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Kenya Beyond Sight: A Day of Adventure and Inclusion at Malindi Marine Park
The coastal edition brought together people with different abilities for a full day of ocean exploration, connection and celebration.
A Day on the Indian Ocean
Kenya Beyond Sight took its Coastal Edition to Malindi Marine National Park for a day that combined adventure, nature and inclusion.
The day started on a celebratory note at Temple Point, where the group surprised Jsupercharge, Vision Bearer of Kenya Beyond Sight, with a birthday cake.
The group later gathered for a briefing from Ntindi Kassim, Senior Warden at KWS Malindi Marine Park. They then headed out onto the Indian Ocean for an immersive snorkelling experience.
Trained boat crew from the local community guided the excursion, giving participants an opportunity to experience the marine environment up close.
Malindi Marine National Park is Kenya’s oldest marine protected area. Its coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and clear lagoons make it a popular destination for marine activities, including snorkelling and diving.
Adventure Without Limits
The day brought together participants with visual impairments, albinism and physical impairments.
Importantly, everyone took part in the activities. The experience reflected Kenya Beyond Sight’s wider message that disability should not prevent people from exploring, travelling or connecting with nature.
After the morning on the water, the group enjoyed a seafood lunch on a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean.
The afternoon then turned into a celebration of music, song and dance.
Beyond the scenery and adventure, the experience created space for people to share an experience that is often not easily accessible to everyone.
Making Nature More Accessible
Accessibility also depends on practical measures that allow more people to experience Kenya’s parks and protected areas.
Under Kenya Wildlife Service regulations, persons with disabilities are exempt from conservation fees when accessing KWS-managed parks and reserves, subject to the required identification.
Such measures can help reduce barriers to nature-based tourism and create more opportunities for people with disabilities to enjoy Kenya’s natural heritage.
For Kenya Beyond Sight, the Malindi experience showed what inclusion can look like in practice: getting onto the boat, entering the water, enjoying a meal by the ocean and celebrating together.
The day’s excursions and transport were curated by Accessible Travel Kenya, helping make the coastal adventure possible for all participants.
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