Kings Coral: Popular Local Tourist Attraction

Written By Victoria Finn

We are delighted to see our partners Oceans Alive Foundation and Kuruwitu Conservation and Welfare Association (KCWA) make the National News this week as Citizen TV reported from the Vipingo Ridge Beach Club.

Coral Bleaching Event in 2024

In February 2024 there was a brutal, global coral bleaching event. Across the world coral populations were impacted by the rising ocean temperatures, creating inhospitable conditions and killing a lot of the world’s coral.

It is documented that at the Kenya Coast 85% of corals were affected by this event. We communicated this news in June 2024 on World Ocean Day to help to raise awareness: Coral bleaching event: impact of the warming ocean

For the Tengefu, the protected area that has the coral nurseries of Kuruwitu, we saw a 30% loss of the population. Devastating, but the community and the coral are resilient and work immediately commenced to replant and rebuild, as well as see the recovery of some of the corals.

King’s Coral is the centrepiece of the ‘Royal Coral Village’

Today much of the coral at Kuruwitu has recovered and the abundant sea life attracted to this important part of the marine ecosystem makes for an amazing experience for residents and visitors.

In November 2023 King Charles III visited Kenya, and His Majesty came to meet the Elders of Kuruwitu, as well as a number of conservation stakeholders to understand the impact and organisation of this long-standing community-led project.

This visit was an important moment for the conservation partners who have pioneered this work, now a highly respected Beach Management Unit (BMU) and for Vipingo Ridge to support them as the venue, the Vipingo Ridge Beach Club: Supporting our Kuruwitu partners and the Kenya Royal Tour

Citizen TV recently reported on the latest at the Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary:

Visit the King’s Coral and see it for yourself

From glass bottom boat tours, to the up close experience of snorkelling or a reef walk - there are many ways to explore the coral project.

During December 2024 peak season at the Kenya Coast we welcomed many guests to the Vipingo Ridge Beach Club who rented equipment and were able to do the tours through the local community organisations.

The Reception team at the Beach Club is able to book and arrange your tours to experience the King’s Coral for yourself.

Support the community, support the environment and engage in eco-tourism activities. Make memories at Vipingo Ridge.

BEACH CLUB BOOKINGS
+254 794 814 165
reservations@vipingoridge.com

More Marine News at Vipingo Ridge:

Featured
Mazingira Day with Collaborative Beach Clean Up
Mazingira Day with Collaborative Beach Clean Up

Celebrating Mazingira Day with a community-led environmental event. Coming together with local kids, CBOs and KWS Directors to prioritise our environment.

Supporting the transformation of local food systems
Supporting the transformation of local food systems

The first convening of the Local and Indigenous Food Systems Transformation (LIFT) Network with Oceans Alive. The founder members from Nigeria, Brazil, Kenya, Canada, and Fiji will be at Vipingo Ridge this coming week.

Coral bleaching event: impact of the warming ocean
Coral bleaching event: impact of the warming ocean

For World Ocean Day we focus on the work of partner Oceans Alive, the KCWA and the local impact of the recent global coral bleaching event.

Victoria Finn
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