Ngalawa Race

Dhow is a very general name that includes Jahazi, Mashua, boti and the famous Ngalawa. While the focus has often been on the bigger Dhows very little is said about the ngalawas.

The Zanzibaris are hugely dependant on fishing and the Ngalawas play a chief role in this, a dugout canoe, virtually made out of a big old mango tree for its main part, sometimes these vessels change hands between generations.
Whether you are in Jambiani, Nungwi, Matemwe, Makunduchi or Kizimkazi, it is hard not to notice as they elegantly come to the shore after a night long at sea.

There is a Swahili saying that goes like: “Kazi na dawa” something in the lines of work hard, play even harder. And who said that the fishermen were destined to nights at sea and days in bed?

They are ready to have some fun and get a little extra while doing it.
We have teamed up with the people of Jambiani to organize a unique day to be remembered, whereby a group of friends or travellers form small groups and compete by racing against each other and they then get a big price. We need a minimum of 10 people for the Ngalawa race to run.