Mtwapa Maweni Turtle Conservation Project

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Mtwapa Maweni Turtle Conservation Project

Volunteer project to protect endangered turtles and help empower the local Maweni community. He has the biggest love for the turtle and the sea life as a whole.

MTWAPA MAWENI TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT

Little History
The turtle conservation project in this area has Michael Mwarua as the founder. He became interested and formed the project 8 years ago. Michael was born in a dugout canoe. His mother was ferrying some food across the Mtwapa Creek when she sighted a turtle for the first time in her lifetime. She got frightened so much that she went into lab

our pains and gave birth to Mike alias Turtlemaster. AIM
Youth Empowerment
To provide employment for the youth in a tangible task that is relevant to the course of nature. Activities of the Project
1. Snorking – we take our visitors to see various fish types and enjoy a closer encounter with the giant turtles.
2. Sunbathing along the beautiful sand beaches of Mtwapa Maweni
3. Visiting historical sites of Mtwapa, where slave trade took place
4. Mangrove planting
5. Beach cleaning
6. Fishing
7. Fish grilling in the local village of Mtwapa Maweni
8. Baobab tree climbing
9. Botanic flower gardening
10. Historical cave excursion
11. Walking in the local village of Mtwapa Maweni
PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH:
Kara Muller – South Africa
Caitlin Hicks – England
Clara Salskov Iversen – Denmark
Fela Donker
Fredrick Vandeurs – Denmark
Marit Dahl Hjort – Norway
Theresa – Germany
Henri Honkan – Finland
P**a Coutinho – Portugal
Andreas Amdy Eckhardt – Denmark
Erica Van Velsen – Canada
Lola Boyea – America
Jumana Alkiny – Pakistan
Christiana – Croatia
Tonya – Russia
Jelle Zoetemeijer – Holland
Hamid Kazungu – Kenya
Susan Wipf – Switzerland
Aileen – England
Siri Tolvanen – Finland
Sally Richards – England
Jenni Honkanen – Finland
Fletcher – England
Avigal Orha – Israel
Amos Mwakamsha – Kenya
Joyce Ali – Kenya
Mwahimu Abdala - Tanzania
Jessica Bowman – America
Julliet Michael Mwarua – Kenya

ABOUT US
We are a community based organization CBO and if you are a visitor wishing to explore the Kenyan Coast, our organization is welcoming you. One most investigate about the turtles and hence premeditate the various uses and purposes for which conservation of the turtle species is relevant. For example, turtles are relevant because the incessant killings trap setting and capturing of these species has made them extinct. Out of the seven species that are found in the Indian Ocean, only three lay eggs in Mtwapa Maweni beaches and are endangered. Although we have laws in Kenya that protect them, your support is very much needed for the conservation. DIRECTIONS
Coming from Mombasa Island, you follow the main Mombasa Malindi highway north towards Malindi. You pass Bamburi and Mtwapa Creek. Take a motorbike or taxi at Mtwapa Kenol to Mtwapa Maweni, and you will find us by the Beach Bar (Beach Africa) junction. GETTING IN TOUCH
Visit or contact us:
(BUBUBU CREEK BEACH HOUSE)
By phone: 0731854960 / 0718880989
By email: [email protected]
Facebook: Michael Ali Mwarua
Web: www.mtwapamaweniturtleconservationproject.com

04/04/2026

Our turtle conservation work is continuing to gain momentum. As we focus on protecting nesting sites, we are also becoming more intentional about the bigger picture, recognizing that healthy marine ecosystems are key to the survival of sea turtles.

Mangroves play an important role in this. They help protect our coastlines, reduce erosion, and keep our beaches stable and clean, conditions that are essential for successful turtle nesting. They also support marine life by acting as breeding and nursery grounds, helping to maintain a balanced ecosystem that turtles depend on.

With this in mind, we are excited to share that today, with the support and in collaboration with Mariners for Action-MFA, we successfully launched our mangrove conservation nurseries in Mtwapa creek cobacobana. We also appreciate the participation of New Hope Conservation CBO in this important milestone.

This initiative not only strengthens our conservation efforts but also introduces a sustainable way to support our work. Through the production and sale of mangrove saplings, we will be able to generate income that directly supports our activities, allowing us to carry out more regular beach cleanups, strengthen our patrols to protect nesting turtles, and improve our overall operations.

