Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park

Kisite-Mpunguti is a protected marine area in the Indian Ocean off the southern coast featuring four small islands surrounded by coral reefs and diverse aquatic habitats. These waters are home to numerous fish species and other sea creatures living in their natural environment.

Protected status was established in 1978 to safeguard the diverse marine life and secure breeding grounds for various species. Since then it has served as a refuge for threatened marine habitats and has helped maintain regional fish populations.

The fishing communities living nearby see these waters as both home and workplace, relying on traditional practices passed down through generations that allow fish populations to thrive.

Visitors reach the area best with guided boat tours from Shimoni, with the clearest views during the dry season from June to September. During these months the waters are calmer and observing marine life is easier.

Underwater visitors find hundreds of fish species including trigger fish and moray eels swimming between coral formations that shift in appearance with the seasons and tides. These submerged gardens reveal different communities of creatures depending on when you visit.