Wasini Island and Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park, off Shimoni near the Tanzanian border, make Kenya's favourite coastal day trip: dhow sailing, dolphins, snorkelling and Swahili seafood.
A Wasini trip is the best day out on the Kenyan coast: a dhow ride into Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park to look for dolphins and snorkel the reef, then a long seafood lunch on Wasini Island. Boats leave from Shimoni, a fishing village about an hour south of Diani near the Tanzanian border.
Kisite Marine Park is the largest fully protected, no-fishing marine area in Kenya, at about 28 km², with the adjoining Mpunguti Marine Reserve (about 11 km²) where only traditional fishing is allowed. That protection shows underwater: dense coral, big shoals of reef fish and turtles. The channel around Wasini is also home to a small resident population of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, and Indian Ocean humpback and spinner dolphins are seen here too.
Wasini itself is a quiet, car-free Swahili island of fishing families, coral-rag houses and baobabs. It's a world away from the resort strip, though only an hour's drive from it.
October to March usually brings calmer seas and better visibility. From about June to September the south-east monsoon can make the crossing choppy, though trips still run. Humpback whales pass along the Kenyan coast mostly from about July to September, so you may see a blow on the horizon.
From Mombasa: Shimoni is roughly 2–2½ hours by road, depending on the Likoni ferry or Dongo Kundu bypass traffic. Most day trips include hotel pickup.
From Nairobi: fly to Ukunda (Diani) in about an hour and stay on the South Coast. Wasini is best done as a day trip from there, or with a night at a guesthouse in Shimoni or on Wasini.
Guide checked October 2026 by the Jeff Tours team. Park fees and visa rules change — we confirm current ones in every quote.
Trips to Wasini Island
Wasini Island
A full day on the south coast: dolphin spotting by boat, snorkelling in Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and a Swahili seafood lunch on Wasini Island.
A Wasini day trip usually starts with a road transfer to Shimoni, then a dhow or boat ride into Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park to look for dolphins and snorkel on the reef. After that comes a Swahili seafood lunch on Wasini Island. Many trips add a walk through Wasini's coral garden or a visit to the Shimoni Caves before heading back in the afternoon.
Sightings are common but never guaranteed, because the dolphins are wild. Research shows a small resident population of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins uses the Kisite and Wasini area, and Indian Ocean humpback and spinner dolphins are also seen. Good operators watch quietly from a distance and don't chase or feed them, which helps keep the dolphins in the area.
Shimoni, where boats leave for Wasini and Kisite, is about an hour's drive south of Diani and roughly 2–2½ hours from Mombasa, depending on the Likoni ferry or Dongo Kundu bypass traffic. Most day trips pick you up early from your hotel and have you back by late afternoon, so it's a full but relaxed day.
Yes. Kisite is the largest fully protected, no-fishing marine park in Kenya, at about 28 km², so fish life on its coral is rich and visibility is often good when the sea is calm. Snorkelling suits beginners in flat conditions, and life jackets should be standard on any reputable boat. Conditions are usually best between October and March.
October to March generally brings calmer seas, better visibility and more comfortable boat rides. From about June to September, the south-east monsoon can make the crossing choppy, though trips still run. Humpback whales migrate along the Kenyan coast mainly from about July to September, which adds the chance of a sighting from the boat.
Bring swimwear, a towel, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, a light long-sleeved top or rash vest, water shoes, a dry bag for your phone and seasickness tablets if you're prone. Marine park fees are charged per person and paid cashless, so confirm whether they're included in your trip price. A little cash for drinks or tips on Wasini is useful.
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