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SHIMONI

Shimoni is located 70 Kilometers south west of Mombasa. It is an areas of old coastal forest and thicket, interspaced by rice paddies, mango and coconut trees. Baboons huddle across the road, wild in their natural habitat, and vervet monkeys hide in tree tops.  Colobus monkeys are to be found in the Shimoni forest area directly behind the village. As you enter the village you have entered the edge of the Wasini channel. You pass the infamous “Shimoni caves”. Once a hidden and forgotten cave, its history preserves a troubled past. Shimoni was a notorious area known for holding slaves. These caves are now home of many different varieties of bats, including at least one very rare species, and are a national monument.

Snorkelling, diving, fishing, dolphin trips and forest walks are the main activities here. Further south, Kisite Mpungutti Marine Park covers 39 sq km on the southern most part of the Kenyan coastline and is managed and protected by the Kenya Wildlife Service  There is no fishing in the park itself. Around the parks boundaries is a reserve limiting the type of fishing. The Park and Reserve are both a paradise for marine life, water birds, boater’s snorkellers and divers alike. The water is refreshingly clean and extraordinarily clear. The shallow clear depths around the atolls make it very safe to swim long distances around the island.  

As you swim, the myriad of reef fish surrounding the coral life, all come alive around you. Kisite is truly a unique and fantastic snorkeling and day trip on the water and under it. Around the edge of the park are 2 other islands, inner and outer Pengutti. These are the favorite places to see dolphins, and dive. You can visit these islands and will probably be the only people on them that day. Off shimoni’s coast is Wasini Island - about 8km at the longest and 5km at the wide.  On its western end, facing the mainland and Usambara Mountains is the main village of Wasini. These feudal collections of families have roots here several centuries. Born of the traders that originally came down to Shimoni from north and south , and assimilating locals from the mainland on what is now both Kenya and Tanzania , this village has a distinct so called afro-Shirazi look.   Many of the villagers are employed as skippers and boat handlers for the tourist trade that dominates life on Wasini. The women have built a formidable and commendable “Board walk” out of mangrove poles to allow a view of the inner mangroves at high tide. Further down the island, on the eastern end is Mkwiro village, inhabited almost exclusively by fishing dominated families. The land is coral rag, sharp coral stone that unless is has soil on it or has been cut is very uncomfortable to walk on. Recently a new dive and snorkel operation opened on the edge of Mkwiro village.