Kilifi County
Watamu
Source: The Star (opens in a new tab) · checked 17 Oct 2026
Photo: N Beenay · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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About Watamu
A beach area on Kenya's north coast with Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve, a protected area since 1968 managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service, known for coral reefs and nesting sea turtles.
Source: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) · checked 17 Oct 2026
Highlights
- Fringing and barrier coral reefs
- Nesting green and hawksbill turtles
- Snorkelling, windsurfing and glass-bottomed boat tours
- The Gedi ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2024, listed among the attractions near Malindi and Watamu
More photos of Watamu
See it in the gallery ›
Suggested time
At least 2 days
KenyaPlus editorial guidance for a comfortable visit, not an official rule.
Confirm before booking
- Marine park fees and boat trips with the Kenya Wildlife Service or a licensed operator
- Opening hours and fees at the Gedi ruins
- How you will get there from Malindi or Mombasa
KenyaPlus does not yet hold verified data for these.
When to go
Rain affects travel in Kenya, especially on unpaved roads. Here is the yearly pattern and the current forecast for Watamu, both from the Kenya Meteorological Department.
- January: between the rains.
- February: between the rains.
- March: long rains.
- April: long rains.
- May: long rains, expected peak.
- June: between the rains.
- July: between the rains.
- August: between the rains.
- September: between the rains.
- October: short rains.
- November: short rains.
- December: short rains.
- Long rains
- Short rains
- Between the rains
- Expected peak (2026 outlook)
A summary of Kenya's national rainfall pattern from the Kenya Meteorological Department: long rains March to May (with the peak in April inland and May on the coast, as KMD expected for 2026) and short rains October to December. Other months are shown as between the rains. Rain varies by year and place, and between-the-rains months can still be wet.
Forecast: October–December 2026
For Kilifi County, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains starting in the 2nd to 3rd week of October and ending in the 1st to 2nd week of December.
Source: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
A seasonal forecast, not a guarantee. KMD also issues monthly and weekly updates.
Kenya's rainy seasons
March to May is the main rainfall season — the “long rains” — over most parts of Kenya.
Information status: VerifiedSources: Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2026 season (KMD/FCST/01-2026/SO/01) (opens in a new tab); Kenya Meteorological Department: Climate outlook for the 'Long Rains' (March–May) 2025 season (KMD/FCST/01-2025/SO/01) (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
For the 2026 long rains, the Kenya Meteorological Department expected the peak in April over most regions, and in May along the coast.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
October to December brings the “short rains”, a major rainfall season in Kenya.
Information status: VerifiedSource: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026
More in our guide: Best time to visit Kenya.
Park entry fees
Information status: VerifiedWatamu Marine National Park — daily entry
Per person, per 24 hours. Children under 6 enter free.
| Visitor | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| East African citizen | KES 500 | KES 250 |
| Kenya resident | KES 675 | KES 350 |
| African citizen | USD 15 | USD 10 |
| Non-resident / foreign visitor | USD 25 | USD 15 |
Official KWS tariff "Conservation Fees 2025", supplied by the KenyaPlus owner and checked on 17 Oct 2026.
- KWS marine protected areas share one rate.
- Boat and water-sport charges are separate.
- Entry is charged per person and is valid for one visit of up to 24 hours.
- Children aged five and younger enter free; the child rate covers ages 5–17, and students up to 23 on an organised visit from their school or college.
- Kenyan citizens aged 70 and over and persons with disability are exempt.
- Vehicle charges are extra (from KES 600 a day for a vehicle with fewer than 6 seats), as are camping and activities.
Guides for Watamu
Watamu: reefs, turtles and the Gedi ruins
Watamu Marine National Park's reefs and nesting turtles, and the Gedi ruins, a World Heritage Site since 2024.
Malindi
The Vasco da Gama Pillar, Kenya's first marine protected area, and getting to Malindi on the north coast.
Things to do in Watamu
Photo: N Beenay · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Coast and sea
Snorkel coral reefs with turtles and reef fish
Kenya's oldest marine parks at Watamu and Malindi.
Where: Watamu · Malindi · Diani Beach
Photo: LutzBruno · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Culture and history
Wander the forest ruins of Gedi
A lost Swahili city of coral stone, swallowed by forest.
Where: Watamu · Malindi
Where next from Watamu
Close by
Photo: Ruslik0 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Malindiunder 1 h by road (estimate)
Photo: Bahnfrend · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Mombasaabout 2 h by road (estimate)
Photo: FredD · CC BY-SA 3.0 · original
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Diani Beachabout 2½ h by road (estimate)
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If you like Watamu
Photo: Mutisya Maingi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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Shimba Hills National ReserveAlso good for wildlife, family
Photo: Alexmbogo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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NairobiAlso good for wildlife, culture
Photo: Bett Duncan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · original
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NaivashaAlso good for wildlife, family
Thinking of visiting Watamu?
Add it to a plan and run the Trip Reality Check.
Sources
- The Star (opens in a new tab) — Floods hit Watamu after heavy downpour (26 May 2019) (checked 17 Oct 2026)
- Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) — Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve (checked 17 Oct 2026)
- UNESCO World Heritage Committee (opens in a new tab) — Decision 46 COM 8B.10 — The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi (2024) (checked 17 Oct 2026)
- The Eastleigh Voice (opens in a new tab) — Vasco da Gama Pillar: a five centuries-old identity that makes Malindi distinct (19 Mar 2025) (checked 17 Oct 2026)
Spotted something out of date? Tell us — we check corrections against the source before changing anything.