By John Ndegwa / BMA
Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA) students drawn from the Guard of Honour team have successfully completed a three-day educational tour in Kilifi County, aimed at enriching their understanding of Kenya’s Coastal heritage, Marine conservation, and Maritime culture.
The team, led by Senior Principal Trainer Nautical Science, Maj. (Rtd.) Frankline Toniok, and Nautical Science Trainer Capt. (Rtd.) Jacob Kazungu, embarked on an extensive learning expedition that blended field experience with historical appreciation.
On the first day, the students visited Mida Creek and the Gede Ruins, where they gained valuable insights into Marine conservation, mangrove ecosystems, and the centuries-old Swahili civilization that shaped the Coastal region. Experts on site briefed the team on environmental preservation, archaeological heritage, and the role such sites play in Kenya’s tourism and cultural identity.
Day two saw the Guard of Honour team tour the famous Mambrui waves and dunes, a spectacular natural formation renowned for its golden beaches, shifting sand dunes, and unique Coastal morphology. The experience exposed the students to coastal geography, Maritime weather patterns, and the environmental dynamics that influence Coastal navigation.
In the afternoon, the group proceeded to Hell’s Kitchen in Marafa, a dramatic sandstone canyon often referred to as “Kenya’s Grand Canyon.” Here, the students learned about geological formation processes and how natural landscapes contribute to ecological tourism and community livelihoods.
Also accompanying the students were Fatma Mzee, Partnership and Resource Mobilization Officer, and Eddson Murengi, Maritime Transport and Logistics Trainer, who supported the team throughout the educational mission.
