Sailing and Beach Holidays in Africa
We can offer some wonderful sailing holidays and yachting as an alternative to a beach holiday in Africa. A private yacht is a different way to explore the islands of Africa, privacy for you and your friends as well as flexibility and fun! If one scuba dives or likes just to snorkel, yacht charter can be perfect as boats often come complete with dive equipment and dive master. Days are spent exploring different islands; it is really gorgeous. We can organise yacht charter around Madagascar, on Lake Malawi and on the coast of East Africa as well as deep-water around the Indian Ocean. East African charter trips can be short; for example from Zanzibar’s Stone Town to the top of the island. Given that the whole Swahili civilisation is built on sailing and that Zanzibar is the heart of Swahili culture, there could be no better way to explore these scattered tropical islands than by boat. Gliding past a wooden jahazi shipping cloves to Muscat, meeting a colourful family aboard their dhow, swopping fish-talk with a passing ngalawa, sending the local kids out for clams and mussels … this shows you a side of Zanzibari life that you won’t see in any hotel or resort. It allows you to explore secluded beaches, uninhabited islands, remote dive locations and wrecks. And it happens to be great fun, thanks in no small part to the excellent, laid-back company of Olaf and Sonja. Alternately, take the vessel for three nights or more either around Zanzibar or point-to-point, perhaps Lamu/Dar es Salaam via Zanzibar, or Dar/Kiwayu, or Dar or Lamu down to the Mozambique coast. One of the best sailing holidays in Africa is from Dar es Salaam to Vamizi in Mozambique. One of the absolute best charters is “Midsummer”, a 34 metre ex Baltic trader and herring fishing vessel which, magnificently refitted and rebuilt, retains all the glory and feel of the days when she was originally launched in 1910. There are just three cabins, for six guests. There are six crew. One can be either entirely proactive and help to sail this fine schooner or just relax and be pampered. She is also, perhaps surprisingly, perfect for children as she is safe (high sided) and has lots to do, from rope splicing to snorkelling. In Madagascar, there are some superb sailing trips around Nosy Be on a six berth catamaran which is fully staffed with three crew. Again, one spends the time diving, snorkelling and exploring unspoilt beaches. Please contact us for your sailing holiday in Africa.
