It is no secret that many travel to Kenya every year with adventure
in mind and, more often than not, this adventure takes the form of safari holidays.
What is less-known, however, is that there is yet more excitement to be
discovered on the coast of Kenya, where the deep sea fishing
opportunities are plentiful. Kenya is a diverse country, whose appeal
goes beyond the boundaries of game parks and up to the Indian Ocean.
With a sea that teems with fish and a variety of exotic marine life all
year, you would be hard-pressed to find a country that exhibits a wider
cross-section of the circle of life than Kenya.
The fishing industry in Kenya is regulated meticulously by the
authorities. Only licensed fishermen may lead any angling and fishing
expedition and their vessels must satisfy the requirements set –
ensuring that all fishing trips are under expert supervision – which is
an important law for Kenya to adhere to as their coast has such an
abundance of marine life.
Kenya enjoys a booming fishing season from July through to April,
when the warmer Kaskazi wind blows through the country. The sea is calm
and warm at this time, creating near perfect conditions for fish to
migrate to.
It is no secret that many travel to Kenya every year with adventure
in mind and, more often than not, this adventure takes the form of safari holidays.
What is less-known, however, is that there is yet more excitement to be
discovered on the coast of Kenya, where the deep sea fishing
opportunities are plentiful. Kenya is a diverse country, whose appeal
goes beyond the boundaries of game parks and up to the Indian Ocean.
With a sea that teems with fish and a variety of exotic marine life all
year, you would be hard-pressed to find a country that exhibits a wider
cross-section of the circle of life than Kenya.
The fishing industry in Kenya is regulated meticulously by the
authorities. Only licensed fishermen may lead any angling and fishing
expedition and their vessels must satisfy the requirements set –
ensuring that all fishing trips are under expert supervision – which is
an important law for Kenya to adhere to as their coast has such an
abundance of marine life.
Kenya enjoys a booming fishing season from July through to April,
when the warmer Kaskazi wind blows through the country. The sea is calm
and warm at this time, creating near perfect conditions for fish to
migrate to.
Perhaps the most famous place to take advantage of this Piscean
bounty is in Kenya’s Watamu region, at Hemingways Fishing. This is a
resort named after Ernest Hemingway, who frequented the area for some
fishing at sea. The resort has since become a magnet for experienced
fishermen and is now a prime location for anglers of all levels.
What makes Watamu such a great place is that there are other attractions as well as fishing. Watamu Turtle Watch recruits volunteers to aid in the rescue of turtles and offers a close encounter with these endangered animals. Watamu Marine Association
advocates a similar care for the sea and its ecology but with a broader
focus; it is a centre of information on the sea and strives to maintain
a clean and healthy environment for marine life. Both of these
opportunities add to the overall fishing experience, particularly for
first-timers.
Watamu is not the only place in Kenya with fishing opportunities that
are indiscriminate of expertise. Indeed, most places in Kenya are just
as accommodating; even as far out as the Pemba Channel – where the Pemba
Channel Fishing Club holds multiple African deep sea fishing records
and attracts many professionals. The Pemba Channel is a narrow corridor
of sea off the coast of Kenya and neighbouring Tanzania and is a
fisherman’s goldmine during the migration months from July through to
April. As fish swim between the eastern coast of Africa and Pemba
Island, there are more fish in less water; angling here is like aiming
in the proverbial barrel.
Boat
Of course, you don’t need to sail on the edges of Kenya’s borders to
cast your hook. Just north of the famous Mombasa, Mtwapa enjoys
considerable tourism every year and a major factor for this popularity
is its proximity to Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach, one of the more famous
strips of beach in Africa and also the launchpad for many fishing
voyages. After a day of hooking your bait, you can experience dinner
while sailing on the Tamarind Dhow – an authentic, traditional Arab sailing boat that has been converted into a floating restaurant.
While much of Kenya’s fishing experience can be thoroughly enjoyed
from above the surface, you would be well-advised to dive in to the
waters at Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park. The park is on the
south-eastern tip of Kenya, just north of Tanzania, and covers the area
of four small islands that are surrounded by coral reefs. Diving to the
coral reefs is a unique opportunity to observe one of the most
fascinating ecosystems; from the lower echelons of the food chain, such
as marlins and plant life, to the bigger fish like swordfish and sharks.
This is also a good place to swim with dolphins.
Dolphins
To get the best of both worlds – above and below the surface –
Malindi offers the sea, beach, and city all in close proximity to each
other. In between fishing trips, you can go snorkelling, visit the old Hindu temples nearby, check out the natural wonder of Marafa or sunbathe on Diani Beach’s white sands.
