Snorkeling at the marine park

Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park is situated on the southern coast of Kenya near Shimoni and 6 miles south of Wasini Island (near the Tanzanian border). The marine park covers 4 square miles and covers an area containing four small islands, all surrounded by coral reef.

Our boat - "Faster" - was owned by one of the Ali's we stayed with

We passed by many mini-islands... called islets.

Chatting with the other Ali

On our way to Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park

More sights around Wasini Island

Arab graves from over 200 hundred years ago

Baobab trees are so fascinating

Mkokoteni (carts) for carrying jerry cans of water, etc.

Helmeted Guineafowl

Some sort of wiggly-squiggly creature swimming in the water

A few finished and a few unfinished houses

A fisherman's catch for the morning

Our hosts for two nights and two days

Ali, the owner of the boat we took from Shimoni to Wasini Island (a distance of one mile), also supplements his livelihood by renting out one of the bedrooms in his modest home. And... so does his brother-in-law, also named Ali. Ryan and I made arrangements to stay with both of them and their families. We also took all of our meals with them for the two days. It was truly a great experience to hang out with Muslim families. They were very friendly and accommodating and treated us like family!

Ali's boys going to Saturday Muslim school

Fatma (wife to the Ali whose family I stayed with)

Ali, with some of his family

Ali's mother and brother

Ali (Ryan stayed with) and daughter Hawa

We took all of our meals on the floor (at both houses)

Most of the time we ate our meals, there were many extended family members present. But the day we had lunch at Ryan's Ali's house, it was only he and I there. As Ali's wife, Mariam, served us... Ryan took advantage of it just being the two of us to say a blessing over our meal. We can only hope that Mariam took notice and that it might have had a least a small impact on her.

Small house is Ali's (who I stayed with). Large building is to be a new lodge.

Two of Ali's sons

Shufaa (cousin to Fatma) is from Tanzania

Shufaa is so pretty and has such a great smile...

... that I decided to post all 3 of these pictures of her.

Boats, boats, and more boats

.

If you're not sure what is yonder, throw a pebble toward it and see what happens.

-Ethiopian proverb

Ryan and I threw a pebble towards yonder... consulted my 9-year old Kenya Rough Guide.... made sketchy plans.... and waited to see what might happen....

After an interesting train ride to Mombasa and a day of exploring that city... we had an absolutely fantastic weekend on Wasini Island!

Ali (the one whose family I stayed with)

"Mzungu" Mohammed (bailing water)

Ali (the one whose family Ryan stayed with)

Father to the Ali that Ryan stayed with

Arriving at Wasini Island

A dhow

I got up early one morning and got this beautiful shot as the sun rose.

Coral Garden and Mangrove Forest

We arrived on the island in the afternoon. Once we got situated in the homes of our host families, we strolled out to the "coral garden" and mangrove forest. We enjoyed the fanciful shapes that many of the coral formations took. As twilight came, the sun rapidly dropped in the sky. The changing light added to the whole experience.

Ryan on the boardwalk through the garden

Roots from Mangrove trees

Wasini Island

Wasini Island lies off the southern Indian Ocean coast of Kenya across the channel from Shimoni. It's only about 3 sq. miles in size. The island is sparsely populated and undeveloped. There are no cars, roads, policemen, or electricity. There is no source of water other than rain.


A site of early Swahili civilization, this coral island is occupied by the Vumba people, an indigenous group of Bantu speaking peoples who have a rich history. There are 1,500 residents on the island, living in only two villages - each at opposite ends. Their history includes invasion and settlement of Arab influence from the Persian Gulf states, and from the island of Zanzibar, just a bit south.


Located 50 miles south of Mombasa, this island's population has the highest infant mortality rate in the country. Poverty levels are indicative of poor historical and current development. Fishing is a main subsistence occupation, using trees hewn into canoes - meek refuge in rough waters of the Pemba Channel. There are repeated fatalities using such craft in each fishing season.


The island is only 6 miles from the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park. This park annually attracts many thousands of overseas and local tourists per year. The entry fees are not recirculated within the collection area - instead they are remitted to Kenya Wildlife Service Headquarters in Nairobi. The majority of visitors arrive on prepaid packages organised outside of the Island and outside of Shimoni. The larger operators are foreign owned.

You can see how close Wasini Island is to Tanzania