Swahili Coastal Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Mombasa

Arrive in Mombasa any time and make your way to the joining point hotel. A brief departure meeting will be held in the hotel reception area in evening on Day 1 of your tour. Upon arrival look for information from your tour leader at the hotel reception regarding the meeting time.To discover this fascinating city, take a stroll into Old Town – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and get lost in the maze of narrow roads slicing between tall white buildings and stunning mosques dating back to the early 19th century. Visit the historic Fort Jesus, an important icon of Mombasa. It has been restored as a historical museum, one of the most important in East Africa. While checking out the Swahili architecture and beautifully dressed people, stop into a bakery, restaurant, market, or curio (art) shop for some respite from the tropical sun. The coastal town of Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya, with a population of approximately half a million. Unlike the hustle and bustle of Nairobi, Mombasa has a different, laid-back feel; it is a place where locals dressed in traditional Islamic garb move as slowly as possible in the blistering heat.As the largest port in East Africa, and a base for exploration of the beautiful beaches historic Swahili settlements, Mombasa plays an important role in the country’s economy through both trade and tourism. The history of Mombasa and of the Kenyan coast stretches back millennia. Greeks, Persian and Arab traders frequented this coastline and evidence of a flourishing maritime trade can be found – gold, ivory and slaves were sent to distant lands from here.In 1548, with the arrival of the Portuguese at Malindi, north of Mombasa, the balance of power along the coast changed. Mombasa was taken by the Portuguese and the massive Fort Jesus was completed in 1593. Less than 40 years later the Arabs wiped out the garrison, lost the town again and re-captured it after a three-year siege over the years of 1696–1698. Despite the Arab success, European expeditions in the middle of the 19th Century exercised a powerful influence on life at the coast and the interior beyond. All these influences have left their mark on the fantastic patchwork of race, religions, tribes, languages and customs that can be observed among the people of the Mombasa region.

Day 2-3 Shimba Hills/Diani Beach (L)

Enjoy a half-day tour searching for the rare and endemic wildlife of the Shimba Hills National Reserve, in the lush zones above the coastal plain. Continue on to Diani Beach, where you may spend your time at leisure, enjoying the white sand beaches, adventurous water sports, or visiting the unique Colobus Monkey Trust.Shimba Hills National Reserve covers an area 320 sq km in the lush hills inland from the Indian Ocean. Its rolling meadows, forests of giant, primeval trees and gentle hills are home to leopard, zebra, ostrich, warthog, lion, a relatively large number of elephant (approximately 700) and the last remaining breeding population in Kenya of the rare, indigenous sable antelope with its impressive near-black coat. The Masai giraffe was introduced into the reserve during the 1990s, plus the lush scenery makes for an incredible backdrop to see rare and unusual species such as black and white colobus, serval cat, red duiker, black-faced vervet monkey, golden-rumped elephant and the Suni antelope. The reserve hosts 50% of the 159 rare plants in Kenya including some endangered orchid species, and this lush, verdant ecosystem facilitates a rich insect and avian environment. About 35% of Kenya’s butterfly species occur here, including the endemic, boldly patterned black and white Roger’s Sailer butterfly, plus numerous species of Swallowtail and Swordtail butterflies. The small, but diverse ecosystem of the reserve provides a rich habitat for hundreds of resident birds. Look for the colorful plumage of the Fischer’s Turaco, and the red-belly of the Narina Trogon as it shyly perches in the trees. Flitting among the forest flowers is the iridescent Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird, while the Spotted Ground Thrush lingers in the shadows. This is one of the last strongholds of the little ‘robin of the forest,’ the East-coast Akalat and the Sokoke Scops Owl, recently discovered in 1966. You may even see the unusual Palm-nut Vulture feeding on the fruits of the palm tree. Walking along the trail to the spectacular Sheldrick Falls with its cool, inviting swimming pool, watch for foot-long, red-legged millipedes scurrying amidst the forest floor. Diani Beach is one of Kenya’s jewels, lying on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya, south of Mombasa. It is located along a beautiful white-sanded beach which is about 25 km long and it merges with the small town of Ukunda.

