Basecamp Swalihina
Swalihina is a traditional dhow, 56 feet long and 18 feet wide
- your Basecamp when you enjoy luxurious sailing in the Indian Ocean
A few years ago a beautiful old dhow, the Swalihina, was bound for destruction. It now sails the coast of Lamu, bringing Basecamp guests to its traditional waters and culture. This is the result of a successful “Tourism for Development” project, run by Basecamp Explorer I partnership with the National Museum of Kenya, the Nordic World Heritage Foundation (UNESCO), and the Stroemme Foundation.
Together we have started and now run a dhow construction and restoration school on Lamu, employing local craftsmen and training local youth. The school generates income and preserves traditional skills. Our goal is to have the school create a fleet of dhows, manned with local crews, and to make dhow sailing programs a sustainable tourism product for the international market.
The project also supports cultural exchange, by hosting traditional boat builders from abroad, and inviting partners to join and contribute – the sails are for example provided by Elvstrøm in Denmark.
