Tusitiri Dhow

Outdoor Adventures in Lamu

Tusitiri Dhow: The Enasoit Collection

For many centuries now, Lamu has been a reputable seafaring community with an annalect of local songs and fables extracting of their traditional dhows sailing to as far as Arabia and India. Lamu Island is the home of the jahazi, sometimes alluded to as dau or dhow, which dominate the coastline all day long. Hour after hour, the channel linking Lamu and Manda Islands is liven up with dashing dhows, standing much higher over the seaduction of mashua, with a superstructure volume allied to the sheer design and well matched lines forming a swanking sight, liting up the faces of locals and visitors alike with impish glee as they sail majestically. Whoa!

Rather magisterial, each leaves in its wake a timeless image of the past, present and future. Among Lamu’s finest is Tusitiri Dhow. In the late 1980s, a Norwegian family, the Astrups, found Tusitiri’s forlorn skeleton on a beach and, well, opted to rebuild it, calling on local experts to help put the vessel back together. It’s now a large spiffing dhow. It measures 65 feet from the almond-shaped bow to stern, with a deck polished to a rich patina, and moves with surprising grace and speed; seven sailors are needed to raise anchor and hoist its imposing sails. Tusitiri has ventured as far south as the Quirimbas archipelago in northern Mozambique, but is usually based in Lamu, where the conditions are ideal for sailing and adventure.

With her Zanzibar flair, Swahili textiles and freshly caught, deftly refined seafood, few on-board experiences can shimmer so close to the historical tradition of boat travel as this one [Tusitiri Dhow]. It offers holiday-makers multi day passages as well as one or half day voyages from Lamu. All Tusitiri Dhow expeditions, half day, one or more days, are booked on exclusive terms and tailor-made for each sea adventure depending on traveller’s interests as well as the season and the tides.


Thanks to its diverse landscape, Kenya offers a wide range of outdoor adventures. Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak, offers various climbing routes. Experience a unique perspective of Kenya’s wildlife and landscapes with a hot air balloon safari over Masai Mara. At the coast, enjoy activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, kite surfing, and boat tours to explore coral reefs and marine life.


Lamu County is one of Kenya’s most unique and enchanting regions, known for its rich Swahili culture, pristine beaches, and UNESCO-listed heritage. Located on the northern coast of Kenya, it consists of a group of islands (Lamu, Manda, Pate, and Kiwayu) and a stretch of mainland coastline. Lamu Island in particular is more than just a destination—it’s a living piece of Swahili history and coastal paradise.

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What’s The Air Like In Lamu?

Lamu County lies along the Equatorial Climate System, enjoying two rainy seasons and temperatures between 24°C and 30°C year round – Hottest in December & April

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