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The Bio-Ken Snake Farm has an interesting selection of Kenyan snakes of all colours and sizes, and the guides who bring you around the glass cages have a good knowledge about them. The farm produces antidotes to snake bites, and apparently also supplied most of the snakes for the Indiana Jones films.
Apart from snakes there are also some tortoises and terrapins (which have a hilariously grumpy-looking face), and a small crocodile forms the end of the tour.
The farm is open daily from 10am– 12pm and from 2 – 5pm. Admission is Ksh500.
Written Apr 13, 2004
Phone: +254 42 32303
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The Arabuko-Sokoke Forest is the largest remaining coastal forest in East Africa and is home to a great variety of endangered wildlife, some of which can only be found in this area. The most interesting of these is a weird creature called the golden-rumped elephant shrew, which is about the size of a rabbit with a long, trunk-like snout and scuttles around on long, thin legs. With a bit of luck you might also see some forest elephants here.
The forest features a nature trail and a tree house overlooking a clearing. You can spend the night in the tree house or camp in the forest to wait for wildlife on moonlit nights and at the first light of day. Be warned though that tree “house” is a bit of an overstatement. It is just a platform high up on a tree with railings around it and no roof, that can be reached after climbing up a scary flight of steps through the branches.
The forest was in danger of disappearing as the trees were cut down for firewood and timber, but due to conservation efforts environmentally sustainable sources of income from the forest have been created, like bee-keeping and butterfly-farming.
Tickets can be purchases at the KWS office at the entrance of the park and cost $10, plus an additional $8 if you intend to stay overnight.
Written Apr 13, 2004
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A few kilometres off Turtle Bay beach are the Coral Gardens. The display of fish around the reef is absolutely stunning. Shoals of zebrafish swim right in front of your nose and skilfully dodge your hands if you try to touch them. Other fish in all shapes, sizes and colours can be seen, and even the odd ray or octopus. At the Marine Information Centre in Watamu village (see previous tip) you can buy plastic colour charts of the coral reef fish.
A park fee of around $5 will have to be paid if you want to go snorkelling there, as they are part of the Marine National Park. Some hotels like Ocean Sports or Hemingway’s run boat trips out to the reef.
There are more underwater-pics from the coral gardens in a travelogue on this page.
Updated Apr 12, 2004
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Watamu Turtle Watch runs a very interesting Marine Information Centre, which has a wealth of information about the marine life in and around Watamu, like coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, fish and other creatures of the sea, and of course turtles. The staff is very friendly and helpful and will gladly answer any questions you might have. You can also ask them to show you one of their many wildlife videos, and there is a selection of T-Shirts, cards, bookmarks and other articles for sale. You can also get plastic colour charts of the fish in the Marine National Park for around Ksh 200. The centre is open Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 5pm.
Admission to the centre is free of charge, but feel free to make a contribution for the donation box.
You can also support WTW by adopting a sea turtle or a turtle nest on the website www.adoptaseaturtle.com
Written Apr 12, 2004
Phone: +254 42 32280
Website: www.watamuturtles.com
1 Review and 80 Opinions I would like to add another hotel in Malindi. Best regards, HANS last visit on May, 2005.
Reviews and photos of Watamu attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Watamu sightseeing.
Watamu Turtle Watch runs a very interesting Marine Information Centre, which has a wealth of information about the marine life in and around Watamu, like coral...
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1
The main turtle species in Watamu is the Green Turtle, and occasionally there are also some Hawksbill Turtles. The Hawksbills have more ragged-looking, overlapping scutes, a sharp hawk-like snout and...
2
We first discovered Watamu on a day trip in 1998, we were both taken aback by the beauty of this area, the beach is fantastic and uncrowded in fact sometimes you have it all to your own if you walk......
3
Travelled with Thomson for 2 weeks at the Turtle Bay Beach Club at the beginning of April 2002. Would thoroughly recommend this hotel to any family (see Hotel tip) as there is tons to do and the hotel...
4
Journal Excerpt – John 7/11/05: Watamu – We spent much of our time on the steep and sharp coral cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean. The wind blows hard driving the waves across the shallow reef and...
5
This little coastal town in Kenya is a gorgeous and quiet place on the road between Mombasa and Malindi. Home to the Watamu National Marine Park, has some incredible opportunities for snorkeling/SCUBA...
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