Head to any beach in Tanzania, and most likely, the visitor will encounter a dhow.
These iconic vessels plough the jagged coastline. A closer look shows their long, thin hulls and inverse scimitar-shaped sails synonymous with Arabian seafaring. This one, its crew rendered laconic by the pervasive heat, patrols Jambiani beach on Zanzibar. They have a simple premise. Namely, cruise along the sands and give tourists a taste of life on the open water.
These sleek wooden crafts pierce the waves with ease. They navigate the water with little effort to speak of. But such grace comes only with a nautical feel and salt in the blood. A passer-by, buoyed by the relaxed thrust of the dhow through the waves, would surely falter if put in charge of such a craft. Best leave it to the experts and enjoy the ride instead.
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In the grand scheme of things, the bigger ships partake in grander expeditions. Classically, dhows are trading vessels. In Tanzania’s case, anecdotal evidence has them crossing the ocean nightly from the islands of Zanzibar or Pemba to Bagamoyo, with cargo ranging from cigarettes to livestock. Boats go much further than this, but there’s one salient fact to consider: dhows only use their sails. With no concessions to modernisation or the use of technology, here is a craft that harkens back to an altogether more traditional time.
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