African Kenya Water Sports - 5 Most Popular Kenya Sports in Shimoni

Shimoni & Wasini Vacation Island

The village of Shimoni sits at the tip of a peninsula about 76km south of Likoni. Dhow trips to Wasini Island and Kisite Marine National Park have become a big industry here, and every morning in high season a convoy of coaches arrives carrying tourists from the resorts at Diani Beach. The trips are well run, but you can easily organise your own trip directly with the boat men.

It's worth waiting until the day trippers have gone home to explore Shimoni, as the dusty streets have their own unique atmosphere outside tourist times. Villagers have opened up the old slave caves as a tourist attraction with a custodian who'll take you around the dark caverns to illustrate this little-discussed part of east African history.

Actual evidence that slaves were kept here is a little thin, but as the pile of empty votive rose water bottles indicates, even today the site definitely has significance for more superstitious locals.

Wasini Island, too, becomes even more appealing in the peace of the evening. There are no roads or running water and the only electricity comes from generators. There are several worthwhile things to see, including some ancient Swahili ruins and the coral gardens, a bizarre landscape of exposed coral reefs with board walk for viewing. Most people come here on organised dhow trips from Diani.

Kisite Marine National Park

Just off the south coast of Wasini Island, this marine park is one of the best in Kenya, also incorporating the Mpunguti Marine national Reserve. The park covers 28 sq km of pristine coral reefs and offers excellent diving and snorkeling. You have a reasonable chance of seeing dolphins in the Shimoni channel, and the humpback whales are sometimes spotted between august and October.

There are various organised trips to the marine park but these tend to be outside ventures and don't always contribute a great deal to the local community. Its easy to organise your own boat trip with a local captain-the going rate is Kshs 1500 per person or 6,000 per boat including lunch and a walk in the coral gardens on Wasini Island.

Masks and snorkels can be hired for Kshs 200 (fins are discouraged as they may damage the coral reef).

A good place to start looking for a boat-man is at the office of KWS which is about 200m south of the main pier, where you'll also have to come to pay the entry fee. The best time to dive and snorkel is between October and March. Avoid diving in July and August because of rough seas and poor visibility.

5 Top Kenya Water Safari Sports and Activities

1. Snorkeling and Diving

Masks and snorkels are available for rent on the beach for Kshs 100. You'll need a boat to get out to the reef. Most trips to the park provide their own snorkeling gear. Certified divers can take dives with local tour companies, or more expensively at the coral reef Lodge or Pemba channel fishing club. Dive courses and longer scuba safaris are also possible in the Pemba channel.

2. Deep sea fishing

The Pemba channel is famous for deep-sea fishing, and Pemba channel fishing club holds over 50% of Kenya's marlin- fishing records. Boats cost from USD 500 for nine hours (valid for up to four fishers). This company promotes tag and release which I strongly encourage as an eco-friendly measure.

3. Diving Tours in Shimoni on Kenya coast

Various companies offer organised dhow tours for snorkeling, all leaving Shimoni by 9am. Transfers from North -and south- coast hotels are available. (US$10 TO 20), and longer trips with overnights stays can also be arranged. Children pay half the adult price. Certified divers can take one/two scuba dives for an extra US$30/50 with any of these companies.

4. Swimming with Dolphins in Kenya Coast

The friends of Kenya Dolphins have set up the Dolphin Dhow, a dolphin -spotting and snorkeling trip around Wasini Island. The dhow leaves from Shimoni jetty at 8.45am daily and costs US$75. The price includes snorkeling equipment, drinks, a Swahili seafood lunch and the marine park fees.

5. Kisite Dhow Tours

The Kisite dhow tours runs a popular eco-tourist snorkeling trips to the marine park, including a nature walk on Wasini and a very good seafood lunch at Charlie's claw's original Wasini Island restaurant. Trips cost US$ 55 from Shimoni jetty, or US$ 75 with breakfast, drinks and visits to the coral gardens and slave caves.

6. Pilli-Pipa

This is another expat-owned company offering full day trips. The price is US$80 from Shimoni, including lunch, park fees, snorkeling and drinks. Diving trips are available at US$ 130/$145 for one/two dives.

