| Wasini Island ((in)Wasini Island, (sw) Kisiwa cha Wasini) | |
 | |
| The eastern coast of the island | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Kenya |
|---|---|
| Region | Kenyan coastline County Kwale |
| Ocean | Indian |
| Area | 7,5 km² |
| Population | 2 000 hab. |
| Density | 266,67 inhab./km² |
| Spindle | UTC 03:00 |
| Location | |
 4 ° 39 ′ 50 ″ S 39 ° 22 ′ 41 ″ E | |
Wasini is a small coral island kenyan of the'Indian Ocean.
Understand
Villages
- 1 Wasini
- 2 Mkwiro
To speak
To go
By coach
By car
- Coming from Mombasa, take the international road A14 as far as Kanana then take the track on the left, in good condition, towards kidimu and Shimoni
- Coming from Tanga, take the national road T13 to the Kenyan border at Horo Horo and continue on the international road A14 to Kanana then turn right onto the track, in good condition, towards kidimu and Shimoni
- At the Shimoni pier, leave the vehicle in the guarded parking lot (200 KES by slices of 12 h or free if visiting the Kisite-Mpunguti National Maritime Park) take a dhow or a small motorized passenger boat to Wasini Pier. Distance from 3 km between the two jetties, duration of the crossing approximately 15 min.
On a boat
Circulate
To see
- 1 Coral garden (Coral gardens) –
With an area of approximately 120 Ha, this is a rare phenomenon: a collection of natural ruins of a fossil coral reef. Located above sea level, it is however regularly inundated by high tides.
Do
Scuba diving
The island is surrounded by no less than ten scuba diving sites including the Kisite-Mpunguti National Maritime Park. These sites vary in depth, at high tide, from 5 m, from where possibility of diving only with snorkel, to 30 m. There are two dive centers on the island and you can also find independent dive guides-instructors in the village of Wasini.
- Tide schedule – Hours and tidal coefficient in Shimoni on April 27, 2021.
To buy
Eat
- 1 Charlie claw's Wasini,
254 722 205155, e-mail : [email protected] – Local cuisine with seafood specialties. Cocktail specialty with or without alcohol (this is the only place where you can find alcohol on the island). Large shaded terrace with view towards the ocean and the mainland. Swimming pool and exotic garden. Organization of scuba dives and excursions in dhow. - 2 Coral Spirit Restaurant and Bandas Wasini, 254 716 440223
Fri.- sea. : 6 h - 22 h. – Local cuisine with seafood specialties. Large shaded terrace with view towards Shimoni. - Coral Wasini Adventure Wasini, 254 711 610959, e-mail : [email protected] Mon.- Sun. : 11 h - 18 h 30. – Local cuisine with seafood specialties.
Fri.- sea. : Have a drink / Go out
Housing
- 1 Banda Porini Wasini room available from 12 h, to be released before 10 h.
29 €. – 1 double bedroom with bathroom in one banda (word swahili having several meanings and in particular that of "hut") 30 meters from the seaside. - 2 Paradise Beach Resort Mkwiro, 254 718 778372
Manage the day-to-day
On the island, there is no electricity, drinking water or sewage network. The dwellings are equipped with solar panels, which makes it possible to charge a mobile phone or a camera but not to use a laptop or a portable refrigerator. The water comes from cisterns each supplying several buildings. The toilets are made up of either a simple pit latrine dug in the coral rock, either of a outhouseor, if the distance from the sea is not too long, from a flushing toilet supplied by the sea.
Who says no electricity network says no bank terminal. You will have to either pay your expenses in cash, preferably in shilling to avoid exchange fees which could be exorbitant, or by means of the system M-Pesa. This system should be more than sufficient to be able to settle all your local disbursements (maximum positive balance of your account: 100 000 KES, maximum amount of a transaction: 70 000 KES).
The same goes for connections to a Wi-Fi network since it is impossible to use a modem because there is neither an electrical network nor a fixed telephone network. The only possible connection to the Internet network is the purchase, if you lack any, of computer data packages (bundles) near Pema Communications, the only agent Safaricom located in the village of Wasini (but there are three others in Shimoni).
No more than one wheeled vehicle on the island either. There is also no road, only trails zigzagging between the coral rocks. The "long" journeys are made by boat and land transport of goods over short distances is carried out with wheelbarrows.
Health
The island has two clinics, one in Wasini and one in Mkwiro, each with a nurse. These clinics provide basic medicines and immunize children. For more sotisphic care, it is necessary to go to the health center of Shimoni where there are at least a doctor, several nurses, an analysis laboratory and a pharmacy, note that there is no pharmacy on the island. For emergencies, you have to go to the1 Msambweni district hospital .
In the event of an insurmountable medical emergency, and if you have previously subscribed to the service, the Flying Doctors' Society of Africa can transfer you by medical plane then by ambulance to the Kenyan hospital best equipped to treat your case but beware that the medical plane will not be able to land closer to Wasini than on the 2 Bwaga Cheti dirt track .
- Flying Doctors' Society of Africa , 254 727 337337 (emergency room), e-mail : [email protected] Contracts 500 km : 15 $ per person for 15 days or 25 $ per person for 2 months; contracts 1 000 km : 30 $ per person for 15 days or 50 $ per person for 2 months. – The contract 500 km is sufficient to be covered in Wasini.
Security
The island is one of the safest places in Kenya and yet there is no police station, you have to go to Shimoni, nor any permanent police presence. You will have to be more wary of other tourists than of residents.
Respect
Ramadan dates in Kenya From May 7 to June 4, 2019 (Year 1440 AH) |
The overwhelming majority (around 98%) of the inhabitants are Muslims and most are Sunnis.
Islamic practices and beliefs have a great influence. Dress and behave with common sense and discretion everywhere. Respect social and religious traditions so as not to offend the locals. It is advisable to wear clothes that cover the body well (for example women should cover their shoulders and avoid wearing shorts as much as possible). During the lunar month of Ramadan, use discretion when drinking, eating or smoking in public places between sunrise and sunset; since the sale of alcohol is prohibited on the island, avoid consuming it elsewhere than 'to Charlie claw's the only place that serves it (outside of Ramadan times). If you want to photograph someone, always do so with their permission; this will always be possible, with or without payment.
Finally, never forget that the possession, consumption and trafficking of drugs are punishable by heavy prison sentences (minimum 10 years). Likewise, homosexuality is a punishable offense and sex with minors is prohibited by law and severely punished.
Around
- 1 Shimoni (North)
- 2 Kisite-Mpunguti Maritime National Park and Marine Reserve (Kisite-Mpunguti National Marine Park and Reserve) (South) – Total marine protected area of 39 km2, 28 km2 for the Kisite park and 11 km2 for the Mpunguti reserve.
