Dhow trips

All tours to the marine park are organized on dhows. Traditional in design, little has changed over 1000 years of sailing and building them. The Lateen sail, a simple yet masterful stroke by the original designers is perfectly adapted to the monsoon winds and sailing conditions of the western Indian Ocean.

The wood is regularly attended to by boat craftsmen, who cork the timbers using cotton, soaked in fish oils to keep them essentially dry. The design of the traditional dhow was to carry cargo along the east African coastline and as such they have a bulky wide middle for cargo. In converting them to passenger boats this has suited conditions perfectly, as the decks are wide and spacious
and allow some movement on deck for guests, and plenty of room below for an engine, fuel tanks, water, even fitted toilets on the larger dhows.
Shade is usually available, permanently over the back of the boat covering the skippers nest and a bit more, often up until the mast. If it rains, a simple canvass rain protection is looped over and around the sail and mast rigging, offering immediate shelter.

Drinks are generally available on board with some tours including them and with others you pay extra as you consume. If you take a private boat trip you can fill your cooler box with whatever you like of course. 
As the day progresses, traditional monsoon winds pick up, and so by midday it’s often possible to close down the engine and sail back to port in a way that has remained unchanged.
The crews are very encouraging, and invite guests to help them. A lot of fun and educational if you are interested in sailing boats. If you want to rent a dhow for a private trip for a group of friends or party, then you have a selection of sizes, and types. Best to contact us on availability and more details.

Private parties, who want the flexibility to explore the entire archipelago, and stop at all the islands, have the advantage with a private boat hire. With the shallow draft, they can enter very close to the islands and drop off and pick up easily at most tides, even low tides.

Although the finest snorkeling is no doubt in the marine park island zone around Kisite, the other islands of inner Pengutti, and outer Pengutti make for excellent exploration, and walkabouts.

You will in all probability always find yourself alone on them, as the organized tours do not stop here.

Inner Pengutti island always has some sand on one side depending on the monsoon, and so it’s a idyllic place to stop and pick-nick, swim alone, and imagine truly what it is like to be marooned for a few hours on an a tropical island.