As we take this step forward, we now call upon partners and collaborators to join us in ensuring the success of this project and to help drive our turtle conservation efforts even further.

www.mtwapamawenitcg.org
[email protected]

29/03/2026

🌊 Turtle Conservation Update | 28th–29th March 2026 🐢

On 28th March 2026, Mtwapa Maweni Turtle Conservation Project in collaboration with The Ocean and Turtle Observatory (TOTO) and Mombasa Marine National Park & Reserve , successfully conducted a turtle hatchling release at Kenyatta Beach, Nyali.

We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who joined us and contributed to the success of this important conservation activity. Your presence and support made a significant impact.

This event was especially meaningful as many children and first-time participants had the opportunity to learn about sea turtles. Prior to the release, an educational session was conducted highlighting:

✅ Different species of sea turtles.
✅ Their ecological importance.
✅ Threats they face.
✅ The full nesting and hatching cycle.

This awareness is key in inspiring the community to protect these endangered species.

🐣 Nest Details:
▪️Date laid: 11th February 2026.
▪️Expected hatching date: 11th April 2026.
▪️Actual hatching date: 28th March 2026.

On 29th March 2026, an excavation was carried out, followed by an additional release of hatchlings.

📊 Results:
▪️Total hatchlings released: 146
▪️Unfertile eggs: 6

This nest has been a great success, and it reflects the power of collaboration and community involvement in marine conservation.

Together, let’s continue protecting our oceans and marine life for future generations.

🌐www.mtwapamawenitcg.org
📧[email protected]

26/03/2026

Turtle Conservation Update 🐢🌊

On 25th March 2026, Mtwapa Maweni Turtle Conservation Project successfully conducted a turtle hatchling release at Kijani Beach, Nyali, in collaboration with The Ocean and Turtle Observatory (TOTO) and Mombasa Marine National Park & Reserve

We extend our sincere appreciation to all our guests and supporters who joined us for this special event. A special thank you to Doingoood Experience, Country Manager Lisa and all attendees for your presence and support towards marine conservation.

Today 26th March 2026, we carried out a nest excavation, where we released an additional 20 hatchlings. The final nest results recorded:

165 hatchlings successfully emerged
2 infertile eggs

These results confirm that the nest was highly successful, marking another important milestone in our conservation efforts.

Together, we continue to protect and preserve our marine ecosystem for future generations.

www.mtwapamawenitcg.org
[email protected]

21/03/2026

Successful Turtle Hatchling Release & Nest Excavation Update 🐢🌊

On 20th March 2026 Mtwapa Maweni Turtle Conservation Project, with Mombasa Continental Hotel at Serena Beach, successfully conducted a release of green sea turtle hatchlings at Serena Beach.

Following the release, an excavation was carried out Today 21st March 2026 to assess the nest outcomes. The results confirmed a highly successful nest:

158 healthy hatchlings released
3 unfertilised eggs recorded
1 hatchling found dead in shell

This nest was originally laid on 28th January 2026, with an expected hatching date of 28th March 2026, making this an early and successful emergence.

We are proud of this achievement and grateful to everyone who attended and witnessed this incredible moment. Special appreciation goes to the Olive Ridley Project, Mr. Kevin, and all partners, volunteers, and supporters who made this possible.

Together, we continue to protect and conserve our marine life for future generations. 💙

Www.mtwapamawenitcg.org
[email protected]

20/03/2026

Hi!
Today we are officially releasing hatchlings at Serena Beach at 3:00 PM. You are all welcome to join us as we continue our commitment to marine conservation and protecting our ocean life. 🌊🐢”

www.mtwapamawenitcg.org
[email protected]

15/03/2026

🌊🐢 Successful Sea Turtle Hatchling Release – Nyali Beach, Mombasa

On 14th March 2026, Mtwapa Maweni Turtle Conservation Project in collaboration with The Ocean Turtle Observatory(TOTO) and Mombasa Marine National Park & Reserve successfully released sea turtle hatchlings at Nyali Kijani Beach.

This nest was laid on 28th January 2026, with an expected hatching date of 28th March 2026. However, the hatchlings emerged earlier than expected on 14th March 2026, marking an exciting and successful natural event.

An excavation was conducted on 15th March 2026, revealing the following results:

🐢 163 successful hatchlings
🥚 5 unfertilized eggs

These results confirm that the Green Sea Turtle nest was highly successful, highlighting the importance of continued conservation efforts along our coastline.

We thank all volunteers, partners, and community members who support marine conservation and help protect these endangered species.

