East African Dhow Ride

Photo courtesy: Rasheed Hamis — Wikimedia Commons

Dhows were often cruising the sparkling waters off Dar es Salaam’s coast for fishing or transport to nearby islands.

My dhow journey started after I bussed from Mombasa to Kikoni near Kenya’s northern border with Somalia. Stepping into a dhow, we arced around protected waters until the peaceful sojourn ended at Lamu Island’s wharf.

Lamu

I rallied north from Mombasa almost to the border with Somalia. At the end of the bus ride, I sailed by dhow on the final leg around the bend to Lamu Island. It seemed as if I had left an Indian island with no cars (Rameswaram) and arrived at another trafficless destination where mules were the only form of transport.