Discover Wasini Island the Tourists’ paradise
Remote, untouched, and astonishingly beautiful, perfectly describes Wasini Island which is found southeast of Kenya approximately 2.5 kilometers from the Indian Ocean. Dolphins are its main attraction, but what else can a traveler do on Wasini Island? Having been on the island, I know its true charm and I am ready to give you some acceptable reasons to visit this tiny little-known paradise.
The island’s name came about because of its original inhabitants. They were Chinese, and residents of neighboring Swahili villages thought they were strangely short. They, therefore, named them ‘wasini mpunguti’ which means short Chinese.
Things to do while on magical Wasini Island
Take a tour
of the mysterious coral garden that has massive, alien-looking rocks that were supposedly caused by geological activity. The best time to visit these gardens is late afternoon so you get perfect shots of the sunset and other moments to cherish forever.
Take a break from images of your bustling city and enjoy a relaxed peaceful nature walk in the beautiful mangrove forest habitat, on a traditional boardwalk. Here you get a chance to marvel at the beauty of indigenous birds, appreciate the sea breeze, and watch rising tides, that make this faraway island breathtaking.
You can get a real Swahili ancient lifestyle experience by taking a walking tour of the Wasini village. You will meet a lot of tombs, ancient mosques, and old antiques. Bizarre? Yes! But…. the scenes will take you hundreds of years back in time.
My obsession with the views from those traditional dhow trips is unmatched. On the dhow trip, you are assured of spotting and mingling with dolphins, turtles, colorful fish, and gorgeous octopuses.
You can thereafter sunbathe and dip yourself in the tropical ocean waters for hours. Just the perfect romantic getaway! Right?
Although enjoyable, the dhow trips tend to be bumpy. In case you are sensitive to this ensure you take anti-motion or sea sickness tablets way before the excursion starts.
Have a perfect day out scuba diving and snorkeling south of Wasini Island in Kisite Mpunguti marine national park. If you are a seasoned diver, you have the chance of a lifetime to have yourself photographed swimming with a dolphin here! Those that are not, will have to remain snap-happy and content watching the dolphins as they play with ocean waves.
If you are visiting in August and October, ask your guide for locations where you can spot whale sharks and humpback whales.
Explore the Shimoni caves also known as the Slave caves and listen to shocking slavery tales. The caves were a storage place for slaves in the old slave trading days. The slaves stayed there as they awaited shipment to the Zanzibar slave market.
Tip:
- All the activities above can be done within a single day.
What to pack
- A hat and sunglasses. It can be scorching hot.
- Sunscreen.
- Flat sandals for beach walks.
- Swimwear.
Wasini Island tour packages providers
Check out below tour operators for amazing Wasini Island tour deals:
Wasini Island Hotels
Here are some hotels near Wasini Island that you can consider:
- Shimoni Reef Lodge– A property nestled among tropical gardens and offers charming cottage suites overlooking Wasini channel.
- Wasini Lookout -This is a tented lodge best suited for backpackers and anyone on a budget.
- Mango Lodge Kenya– Is right at the beach and is a gem for backpackers.
- Kaskazi Beach house– This is a villa situated at the beachfront.
- Coast Sun Gardens Cottage – Enjoy the sounds of the ocean from this property as you sleep after a long day away. It has options for self-catering as well.
All the accommodations mentioned offer paid shuttle services from Moi International Airport (MBA) in Mombasa or Ukunda Airport in Diani Beach.
Closest Airports
- Ukunda Airport in Diani Beach, Kenya.
- Moi International Airport (MBA)in Mombasa, Kenya.
Wasini Island is a highly recommended destination that will give you an intriguing change of scenery from your hotel or whichever location you are in Mombasa. It is certainly one of the places that you should add to your top islands to visit in Africa list. Hmm, what islands have you visited that were truly special?
