Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park

Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park was established in 1978 by the Kenyan government and it is Kenya's first Blue Park.[1]

Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park
Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park, January 2018
Location of Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park
LocationCoast Province,  Kenya
Nearest cityMombasa
Coordinates04°42′50″S 39°21′44″E / 4.71389°S 39.36222°E / -4.71389; 39.36222
Area39 km2 (15 sq mi)[2]
  • Kisite Park: 28 km2 (11 sq mi)
  • Mpunguti Reserve: 11 km2 (4.2 sq mi)
Established1973
Governing bodyKenya Wildlife Service

Kisite is situated on the southern coast of Kenya near Shimoni and south of Wasini Island in Kwale County near the Tanzanian border. Kisite park covers 11 square kilometres (4.2 sq mi) while Mpunguti reserve covers 28 square kilometres (11 sq mi).

The park covers an area with four small islands surrounded by a coral reef.

Marine life is in abundance, including trigger fish, moray eels, angelfish, butterfly fish, groupers, parrotfish, wrasses, scorpionfish, pufferfish, damselfish, rays, snappers, green sea turtles, hawksbill turtles, and dolphins. Humpback whales and whale sharks are seasonal.

Kisite was awarded a gold level Blue Park Award by Marine Conservation Institute in December 2021 for achieving the highest science-based standards for marine life protection and management.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ "Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve Receives Blue Park Award | Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)". www.kws.go.ke. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  2. ^ Kenya Wildlife Service – Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park Archived 2010-02-22 at the Wayback Machine (english)
  3. ^ "Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park & Reserve » Marine Conservation Institute". Marine Conservation Institute. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  4. ^ admin (2022-07-12). "Blue Park Award". Retrieved 2026-02-11.