Watamu Marine National Park

National Park · Kenya

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Photo © Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

Photo © Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where mangrove channels meet coral gardens and sandy shallows blend into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Watamu Marine National Park unfolds across the Kilifi coast as one of East Africa's most biodiverse marine landscapes. The park encompasses a mosaic of habitats—dense mangrove stands that fringe the shore, seagrass beds that carpet the seafloor, and coral reef systems that rise in intricate formations from deeper channels. This As climate zone experiences its driest season during the austral summer months, when lower rainfall and reduced freshwater runoff create ideal conditions for clear water visibility and robust coral health. The park's waters teem with the functional diversity that defines tropical and subtropical marine ecosystems: schooling fish of countless sizes and colors navigate between reef structures, predatory fish patrol the deeper channels, marine turtles move through seagrass meadows, sharks glide along drop-offs, and rays rest on sandy substrates. The mangrove forests themselves shelter juvenile fish, crustaceans, and mollusks that depend on brackish nursery grounds, while the reef crest and fore-reef zones support herbivorous and planktivorous fish species that maintain the coral community's ecological balance.

For marine photographers and naturalists, Watamu delivers unparalleled opportunities to document reef and pelagic life across multiple depth zones and light conditions. The park's accessibility—reached via established land and boat routes from nearby towns—makes it feasible for both technical diving expeditions and shallow snorkeling explorations. The summer dry season offers the most reliable underwater visibility, with calm conditions and minimal suspended sediment allowing photographers to capture crisp detail of reef architecture and the fish life it supports. Daytime visits capture the reef's full complement of diurnal species, while dawn and dusk sessions reveal nocturnal behavioral transitions. The combination of protected status, intact habitat gradients, and the sheer density of marine vertebrates and invertebrates within the park makes repeated visits essential; each excursion reveals different ecological stories and visual opportunities depending on tide, season, and the observer's chosen depth.

Polemaetus bellicosus

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Chrysococcyx klaas

Cuculus canorus

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Pluvialis squatarola

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

Actophilornis africanus

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Terek Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Calidris minuta

Anous tenuirostris

Onychoprion fuscatus

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Hydroprogne caspia

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Sterna dougallii

Lesser Crested Tern

Thalasseus bengalensis

Ichthyaetus hemprichii

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Yellow-billed Stork

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Microcarbo africanus

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

African Spoonbill

Egretta ardesiaca

Egretta garzetta

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Macheiramphus alcinus

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

Hieraaetus pennatus

Black Sparrowhawk

Astur melanoleucus

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Trumpeter Hornbill

Bycanistes bucinator

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Mangrove Kingfisher

Halcyon senegaloides

White-throated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Northern Carmine Bee-eater

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

East Coast Boubou

Laniarius sublacteus

Retz's Helmetshrike

Prionops retzii

Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike

Prionops scopifrons

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Corvus splendens

Eastern Nicator

Nicator gularis

Sombre Greenbul

Andropadus importunus

Northern Brownbul

Phyllastrephus strepitans

Pycnonotus barbatus

Hirundo rustica

Ethiopian Swallow

Hirundo aethiopica

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Rufous Chatterer

Argya rubiginosa

Black-bellied Starling

Notopholia corusca

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Bare-eyed Thrush

Turdus tephronotus

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Red-capped Robin-Chat

Cossypha natalensis

Collared Palm Thrush

Cichladusa arquata

Spotted Palm Thrush

Cichladusa guttata

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Cyanomitra olivacea

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Purple-banded Sunbird

Cinnyris bifasciatus

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Parrot-billed Sparrow

Passer gongonensis

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis niger

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Golden Palm Weaver

Ploceus cucullatus

Red-billed Quelea

Black-winged Red Bishop

Euplectes hordeaceus

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

Cut-throat Finch

Amadina fasciata

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Pin-tailed Whydah

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Alopochen aegyptiaca

African Pygmy Goose

Nettapus auritus

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Eastern Crested Guineafowl

Guttera pucherani

European Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus pectoralis

Slender-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus clarus

Mottled Spinetail

Telacanthura ussheri

Böhm's Spinetail

Neafrapus boehmi

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

White-rumped Swift

White-bellied Go-away-bird

Crinifer leucogaster

Fischer's Turaco

Tauraco fischeri

Ceuthmochares australis

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Clamator jacobinus

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Spilopelia senegalensis

African Green Pigeon

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Black-headed Lapwing

Vanellus tectus

Senegal Lapwing

Vanellus lugubris

Anarhynchus asiaticus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Black-tailed Godwit

