Tanga Marine Park & Reserves
Tanga Coleacanth Marine Park (TACMP)
The Park covers an area of about 552 km² of which 85 km² are terrestrial and 467 km² are aquatic. It includes the bays of Tanga City and Mwambani, Tongoni estuary, and three small islands of Toten, Yambe and Karange. This park is internationally renowned for the presence and high abundance of the coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae. The rare ‘living fossil’ fish were re-discovered in the coastal waters off Tanzania in 2003. Since then has been sighted frequently within the TACMP area. Today, many of the park’s residents see the coelacanth as an icon for their rich coastal resources and opportunities for eco-tourism.
Marine life consists of endangered species like dugong, which was sighted in 2006 off Kigombe, sea turtles, tropical fish species and migratory water birds. The park is focusing intensely on Coelacanth protection as a key component for achieving its species and biodiversity conservation objective.
- Toten Island
- Yambe Island
- Karange Island
Tanga Marine Reserves (TMRS)
Tanga Marine Reserves System (TMRS) is a group of marine reserves in the Tanga Region with covers total of 56.30 km². The Tanga Marine Reserves have every species of mangrove found in Tanzania. Rhizophora mucronata predominated in wave-protected locations, while Sonneratia alba is the main tree seaward. The Islands serve as significant sea bird breeding areas, Maziwe Island Marine Reserve have sand beach which is ideal for tourists.
- Kwale Island Marine Reserve
- Kirui Island Marine Reserve
- Ulenge Island Marine Reserve
- Mwewe Island Marine Reserve
- Maziwe Island Marine Reserve / Maziwe Sand Bar
Ocean Islands
4.5 km²
Maziwe Island Marine Reserve
Maziwe Island is a very small submerged, unvegetated island surrounded by coral reefs located about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) South East of the Town of Pangani off the northern coast of Tanzania.Maziwe / Maziwi Island is one of the oldest Marine Reserve in Tanzania which located about 15 miles from the... Read More
Ocean Islands
12.13 km²
Kwale Island Marine Reserve
Kwale Island or Kwale Island Marine Reserve is a protected, seasonally inhabited island in the Pemba Channel under the Tanga Marine Reserves (TMRS) with the IUCN category II located inside Kwale, Mkinga District in Tanga. The coral island, located approximately a kilometer offshore in Manza Bay,... Read More
Ocean Islands
3.16 km²
Ulenge Island Marine Reserve
Ulenge Island or Ulenge Island Marine Reserve is a 3.151 km2 protected, seasonally inhabited island in the Pemba Channel under the Tanga Marine Reserves (TMRS) with the IUCN category II bordering Tanga Bay and Kwale Bay at the north of Tanga. Ulenge Island is nicknamed as Bird Island due to its... Read More
Ocean Islands
36.10 km²
Kirui Island Marine Reserve
Kirui Island or Kirui Island Marine Reserve is a 36.095 km2 protected, uninhabited island in the Pemba Channel under the Tanga Marine Reserves (TMRS) with the IUCN category II located within Mkinga District in Tanga. The Island is the largest in Tanga and one of the largest protected marine... Read More
Ocean Islands
0.42 km²
Mwewe Island Marine Reserve
Mwewe Island or Mwewe Island Marine Reserve is a 0.424 km2 protected, uninhabited island in the Pemba Channel under the Tanga Marine Reserves (TMRS) with the IUCN category II located within Mkinga District in Tanga. According to oral Digo history, the island was used by some Kirui Island... Read More
Ocean Islands
5.26 km²
Yambe Island
Yambe Island borders the southeast coast of Tanga Bay opposite of the Ras Nyamakuu peninsula. The island is surrounded by coral reefs and totally covered by coastal rag and mangrove forests. Uninhabited today, German records of the 19th century mention a small resident village of a local Arab ruler... Read More
Ocean Islands
0.16 km²
Toten Island
Toten Island is located in Tanga Bay directly opposite Tanga Harbour. The island is covered by a lush coastal forest with huge baobab trees and has also ruins of early settlements. When the Portuguese controlled part of the coast, Toten Island seems to have been used for a prison. Later, according... Read More
Destinations near Tanga Marine Park And Reserves
These nearby destinations have a lot to offer