Day 4 Shimoni (L)

Start early as we travel to Shimoni, where we'll drop our luggage at our cottages and board a dhow and sail across to Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park. You will spend a bit of time trying to spot dolphins, and have a couple hours on a marine safari, snorkeling among colourful coral and tropical fish. Feast on a Swahili lunch on Wasini Island, and spend some free time visiting the village or seeing the bizarre and fascinating coral gardens. Return back to Shimoni in the late afternoon, where you will get settled in you cabins (locally called "bandas"), in the late afternoon.Shimoni, meaning the ‘the place of the hole’ in Swahili is a charming little village about 80 km south of Mombasa near the Tanzanian border. At one time it was the headquarters of the Imperial British East Africa Company and the local market is built over an old British colonial outpost. Its prime coastal position also meant Shimoni was used by the Slave Trade throughout the 19th century. For the traders, the natural limestone caves in Shimoni provided the perfect warehouse for the slaves before they were shipped off to Zanzibar. Today, visitors to the caves can witness rusted chains and hooks embedded into the walls of the caves as a stark reminder of Kenya’s violent history.Formed in 1973 to protect the precious coral heads and their resident marine life from damage by over-fishing and trophy collecting, the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park lies just off the Shimoni Peninsula. Adjacent to Wasini Island, a small traditional fishing and trading centre noted for its coral gardens, the pristine coastal reserve covers 39 sq km on the southernmost part of the Kenyan coastline and is managed and protected by the Kenya Wildlife Service. The island itself is unblemished and a great place to relax. The positive results of the protection of the area are the best examples of what managed conservation can do - a pristine reef with protected and thriving marine life.

Day 5-6 Pangani (B,2L,2D)

Cross the border into Tanzania, and step back in time visiting this old Arab slave trading centre. For a bit of sun, swimming or snorkeling, head across to the tiny Maziwe, a truly magnificent Indian Ocean island.Pangani is considered the Zanzibar of the Tanzanian mainland. But being much less known it is much more peaceful, and the beaches around Pangani are virtually unspoilled. It lies on the mouth of River Pangani that flows east to the coast from the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It is an ancient town, and is believed to have been established before the 6th Century BC and played an important role during the slave trade era. It was a trading port dealing mainly with slaves and ivory. Several historical sites in and around the town serve as reminders for the strong Arabic influence and the later German, British colonial era in Tanganyika.The old German administrative boma still stands behind a colonade of tall shade trees and the former prison, painted a fading ochre red, looks over the river’s lazy waters. Old houses along the main road offer lived-in examples of colonial and traditional Swahili architecture, the buildings slowly crumbling against the monsoon winds. A short walk around town rewards visitors with a glimpse of quiet life in the old trading towns along the Swahili Coast.Pangani River hosts birds and crocodiles. Maziwe Island is a nature reserve, which provides ground for snorkeling opportunities and dolphin tours.

Day 7 Saadani National Park (B,L,D)

Continue on through this unique and relatively unknown park where the bush, river, and sea meet. Enjoy a game drive and learn about the slave rebellions of the region.Palm trees sway in a cooling oceanic breeze. White sand and blue water sparkle alluringly beneath the tropical sun. Traditional dhows sail slowly past, propelled by billowing white sails, while Swahili fishermen cast their nets below a brilliant red sunrise.Saadani is where the beach meets the bush. The only wildlife sanctuary in East Africa to boast an Indian Ocean beachfront, it possesses all the attributes that make Tanzania’s tropical coastline and islands world renowned. Yet it is also the one place where those idle hours of sunbathing might be interrupted by an elephant strolling past, or a lion coming to drink at the nearby waterhole!Protected as a game reserve since the 1960s, in 2002 it was expanded to cover twice its former area. The reserve suffered greatly from poaching prior to the late 1990s, but recent years have seen a marked turnaround, due to a concerted clampdown on poachers, based on integrating adjacent villages into the conservation effort.Today, a surprisingly wide range of grazers and primates are seen on game drives and walks, among them giraffe, buffalo, warthog, common waterbuck, reedbuck, hartebeest, wildebeest, red duiker, greater kudu, eland, sable antelope, yellow baboon and vervet monkey.Herds of up to 30 elephants are encountered with increasing frequency, and several lion prides are resident, together with leopard, spotted hyena and black-backed jackal. Optional boat trips on the mangrove-lined Wami River come with a high chance of sighting hippos, crocodiles and a selection of marine and riverine birds, including the mangrove kingfisher and lesser flamingo, while the beaches form one of the last major green turtle breeding sites on mainland Tanzania.