What is impressive about the deep sea fishing adventures
in Kenya is not only the ample and teeming wildlife but also the Kenyan
approach towards tourism in this field. Kenya ensures that the
tourist’s enjoyment does not come at the expense of either the fauna or
the Kenyan locals, which is demonstrated by all the aforementioned
locations. The deep sea fishing opportunities epitomise much of what is
so special about Kenya.
Perhaps the most famous place to take advantage of this Piscean
bounty is in Kenya’s Watamu region, at Hemingways Fishing. This is a
resort named after Ernest Hemingway, who frequented the area for some
fishing at sea. The resort has since become a magnet for experienced
fishermen and is now a prime location for anglers of all levels.
What makes Watamu such a great place is that there are other attractions as well as fishing. Watamu Turtle Watch recruits volunteers to aid in the rescue of turtles and offers a close encounter with these endangered animals. Watamu Marine Association
advocates a similar care for the sea and its ecology but with a broader
focus; it is a centre of information on the sea and strives to maintain
a clean and healthy environment for marine life. Both of these
opportunities add to the overall fishing experience, particularly for
first-timers.
Watamu is not the only place in Kenya with fishing opportunities that
are indiscriminate of expertise. Indeed, most places in Kenya are just
as accommodating; even as far out as the Pemba Channel – where the Pemba
Channel Fishing Club holds multiple African deep sea fishing records
and attracts many professionals. The Pemba Channel is a narrow corridor
of sea off the coast of Kenya and neighbouring Tanzania and is a
fisherman’s goldmine during the migration months from July through to
April. As fish swim between the eastern coast of Africa and Pemba
Island, there are more fish in less water; angling here is like aiming
in the proverbial barrel.
Boat
Of course, you don’t need to sail on the edges of Kenya’s borders to
cast your hook. Just north of the famous Mombasa, Mtwapa enjoys
considerable tourism every year and a major factor for this popularity
is its proximity to Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach, one of the more famous
strips of beach in Africa and also the launchpad for many fishing
voyages. After a day of hooking your bait, you can experience dinner
while sailing on the Tamarind Dhow – an authentic, traditional Arab sailing boat that has been converted into a floating restaurant.
While much of Kenya’s fishing experience can be thoroughly enjoyed
from above the surface, you would be well-advised to dive in to the
waters at Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park. The park is on the
south-eastern tip of Kenya, just north of Tanzania, and covers the area
of four small islands that are surrounded by coral reefs. Diving to the
coral reefs is a unique opportunity to observe one of the most
fascinating ecosystems; from the lower echelons of the food chain, such
as marlins and plant life, to the bigger fish like swordfish and sharks.
This is also a good place to swim with dolphins.
To get the best of both worlds – above and below the surface –
Malindi offers the sea, beach, and city all in close proximity to each
other. In between fishing trips, you can go snorkelling, visit the old Hindu temples nearby, check out the natural wonder of Marafa or sunbathe on Diani Beach’s white sands.
What is impressive about the deep sea fishing adventures
in Kenya is not only the ample and teeming wildlife but also the Kenyan
approach towards tourism in this field. Kenya ensures that the
tourist’s enjoyment does not come at the expense of either the fauna or
the Kenyan locals, which is demonstrated by all the aforementioned
locations. The deep sea fishing opportunities epitomise much of what is
so special about Kenya.
Today with a drive down through the “Great Rift Valley”, our
safari will take us to the world famous Masai Mara game reserve arriving
in time for lunch at your lodge. As the jewel of Kenya’s parks, the
Masai Mara Game (Wildlife) Reserve is Kenya’s number one park and is
always on every tourist’s “Must see list”. Full of life with various
types of animals, its rolling grasslands and acacia savannah have time
and again been captured on film with the movie “Out Of Africa” being the
most famous. Masai Mara is home to the “Big Five” (Elephant, Buffalo,
Lion, Leopard and Rhino) and over 450 bird species. Apart from the big
five, the Masai Mara is most famous for the spectacular annual
migration of over a million wildebeest, zebra, gazelle etc from the
Serengeti in northern Tanzania crossing the Mara River into Kenya in
search of fresh feeding grounds, which takes place in late July or
August. During this crossing, hundreds of animals are swept away by the
first moving Mara River and others are killed by the ferocious African
Crocodiles. This crossing gives true meaning to the phrase “Survival of
the fittest”.