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Common Redshank

Calidris pugnax

Broad-billed Sandpiper

Calidris falcinellus

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Madagascar Pratincole

Glareola ocularis

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris

Sternula albifrons

White-cheeked Tern

Sterna repressa

Greater Crested Tern

Thalasseus bergii

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Bostrychia hagedash

Plegadis falcinellus

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Western Reef Heron

Egretta gularis

Ardeola ralloides

Malagasy Pond Heron

Yellow-billed Egret

Ardea brachyrhyncha

Scopus umbretta

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

Terathopius ecaudatus

Southern Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus fasciolatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Micronisus gabar

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Sokoke Scops Owl

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Blue-naped Mousebird

Urocolius macrourus

Apaloderma narina

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes brevis

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

Olive Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

D'Arnaud's Barbet

Trachyphonus darnaudii

Cryptolybia olivacea

Green Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus simplex

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Pallid Honeyguide

Indicator meliphilus

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Nubian Woodpecker

Campethera nubica

Mombasa Woodpecker

Campethera mombassica

Green-backed Woodpecker

Campethera maculosa

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Brown-headed Parrot

Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

Eastern Black-headed Batis

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Gorgeous Bushshrike

Telophorus viridis

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher

Trochocercus cyanomelas

Long-tailed Fiscal

Lanius cabanisi

Lesser Grey Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Red-tailed Shrike

Lanius phoenicuroides

Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix signatus

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Lowland Tiny Greenbul

Phyllastrephus debilis

Terrestrial Brownbul

Phyllastrephus terrestris

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Cecropis senegalensis

Little Yellow Flycatcher

Erythrocercus holochlorus

Phylloscopus trochilus

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Acrocephalus palustris

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Coastal Cisticola

Cisticola haematocephalus

Black-headed Apalis

Apalis melanocephala

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Zosterops flavilateralis

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Red-tailed Ant Thrush

Neocossyphus rufus

Spotted Ground Thrush

Geokichla guttata

Bearded Scrub Robin

Tychaedon quadrivirgata

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

Common Rock Thrush

Monticola saxatilis

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina

Plain-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes reichenowi

Cyanomitra veroxii

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Passer domesticus

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Black-necked Weaver

Ploceus nigricollis

Eastern Golden Weaver

Ploceus subaureus

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Chestnut Weaver

Ploceus rubiginosus

Dark-backed Weaver

Ploceus bicolor

Zanzibar Red Bishop

Euplectes nigroventris

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Mandingoa nitidula

Estrilda astrild

Red-throated Twinspot

Hypargos niveoguttatus

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Steel-blue Whydah

Vidua hypocherina

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Tmetothylacus tenellus

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

Pangani Longclaw

Macronyx aurantiigula

Anthus cinnamomeus

Anthus sokokensis

Anthus melindae

Reichenow's Seedeater

Crithagra reichenowi

Spatula querquedula

Southern Crested Guineafowl

Guttera edouardi

Caprimulgus inornatus

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Ceuthmochares aereus

Cuculus gularis

Speckled Pigeon

American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

Saunders's Tern

Sternula saundersi

Ciconia abdimii

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

Butorides striata

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus pusillus

Slate-colored Boubou

Laniarius funebris

Ethiopian Boubou

Laniarius aethiopicus

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Locustella fluviatilis

Winding Cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Magpie Starling

Speculipastor bicolor

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda rhodopyga

Cercopithecus mitis

Papio cynocephalus

Ochre Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus ochraceus

Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat

Epomophorus wahlbergi

Heart-nosed False-vampire

Cardioderma cor

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops aduncus

Golden-rumped Sengi

Rhynchocyon chrysopygus

Egyptian Slit-faced Bat

Nycteris thebaica

Harrison's Giant Mastiff Bat

Otomops harrisoni

Egyptian Rousette

Rousettus aegyptiacus

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