Day 8 Bagamoyo (B)

After your final game drive in the morning in Saadani, continue south to the town of Bagamoyo. Stroll through this relaxed, colourful town, with German-era colonial buildings, Swahili architecture, and bustling local markets combining to create a truly unique experience.Bagamoyo lies just 75 km north of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city. Bagamoyo was founded towards the end of the 18th century as a small port trading in dried fish, gum, cobalt and salt. Later on, Bagamoyo was the starting point of the slave caravan routes and also the terminus of the white missionaries. In fact, Bagamoyo became the main entreport on the mainland for the slave and ivory trade. Caravans would come to the coast from the interior, as far as Morogoro and Usumbara, with slaves and ivory. They’d return inland with goods like clothing, wire, beads and other ornaments. Bagamoyo's importance began to decline when in 1940 the Sultan of Oman, Seyyid Said, decided to move his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar, to be closer to his dominion along the Eastern African coast.Renowned European explorers like Burton, Speke, Stanley and Livingstone all passed through Bagamoyo. The Holy Ghost fathers established their first mission station in Bagamoyo in 1868, and it was in its chapel that Dr. Livingstone's body was brought from the interior and kept before being shipped back to Europe.While in Bagamoyo, visit the Kaole Ruins (dating back to the earlier part of the 15th century), and the first Roman Catholic Church in Tanganyika built by the Germans in the 1880's. Do not forget the museum, which houses numerous historical artifacts, or take a stroll along the fine Indian Ocean beach.

Day 9 Dar Es Salaam

Take a short trip south to Tanzania's largest city, Dar Es Salaam. Arabic for “Abode of Peace” (a word closely related to the familiar “Yer u-salem” in Israel), Dar es Salaam is the largest city in Tanzania. With a population estimated around 2,500,000, it is also the country’s richest city and an important economic centre. The city was founded in the 19th century by Sultan Majid bin Said, the Sultan of Zanzibar, because of its strategic location on the East African coast, and its natural deep waterways. Though it really did not become a prominent centre until after the sultan’s death, German colonialists seized Dar es Salaam from its Arab rulers and fought off an uprising by the Bushiri local tribe. They built the small port into a trading center, making their mark with several grand edifices scattered around the waterfront, most notably the German Hospital, the Lutheran Church and St Joseph’s Cathedral. The city changed hands to the British as the Germans lost their territories after World War II, and became Tanzania’s capital after independence. However, Dar es Salaam lost its official status as capital city to Dodoma in the mid-1970s, but it remains the centre of the permanent central government bureaucracy and continues to serve as the capital for the surrounding Dar es Salaam Region.Life in Dar es Salaam revolves around the huge harbour, with the business district fanning out from here in a series of fascinating side and main streets. The cruise liners, cargo ships, and traditional dhows dot the habour while the bustling fish market of Kivukoni Front comes alive in the morning as the dhows offload the night’s catch. In the Asian business district, along India Street and the intersecting Indira Ghandi Street, you’ll find some of the best restaurants in East Africa.Look out for the distinctive Makuti-palm roofed building that houses Nyumba ya Saana, the House of Art. Begun in 1972 by an American nun, the co-operative supports nearly 200 young artists, with work ranging from batiks through carvings, oil paintings, pottery, weaving and clothing. Other places worth a visit include the Kariakoo Market, the botanical gardens, and the adjacent National Museum, where archaeology buffs can see the skull of “Nutcracker Man”, antique tribal artifacts and some fascinating World War One memorabilia.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Hotel (2 nts), Cottage/hut (4 nts), Camping (3 nts).
Departure	Monthly
DepEnd	Wed-Fri
Group Size	Max 13, Avg 10
Included Highlights	- Entrances and game drives in Shimba Hills Reserve and Saadani National Park- Dhow sailboat and snorkelling tour in Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Reserve- Snorkelling and boating tour in Maziwe National Marine Reserve
Local Payment	USD 400, paid in $50 and/or $100 USD notes, year 2000 or newer.
Meals Included	3 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 3 Dinners.
Recommendation	Looking for a Kenyan Safari? This trip combines with our Kenya Wildlife Discovery, DKWD, to create the East Africa Wildlife and Coast DKWC. Or interested in even more Swahili culture and history? Finish off your trip with some time in mystic Zanzibar. Please see Zanzibar Discovery TDTZDN.
StartFinish	Mombasa to Dar es Salaam
Transport	Public bus, Public minivan, 7-seat 4x4 Safari vehicle(s), Taxis.
Brochure Intro	Explore the historic Swahili coast of East Africa. Snorkel in the Indian Ocean, view unique wildlife in the hills above Mombasa, venture into local villages for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and conclude your voyage in Dar es Salaam, a great jumping-off point for a visit to the historic Zanzibar.

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-08-06	2008-08-15	7+
2008-10-08	2008-10-17	7+
2008-10-29	2008-11-07	7+
2008-11-19	2008-11-28	7+
2008-12-10	2008-12-19	7+
2008-12-31	2009-01-09	7+
2009-01-21	2009-01-30	7+
2009-02-11	2009-02-20	7+
2009-03-04	2009-03-13	7+
2009-03-25	2009-04-03	7+

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