing dolphins, we enjoyed hanging on the beach and the seafood lunch was delicious. The snorkeling wasn’t as described , we didn’t swim with any dolphins and the tuk tuk ride back to the marina was extremely rough. However, overall, we recommend this excursion. Jimmy and Derrick were fantastic guides and the trip was well organized. Be advised that pick up in Mombasa is at 6:30 AM and the boat leaves at 9:00 from the Watamu Marina. We encourage everyone to add this experience to their travel itinerary!
Review provided by Viator
Judytj3748ce
Dec 13, 2023
Great experience - It was a great experience, we were fortunate to see dolphins, so many of them, visit the Marine Park and Snockel and see beautiful fish, the canoe ride at the mangrove was divine, i would highly reconmend…the sea food was great but very little. I highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David_p
Mar 8, 2024
Misleading product information - I cancelled as soon as I was told the start time was 6.15 not 9am. This was after the deadline for cancellation but no refund was refused in spite of the fact that the operator saved money because I learnt we were the only passengers
Review provided by Viator