Together, we continue working to ensure a safer future for sea turtles in our oceans. 🌍🐢

www.mtwapamawenitcg.org

14/03/2026

🌊 Beach Cleanup Success at Vingazini Beach, Mtwapa Maweni ♻️🐢

Today, 14th March 2026, Mtwapa Maweni Turtle Conservation Project in partnership with Mariners for Action-MFA successfully conducted a beach cleanup at Vingazini Beach, Mtwapa Maweni.
Together with passionate volunteers and partners including Empower Me Initiative, Mtwapa Green CBO, and a representative from the Mtwapa BMU, we managed to collect 144 kg of plastic waste along a 1 km stretch of coastline.
This effort demonstrates the power of community collaboration in protecting our oceans. Plastic pollution threatens marine life, including sea turtles and other important ocean species, and through initiatives like this we continue working towards a cleaner, healthier marine environment for both wildlife and our communities.
👏 Big appreciation to everyone who joined us today and supported this initiative. Your commitment to ocean conservation truly makes a difference.

Let’s continue working together to protect our ocean, marine life, and our health.

www.mtwapamawenitcg.org

25/02/2026

🌿 Nature is Always the Best 🐢💚

A beautiful moment of a Green Turtle laying her eggs along our shores — a powerful reminder of why conservation matters.

At Mtwapa Maweni Turtle Conservation Project CBO, we are on the ground every day, volunteering our time and energy to protect these endangered sea turtles and preserve our marine ecosystem. This work is done purely through dedication and passion for nature.

We invite you to visit us on the ground and witness the amazing conservation work happening in our community.

Your support, partnership, and encouragement mean everything to us. Together, we can protect our ocean heritage for future generations.

09/02/2026

We are delighted to announce that we have received a donation of Turtle-Safe Head Torches from SEE Turtles organisation, facilitated through Mariners for Action-MFA. These specialized head torches are a valuable addition to our conservation efforts, enabling our team to conduct night patrols and monitor sea turtle nests with minimal disturbance to these incredible creatures.

The red light emitted by these torches is specifically designed to reduce disruption to nesting turtles, allowing us to effectively monitor and protect their nests without compromising their natural behavior.

We extend our sincere gratitude to See Turtles for the support ,

08/02/2026

🐢 Turtle Nesting Season Has Officially Begun! 🌊

We are excited to share that last night we received our first Green Turtle of the season, which successfully laid her very first nest — a beautiful sign that the nesting season is now open and active. She has truly opened the door for others to follow.

If you’ve never witnessed this magical moment before, this is your chance. Sea turtles lay their eggs at night, and it’s an unforgettable experience to see nature at work.

📍 Location: Mtwapa Vingazini Beach
🌙 Time: Night hours

You’re warmly invited to come and witness turtle nesting firsthand. Let’s celebrate and protect these incredible ocean guardians together.

Conservation through awareness.

22/12/2025

🌊 BEACH CLEANUP – END YEAR ACTIVITY REPORT 🌱
On 20th December 2025, Mtwapa Maweni Turtle Conservation Project in partnership with Mariners for Action-MFA, successfully conducted an end-of-year beach cleanup at Vingazini Beach, Mtwapa Maweni.

During the exercise, we collectively managed to collect:
♻️ Plastics: 21 kg
🛞 Rubber: 67.9 kg
🍾 Glass: 56 kg
🗑️ Other waste: 78.3 kg

Beyond the cleanup, the activity served as an important environmental education session, where we sensitized and trained our youth on the importance of a clean and healthy environment and the role everyone plays in marine and coastal conservation.

We are sincerely grateful to all our partners and supporters who made this event a success, including representatives from Dutch Institute of Management Studies, Dawn CBO, and other organizations who joined hands with us.

🙏 Asanteni sana to everyone who participated, supported, and stood with us. Big up to you all!
Together, we continue to protect our beaches, marine life, and future generations. 🌍🐢

10/12/2025

Hallo,
You are all warmly invited to our End-of-Year Beach Cleanup taking place at Vingazini Beach, Mtwapa Maweni, on Saturday, 20th December 2025. Arrival time is 9:00 AM.
Let us come together to clean our beach, protect our turtles, and safeguard marine life.
Your participation will make a meaningful impact on our environment.
All are welcome.

Mariners for Action-MFA, Mtwapa Maweni Turtle Conservation Project,

If anyone would like to support this activity, you are welcome to contribute in any way you can — for example, refreshments, gunny bags, gloves, drinking water, or any other useful items. Your support will greatly help us make this cleanup successful.

Address

Kilifi

Telephone

+254746885072

Website

https://www.mtwapamawenitcg.org/

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