Holiday Homes in Lamu, Kenya

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NAOMI DHOW

Many years ago, courageous Swahili sailors soared a dhow more than thousand miles from Mozambique along the entire East African coast as far as Lamu. The shape of this dhows inspired the talented inhabitants of Shela, so they started to build the Mozambique dhow in their picturesque boatyards at the Fishermen Beach.

With its low-slung water pass this kind of dhow stirs distinctly elegant and streamlined. It’s swift and confident sailing is a delight and as enjoyable as the ability of the crew to run masterful with the wind. Nowadays, the Mozambique Dhows adorn the waterfront of Shela. In the endless days of sunshine they lazy bob up and down at Peponi beach inviting for a sunset cruising. 

Sailing brings the opulence of the Lamu archipelago very near: Manda Toto Island’s underwater world, swimming with dolphins, wale watching, deep sea fishing, sunset cruises and a picnic on desert shores, day trips to the pure white sandy beach of Kipungani including sipping dawa cocktails in hammocks or overnight journeys to the remote island of Kiwayu, choosing either to stay in a beach tent or in one of the exclusives cabanas of the two beach resorts. Shela’s craftsmen built our Naomi dhow by hand and sense of proportion and without any drawings.