7. Paradise Divers

Based in Diani also offers similar trips for US$ 80.

Robert is a travel expert with Landmarksafaris.com Degreed in tourism management, he has authored more than 1000 articles on Kenya East Africa travel. Dig out other bizarre Kenya water sports here: http://www.landmarksafaris.com/tours/beach.php

African Safari Destination - Fishing and Water Sports, Lake Tanganyika, Zambia

Although Lake Tanganyika is of great importance to Zambia, only a small tip of the lake is actually within its borders. This small tip is enough to make it a Zambian adventure holiday destination built around fishing and water based activities. The lake serves a greater purpose too - it provides a real port to an otherwise landlocked country, providing a key link to Tanzania and Burundi. The result is that this part of Zambia has a very distinctive feel about it, a kind of tropical, exotic Central African feel if there is such a thing!

Geographically the lake is of great interest to scientists since it is the deepest of Central Africa's rift valley lakes with its deepest point about 1,470m. It is 34,000km2 with tropical surface waters with an average 26 degrees Celsius. The area of specific interest for researchers is the colder water far below the penetration of natural light and the even deeper water that is deprived of oxygen.

Fishing is the main activity to be found here - over 450 different species have been found in the lake! Lake Tanganyika is renowned for the sheer variety of fish that can be caught here. Anglers come here in search of the goliath tiger fish, nkupi and Nile perch and anglers will be glad to know that a single visit can result in catching a dozen different fish species. The best time to fish here is between November and March and people come to fish by rod and line with fly fishing becoming more popular. The annual fishing competition held in March is also a great attraction where you will be warmly welcomed.

Water based activities include snorkelling and diving due to the lakes large number of magnificently coloured fish found in quite shallow waters. Visibility is known to vary but it is known to be as good as 10-20m in some areas. A series of cliffs and drop offs between Sumbu and Mpulungu are well known by divers and prove very popular.

Part and parcel of water sports are the risks, many of which can be avoided. The Tanganyika water cobra which can grow up to 2m is venomous but non aggressive. Many visitors fear crocodiles and hippos but the rocky shores, clear water and lack of hiding cover discourage these from the lake although they are not unseen. They are more commonly encountered near the mouths of rivers and in the quieter parts of the Sumbu National Park. Crocodiles and hippos are known but localised. There is also the possibility of Bilharzia but there is much doubt about its existence here. Following such information some visitors may not step foot in the sparkling waters but exploration of authentic natural environments does not come with buttons to control it! The reality is people swim, fish and explore Lake Tanganyika on a daily basis and come to no harm. The trick is to ask your guides, lodge owners and the locals who know the area well.

There is a growing number of lake side lodges dotting the shoreline but what is attractive is that they still 'dot' the shoreline not take it over. Visits here are still very authentic, perfect for the traveller with an eye for the real thing and a mind for exploration. You will get comfort and luxury here but you can't control the nature that surrounds you and that is the beauty of it.

Note: If you wish to publish this article on your website, blog, etc. you can as long as the article remains in its full entirety; including the links and the author resource box.

Sara Brown is instrumental in the running of the Best of Zambia site (http://www.thebestofzambia.com), a website dedicated to putting Zambia on the map by creating a strong internet presence and successfully promoting Zambia and those operating in Zambia.

This site will help potential visitors to Zambia reasearch this beautiful country, find the perfect holiday in Zambia, plan their trip and send out enquiries. As the site develops it will have useful links to the international development sector, commercial and investment opportunities and, local businesses and services.

Our mission is to ensure the best of Zambia site becomes THE information hub for all things Zambia.

You can learn more about the Best of Zambia and how you can benefit from our products and services at our constantly updated website, http://www.thebestofzambia.com

Zambia is stunning and tourism is increasing. Despite this many would prefer Zambia to stay exactly as it is - a place that is fascinating, a rich resource of natural habitat and animals that few other people visit. As we promote Zambia, we ask that you respect its resources and people and help to preserve it - be a thoughtful visitor.