The coral island, located approximately a kilometer offshore in Manza Bay, and the modern hamlet on the shoreline are both referred to as Kwale.

Depending on the strength and direction of the ocean currents, sediment buildup is fairly weak and seasonal.

[4] The important bird area, IBM 35, as designated by Birdlife International, includes the Ulenge and Kwale Island Marine Reserves.

Coral reefs and mangroves are not specifically in risk of extinction, but they are under threat from human activity and causes related to climate change.

However, they were eventually forced to go back to the mainland due to a lack of fresh water and expanding family sizes.