KENYA - WATER SAFARIS


INTRODUCTION

My 'Water Safaris' category will undoubtedly grow in leaps and strides as opportunities for recreational water sports abound in East Africa. Not surprising taking into consideration that East Africa has an extensive coastline, not to mention numerous islands dotted offshore. Launching this category with in-depth sections on scuba diving, snorkelling, deep-sea fishing, fresh water fishing and dhow trips, I will shortly be including white water rafting and a host of other water adventures. As always every product on African Travel Review has and always will be vetted before inclusion so be sure to keep checking for exciting new additions, current, factual and interesting write-ups on a fantastic assortment of water adventures.


Deep Sea Fishing

Some of the most exhilarating and challenging deep-sea fishing is available in the blue waters off the East Coast of Africa. The fishing season starts in August through to March when the 'Kaskazi' winds blow providing the best fishing conditions with warm, calm waters however the East African coast is also renowned as an 'All Year Round' fishing destination, holding many of the 'All Africa,' as well as International fishing records. Top of every deep sea fisherman's list is to bring in a record breaking Marlin, often referred to as the 'Royal Family' within fishing circles, and the three species which frequent these waters include Black, Blue and Striped Marlin. Record catches include Kenya's first Grander, a 1274lb Black Marlin and the high standard of professionalism associated with this field within East Africa has ensured its continual place within the International record books. Sailfish are by far the most common billfish found off the East African coast, however Broadbill (who rise to the bait between dusk and dawn) offer an exciting alternative.

'Tag & release' (monitored through the International Billfish Foundation) has become a popular option whereby fish brought up to the boat are tagged and a certificate with the fisherman details, species, approximate fish weight and serial number is issued; and record-breaking billfish tagged in Australia have been hooked off these shores. High leaping Mako and Big Tigers are commonly sought after within the Shark family, and a Great White weighing over 2500kgs (which was caught by a local fisherman in 1998) proves that there are many international record breaking fish out there waiting to be caught! Fishing opportunities are limitless and don't end there. Great fighters such as the Yellow fin Tuna, Kingfish, Barracuda, Fulusi, Wahoo and Giant Trevally (to name but a few) make up the picture, providing the angler with some of the most enjoyable, varied and competitive fishing in the world.





Scuba Diving

Diving opportunities within East Africa are as diverse as they are numerous, making the choice of where to go and who to chose from all the more difficult. Here I have listed the best dive sites in East Africa, providing interesting information for both the serious scuba diver and novice alike. In addition I have had great fun checking the top scuba diving schools/clubs along the East African Coast (which manage courses from beginners to specialised) providing the best quality equipment and tutors/dive guides. Not many people know that East Africa does not have a Coast Guard Rescue Service. A fully functional recompression chamber in Mombasa, annually checked by the U.S. Navy, is available and both Diani on Kenya's South Coast and Mombasa Island to the north have fully equipped hospitals and emergency facilities. It is essential that you dive with professionals who know the local waters and adhere to international safety procedures. Enjoy East Africa's blue waters and DIVE SAFE.

click here to view best dive sites!





Snorkeling, Dhow & Sailing Safaris

Opportunities for snorkelling are immense primarily in Kenya and Tanzania with their extensive coastlines, be it mainland East Africa or off shore islands. Many operators offering day excursions incorporate the adventure with Dhows, traditional sea vessels that have been used by Arab traders for centuries, still used to this day for trading up and down the length of the East African coast. Seeped in history they are robust, usually large, seaworthy vessels, with large flowing masts and an extensive deck perfect for watching the world go by! Itineraries available vary from snorkelling trips, off some of East Africa's exotic islands with superb lunches, to dhow trips combining a sailing trip through the extensive mangrove swamps found inland with visits to historical and traditional sites of interest, or simply floating restaurants. Take a look at our pick of the best. There are a lot of bogus operators 'out there' so its worth making sure you choose a recognised operator for your special excursion, and that's what Travel Reviews here for.





Fresh Water Fishing

If you've ever seen an Arial shot of East Africa you'll notice what stands out the most is the maze of rivers and lakes that zig zag across the length and breathe of it, making it the perfect destination for Fresh Water Fishing. The crystal clear rivers of Mt. Kenya and Kilimanjaro provide some of the most thrilling trout fishing there is; whilst Lake Turkana (often referred to as the Jade Sea) offers fantastic Nile Perch fishing. Along with Lake Victoria, record Nile Perch over 300kgs have been caught from these lakes, bringing alive a whole new concept to the sport of 'fresh water' fishing! Here we begin with trout fishing within the magical forests of Mt. Kenya but be sure to keep visiting this category because there's heaps more exciting fishing opportunities coming up.