Madagascar Dhow Trips and holidays


Dhow trips are becoming one of the most popular ways to spend your Madagascar holiday. Dhow safaris and dhow trips are a fantastic way to explore Madagascar with your friends, family and loved ones! Imagine travelling along the warm tropical waters of Madagascar, stopping off to snorkel and unwind, travelling from island to island… all aboard a traditional dhow… it can only be paradise.

Jenman Island Safaris recently commissioned the building of another dhow which is used exclusively for our Dhow Camping Trip around the islands of Nosy Be. Our dhow (already made and in use) was crafted from indigenous timber with the help of local people who helped aid the construction.  

The design of Jenman's dhow (one of the factors that make our dhow holidays so popular) 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 and dhows. 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.

Madagascar dhow trips and Madagascar dhow safaris are always a favourite way to spend your holiday. The waters are magical and travelling aboard a dhow is a truly spectacular experience. Besides having a fantastic holiday you will also be supporting eco-tourism in Madagascar which we feel is very important! Below are some aspects of how our dhow trips are helping Madagascar…

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 on our Madagascar dhow safaris and dhow trips. 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 dhow 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 or a dhow safari, 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 Island Safaris makes sure our clients visit local villages, restaurants and local markets, especially the markets of Nosy Komba and Nosy Be – this is all done on our dhow camping trip and has become one of the highlights.

We treat the cultural heritage of Madagascar 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.

Click on the below video clip to hear what John Maytham had to say about his Madagascar holiday: he went on a tailor-made package that consisted of our North Adventure and our Madagascar dhow:

 

  

TOURS

Madagascar Dhow Bungalow and Camping Trip

Madagascar dhow holidays are a great way to spend your time exploring Madagascar. Hop aboard our Dhow Island Hopping bungalow and camping holiday adventure as we explore Madagascar, the beaches, the culture and relax on the warm tropical waters of Madagascar.

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Contact Us

Click here or call us:
Within South Africa:
0861 JENMAN
(0861 536 626)
UK: 0871 284 5010
 US & Canada Toll Free:
1866 487 4323
Rest of the World:
+27 21 683 7826
Australia Toll Free:
1800 140 835

 

Tailor-made Madagascar

Jenman Island Safaris specialises in individual or group Madagascar holidays and will gladly design tailor-made tours for your special interests in Madagascar – from beach holidays to lemur trips! 

 

Click here to contact us for your Madagascar vacation!