Funzi Island

Funzi Island Tour

Sandbanks, mangrove channels and the Ramisi estuary

Funzi Island · South Coast · Kwale CountyFull dayEasy — boat-based, with wading to and from the sandbank

Mangroves at high tide along a tidal creek on the Kenya coast

A wooden boat resting in turquoise shallows on Kenya’s south coast

Sunset over calm water beside a mangrove-lined shore

Overview

A slow day on the water in Funzi Bay — the tidal sandbank, crocodiles in the river mouth, birdlife in the mangroves and seafood under the trees.

Funzi is the quieter of the two island days. Instead of open reef there are mangrove channels, a river mouth and a sandbank that appears and disappears with the tide.

The boat works its way through the mangroves behind the island, where the birdlife is concentrated and the water is flat and green. Where the Ramisi River widens into the bay, crocodiles bask on the banks — watched from the boat, at a sensible distance.

At low water the boat anchors off the sandbank: clean, bright sand in the middle of the bay, there for a few hours and then gone again. Lunch is seafood, eaten on the island.

Because the sandbank is tidal, this trip is scheduled around the tide for your specific date rather than around a fixed departure time. That is why we confirm your timing after you book rather than publishing one here.

Highlights

Crocodile watching
Tidal sandbank
Bird watching
Boat experience
Seafood lunch
Mangrove tour

Itinerary

Pickup
Collection from your hotel
We collect you from the coast and travel south to the Funzi Bay launch point, timed to the tide for your date.
On the water
Into the mangrove channels
The boat heads into the channels behind the island — flat green water, mangrove roots and a concentration of coastal birdlife.
Estuary
Crocodile watching at the river mouth
Where the Ramisi River widens into the bay, we look for crocodiles on the banks, watched from the safety of the boat.
Low water
The sandbank
Anchor off the sandbank while it is exposed, for swimming and for standing in the middle of the bay on clean, bright sand.
Midday
Seafood lunch
Come ashore for a seafood lunch in the shade on Funzi Island.
Return
Back through the channels
A slow run back out through the mangroves as the tide turns, then the road transfer to your hotel.

What’s included

Included

Boat transport — Mangrove channels, estuary and sandbank
Local guide — Crew who know the channels and the tide
Seafood lunch — On Funzi Island
Drinking water on board
Road transfer — From coast hotels, by arrangement

Not included

Alcoholic and soft drinks
Gratuities
Travel insurance
Personal expenses and souvenirs
Any local conservancy or community fees — Confirmed in writing if they apply

Meeting point & pickup

Departure is from the Funzi Bay area on the south coast. We confirm the exact launch point in writing with your booking.

Hotel pickup can be arranged from the Mombasa north and south coast. Share your hotel when you book and we will confirm the arrangement.

What to bring

Swimwear and a towel
Sun cream, a hat and sunglasses — there is no shade on a sandbank
Insect repellent for the mangrove channels
Binoculars if you have them, for the birdlife
A waterproof bag for cameras and phones
Cash for drinks and anything you buy locally

Important information

The sandbank only exists at certain states of the tide, so this trip is timed to the tide on your chosen date. Your exact departure time is confirmed after you book.
Wildlife is wild. We go to the places these animals are usually found and we give you the best chance we can, but no sighting can be guaranteed by us or by anyone else.
Crocodiles are watched from the boat. Please follow the crew’s instructions at all times.
Exact departure and return times are confirmed in writing when your booking is confirmed. Timings on this coast follow the tide, the sea state and the day’s conditions rather than a fixed timetable.
What is and is not included is restated on your booking confirmation. If anything here is unclear, ask us before you pay anything.

Frequently asked questions

Why can’t you tell me the departure time until I book?

Because the sandbank is tidal. The trip is built around the state of the tide on your specific date, so the honest answer is that the time depends on the day you choose. We confirm it in writing as soon as your date is fixed.

Are the crocodiles dangerous?

They are wild animals and they are treated as such. Crocodile watching is done from the boat at a sensible distance, and the crew’s instructions are not optional.

Is the sandbank guaranteed?

The sandbank depends on the tide and on conditions. We plan the day around it, and in the ordinary course of things you will have time on it — but the sea decides, not us.

What birds might we see?

Funzi Bay’s mangroves and mudflats support a good range of coastal and wading birds, and the mix changes through the year with migration. Your guide will point out what is around on the day.