Dhow Travel in Madagascar
Jenman Island Safaris has commissioned the building of another dhow to use exclusively for our Dhow Camping Trip around the islands of Nosy Be. Once again, Mohamed, the original skipper of the first dhow, will be involved in crafting this vessel from indigenous timber and using local people from Nosy Be to aid in the construction. Although the bulk of the engineering is still done by hand, this project will be assisted with power tools to speed up the process so that the dhow is ready to launch by April 2007.
The design of Jenman's dhow is based on the traditional lateen (Latina). A lateen (from a la trina, meaning triangular) is a triangular sail set on a long yardarm mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction. Originally found on sailing ships, the lateen is used today in a slightly different form on small boats. The lateen rig is believed to have been in use for at least 2,000 years in its European history. It was first introduced by the Romans in the 3rd century, and later widely used by Byzantines and Arabs. It is quite common in the Mediterranean, the upper Nile, and the Indian Ocean, where it is the standard rig for feluccas and dhows.
The design of Jenman's dhow is based on the traditional Latina dhow
Jenman Island Safaris is committed to supporting the eco-tourism efforts in Madagascar and as such, utilizes resources from the island as much as possible. For example, on our Dhow Camping Trip, the following is strictly adhered to. On arrival in Madagascar, the clients are picked up and transferred to the boat making use of local taxi drivers. 100% of the employees on the dhow are from Madagascar/Nosy Be, thereby supporting local business. In off season, from January to March when the cyclones make it impossible to arrange a dhow trip, all the staff are sent to a school to learn English and French.
100% of the products to prepare meals for our clients are purchased locally and all recipes are Malagasy. All the furniture used on both dhows is also sourced from local craftspeople. Jenman African Safaris makes sure our clients visit local villages, restaurants and local markets, especially the markets of Nosy Komba and Nosy Be.
We treat the cultural heritage with respect and inform our clients about local customs, fady (taboos) and traditions as well as appropriate behaviour before and while travelling. We also ensure that tourists ask permission to take photographs or to videotape people. To minimize impact on the environment, we make sure that any rubbish produced comes back onto the dhow and is not left behind on the islands. For cooking purposes we make use of gas instead of wood. We don’t put up harsh lights on the campsite as it may impact on local people and wildlife. We also minimise the use of water and energy, making sure to stay in accommodation making use of solar power.
TOURS
Madagascar Dhow Island Hopping
Jenman Island Safaris brings you our special Madagascar Dhow Island Hopping adventure, enjoy a Dhow trip from island to island in Madagascar.
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Contact Us
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Within South Africa:
0861 JENMAN
(0861 536 626)
UK: 0871 720 2011
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1888 219 8162
Rest of the World:
+27 21 683 7826
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Tailor-made Travel in Madagascar
Jenman Island Safaris specialises in individual or group holidays and will gladly design tailor-made tours for your special interests and needs.
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