Kenya Dhow sailing holiday
| country: | Kenya |
| location: | Lamu |
| departures: | Available all year except the long rains, April and May. |
| price: | From Sh 21000 (approx £165) (3 - 4 days) excluding flights. Price includes everything except alcohol, tree house and park fees. Price based on 2 people sharing. |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
The perfect complement to a safari is our dhow trip around Lamu Archipelago.
Fly straight into remote Lamu, the centre of East African Swahili culture, where you will be met by our dhow to cruise tropical islands. You can relax as the dhow sails along and soak up the sun, sea and culture. The area is protected from the sea, therefore safe to sail in most seasons. The island of Pate offers Swahili ruins to visit, or a Muslim boat-building village. Kiwayuu is sparsely populated and has great snorkelling, beaches and swimming, as well as tree houses for a night ashore.
Our last island, Manda Toto, is deserted and also great for swimming and snorkelling. Everywhere there is birdlife in the mangroves and sealife – turtles, dolphins, whale shark. We might even catch some fish to eat. A beach holiday without the boring bit. This is an adventure cruise so no air-conditioning, private suites or a la carte menus! However we will do everything possible to make you comfortable and there is also the possibility of spending the night in a hotel for an extra cost of about £20 a night.You sleep on deck on a mattress, covered by a net and under the stars or canvas.
Mosquitoes are not a problem on the sea, but sensible precautions should be taken.Simple but fresh food is provided on board – often reef fish caught from the boat – as well as soft drinks and beverages.Shade will be provided against the midday sun and sea breezes cool the coast.There are heads on board and a shower.
Fly straight into remote Lamu, the centre of East African Swahili culture, where you will be met by our dhow to cruise tropical islands. You can relax as the dhow sails along and soak up the sun, sea and culture. The area is protected from the sea, therefore safe to sail in most seasons. The island of Pate offers Swahili ruins to visit, or a Muslim boat-building village. Kiwayuu is sparsely populated and has great snorkelling, beaches and swimming, as well as tree houses for a night ashore.
Our last island, Manda Toto, is deserted and also great for swimming and snorkelling. Everywhere there is birdlife in the mangroves and sealife – turtles, dolphins, whale shark. We might even catch some fish to eat. A beach holiday without the boring bit. This is an adventure cruise so no air-conditioning, private suites or a la carte menus! However we will do everything possible to make you comfortable and there is also the possibility of spending the night in a hotel for an extra cost of about £20 a night.You sleep on deck on a mattress, covered by a net and under the stars or canvas.Mosquitoes are not a problem on the sea, but sensible precautions should be taken.Simple but fresh food is provided on board – often reef fish caught from the boat – as well as soft drinks and beverages.Shade will be provided against the midday sun and sea breezes cool the coast.There are heads on board and a shower.
travellers' tales
I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants an adventure. We were looked after so well by the crew and were good friends by the time we left. (more)
how to find us
You can fly to Lamu from Nairobi, Mombasa or Malindi. The bus is cheaper but takes all day.how this holiday makes a difference
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The Dhow sailing is a partnership between David Beavan, an experienced instructor and skipper from the UK, and Shallo Issa, a Kilifi fisherman who has been running dhow day sails. We have developed overnight cruising along the north Kenyan coast and increased tourism revenue retention by the local economy. We provide an extra economic value for the marine nature reserve for local fishermen, thus enhancing the chances of the conservation of the biodiversity of one of the world's best coral reefs.
 The dhows are constructed and maintained locally and sustainably, supplies where possible are bought locally and local labour is employed as crew. Shallo has a family all over the archipelago, and we are welcomed into villages and houses on these Muslim islands. His expertise will ensure that guests will gain an insight into the lives and culture of local Kenyans. We support local schools with solar lighting for evening study and football equipment. We use a local hotel in Lamu, and locally owned tree houses on Kiwayuu. The crew are paid five times the rate of a waiter in European owned hotels. We sail rather than motor wherever possible and generate electricity with solar panels. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |