Shimoni – Swimming with Dolphins
How can I put into words what this day was like – well here goes, I will give it a try.
We had booked to go on a short break to Kenya, as we live in Dubai it’s only a short flight which suits me as I hate flying.
Prior to leaving I was browsing on the ... Read review
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How can I put into words what this day was like – well here goes, I will give it a try.
We had booked to go on a short break to Kenya, as we live in Dubai it’s only a short flight which suits me as I hate flying.
Prior to leaving I was browsing on the internet and found some interesting information about swimming with Dolphins in the Indian Ocean and logged onto the company’s ... ...guarantees here that you will see or swim with Dolphins but they do state that they have a 95%+ success rate. Good enough for me I wanted to book.
You can book directly with the company either by fax, telephone or e-mail and payment can be made in advance or print out the booking forms and pay when you arrive in Kenya at your hotel. When you book directly with Dolphin Dhow you also get 20% discount and a free t-shirt.
The cost ... more
Shimoni – Swimming with Dolphins
How can I put into words what this day was like – well here goes, I will give it a try.
We had booked to go on a short break to Kenya, as we live in Dubai it’s only a short flight which suits me as I hate flying. Prior to leaving I was browsing on the internet and found some interesting information about swimming with Dolphins in the Indian Ocean and logged onto the company’s website: www.dolphindhow.com to find out more. There are no guarantees here that you will see or swim with Dolphins but they do state that they have a 95%+ success rate. Good enough for me I wanted to book.
You can book directly with the company either by fax, telephone or e-mail and payment can be made in advance or print out the booking forms and pay when you arrive in Kenya at your hotel. When you book directly with Dolphin Dhow you also get 20% discount and a free t-shirt. The cost is roughly £40 with the discount, £50 - £55 without and depending on the exchange rates you are using. Children under 12 pay half this amount.
David and Margie started the company in October 1996 after they discovered the dolphins by accident while out on a rented boat. They joined up with Tim from the UK and Mwamburi from Kenya and had a local craftsman build their first sailing dhow with outboard motor. Now they are a successful business with 2 dhows who take small groups out for day trips around the Kisiti Marine Park and Reserve in the Indian Ocean.
We were staying at The Southern Palms Beach Resort on Diani Beach and only 1 hrs drive away from Shimoni (Swahili word for – Place of caves) where the Dolphin Dhow is located. Shimoni is about an 80km drive south of Mombassa.
Valentines Day 2004
We were collected from the hotel at 7.30am and started our journey to Shimoni in a Hi-Ace mini bus. The driver was excellent pointing out places of interest on the way and stopping by the coconut and cashew nut grooves and also the tea fields which come the rainy season are completely immersed in water for some months. We arrived at the Dolphin Dhow at around 8.45am. After being introduced to the crew you are taken by small motor boat to the waiting dhow, there were 22 of us in total including the crew. You are then given a brief talk on how your day will progress and a lovely cup of tea then follows. We set sail and everybody’s eyes are peeled on the lookout for the Dolphins. We arrived at a beautifully serene inlet where we could go snorkeling through the amazing coral reef that we were told had been compared with the Great Barrier Reef and The Red Sea. Don’t be put of if you haven’t snorkeled or don’t swim as they have a motor boat with big buckets. ‘Big buckets’ I hear you say! Yes they have cut the bottoms of them and fixed clear thick plastic so that you can hang over the side and enjoy the beauty of the coral reef and its marine life. Truly amazing. 1 hour later it’s back on the dhow for light refreshments and fruit.
The motor boat sped of at this point and we found out later it was of to see if it could spot the Dolphins. Not much later it came over the radio that they were there about 5 kilometers in front of us. Disappointment followed when we arrived and were told we couldn’t get in the water as the Dolphins were feeding, and it is too dangerous. We waited what seemed like an eternity and all of a sudden they started leaping out the water and swimming up to and all around the dhow. It was play time! Everybody that wanted to swim was asked to make their way down to the motor boat where we were taken out in front of the Dolphins and slid into the Indian Ocean to swim back towards the 60 or so Dolphins. They were swimming through us under us round us and it was well.......... Awesome to say the least. We were in and out of the motor boat some 5 or 6 times, I lost count in the end. Always racing ahead of the Dolphins and slipping back into the water to swim with them, you are asked not to dive into the water as it scares the Dolphins. I can’t explain what I was feeling sadness, excitement, tingling, crying. Valentines Day has been a very sad time for me in that my dear little brother had been killed in a freak accident in 1997 and was buried on Valentines Day, and here I was swimming with humpback, spotted and bottlenose Dolphins. Beautiful creatures that my brother also loved.
Tired smiling faces got back onto the dhow almost an hour and a half later for a lunch of Crabs, Fish, Rice, Chapattis and tomato salad, with a coconut sauce to die for, followed by tropical fruits, tea, coffee, beer, wine and a good variety of soft drinks and water. This is all included in the price you pay, really good value I would say.
The return trip to shore was very quiet, I think most people just wanted to be alone with their own thoughts at what we had just experienced, for me I just lazed in Jim’s arms and was thankful that I had been blessed with such a moving experience. Wild and free Dolphins had chosen to let me swim with them.
Kenya is undoubtedly a beautiful country - but I want to tell you about the Kenya that not many people go and see. The Kenya I visited for part of my time over Christmas 2001.
**A BUSMAN’S HOLIDAY** The whole purpose of my visit to Kenya was work related – my antics on holiday only came about because if I’m owed holiday I may as well take it while I’m there as who knows the next time I’ll be able to get there. Bite the bullet, as they say, and do ... ...three weeks work I was ready for a break… I work for the church in the UK and went to see how the church works in a different country. I spent my first two weeks there with a Pastor called Julius – who lived in a very nice little apartment, but who hadn’t been paid for four months as there was no money to pay him. His family lived a five hour drive away as his wife worked in a hospital and he didn’t have enough money to make the journey up-country ...
Critchyboy 14.02.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Kenya
Advantages: The wild life Disadvantages: The roads
It was eight years ago that I went to Kenya but the memories are just as fresh as they were when I was there.
It was my honeymoon which did get off to a bit of a bad start (for more info on this see my op don’t let fear win) but the holiday did more than make up for it. A couple of months before I went to Kenya I had to get so jabs. One for yellow fever my arm hurt like hell for about a week, one for typhoid and your usual tetanus jab I also had ... ...drops of brown liquid that is put on a spoon and you drink it. It is the most decussating thing I have ever tasted I now know why babies cry when they get it. After that I got all my packing done got married and off I went by myself. I arrived at the airport in Nairobi and was met by my husband then we were off in a mini bus to our first port of call. The first thing I noticed when I stepped out of the airport was the heat. It’s rather strange getting ...
nona1661 11.05.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Kenya
***KENYA***
Geography
----------------
Kenya is in east Africa situated on the equator. It shares its borders with Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Sudan. Kenya is a very varied country in terms of its geography. You will find all of the following:
* Tropical white sandy beaches with coral reefs (situated on the Indian Ocean).
* Arid and semi-desert landscapes.
* Highland areas (Mount Kenya).
* Fertile areas (Lake Victoria Basin).
... ...tropical climate on the coast with an average temperature of 30C. The coastal areas usually benefit from a nice breeze. There is conflicting information available on the rainy seasons if you look on the Internet, however long rains can usually be expected from April until June. Short rains can be experienced from July to September. However, I visited Kenya in the month of August and it only rained once for a very short period (albeit very heavy), ...
HannahBoo 13.05.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Kenya
Advantages: Lots of people have been, but there is plenty more to see Disadvantages: the danger aspect- Just be sensible- it minimises the risks!
Having been brought up in Kenya, I'm pretty sure I know it inside out! They say once you have been there is always a place for it in your heart! Kenya does have everything to offer; from gorgeous beaches, to luxiouriously forested mountains, African bush land and desert. When going to the coast, most tourists head off to the simple and deffinate success of Mombasa, all very well; but not the ultimate African beach experiences. Due to being linked ... ...the purest sand, and bluest water, Malindi or Watamu is a safer bet. Mombasa hosts some night life; nothing compared to English clubbing, but deffinate entertainment- washed down by a couple of Tusker's! It is sometimes difficult to find out about the clubs; the most popular is Pirates- everybody has been there. It's very easy to get too and from clubs; just get a taxi, but watch out for the ones smoking ganja at the same time! Check the price before ...
princess_tallulah 06.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Kenya
Advantages: Too many to list here - see review Disadvantages: Been quite a lot of trouble there this year
I was just looking back at my photos from my holiday in Kenya last year and felt compelled to write about the wonderful places we stayed and attractions we visited. It feels like being back at school having to write about holidays we went on!!
I went to Kenya last June with my Mum, her fiancee and my little sister (well not so little at 23!). Mum and my now step dad were getting married out there are took me and my sister out to celebrate with them. ... ...on going, especially having to leave my husband behind for 2 weeks, however, I really wanted the chance to celebrate my Mum's wedding and who can turn down a free holiday!
We went with First Choice from Manchester airport. The flight is about 8 hours but it really doesn't feel that long if you take advantage of the movies and other in flight entertainment.
If you are thinking of holidaying in Kenya I would strongly recommend choosing First Choice ...
shadsy1982 22.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Kenya
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Airlines from Africa don't exactly have a good reputation. There are certainly a lot who don't do much to help their image - irregular schedules, sullen staff, tatty planes, delays and worse.
Amongst these there are a few who do seem to have a much better reputation, and one of them is Kenya Airways. "The Pride of Africa", they call themselves. They are generally well regarded, their image is friendly and they are also endorsed by a leading European airline - they are affiliated to KLM.
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Kenya Airways
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