Two shirtless men with dark skin and short hair stand behind a wooden table, smiling at the camera while cutting food with knives.
The image depicts a small sailboat with a tall mast and a flag, floating on a large body of water under a clear blue sky.
The image depicts three individuals standing outside a doorway, with one person smoking a cigarette, surrounded by cooking equipment and a water filter, in a worn and weathered setting.
The image depicts a rustic wooden structure with a thatched roof, surrounded by trees and a sandy ground, featuring a person standing in the background.
The image depicts three men on a small boat in the water, with a serene background of a body of water and a clear blue sky.
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Help build a tree house and learn to sail a dhow in Lamu, Kenya

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Jambo, we are two best friends Aboud and Abrare and we would love for you to come and join us on our shamba (land) and share life with us!

    We are from Lamu, our home. Lamu is a town of joy and culture. Our shamba is in-between the towns of Lamu and Shela, approximately 30 minutes walk from Lamu.

    The shamba is changing all the time. Currently we have built one permanent house and two tree houses and we are in the process of building a third tree house. The land is covered by sand so we are planting trees and other shrubs to make the area more stable. We have access to a bore hole for water and have dug a tank for toilet waste.

    Apart from the shamba we have our beautiful dhow (boat), Sabrina. We take people on tours on the boat, wherever they want to go.

    Living with us on our shamba is our friend Francis, George and his baby Ivan and our dog Niga who has just had puppies 😀

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Babysitting and creative play
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    While travellers stay with us, we want to learn and share in our experiences with people from other cultures. We can show you the Lamu life, including eating traditional swahili food, meeting our family and friends, playing traditional games, attending cultural events, going out on our dhow, fishing, swimming...

  • Help

    Help

    Life in Lamu is slow and we are very relaxed when it comes to volunteer responsibility. There are many things we like to work on during a day-to-day basis and it is your choice what you choose to contribute to.

    Some examples of things we need help with

    - building new tree house for guests/volunteers
    - securing the sand on the shamba by planting trees
    - fixing/cleaning/maintaining our boat (here, our boats are called 'dhows')
    - cooking
    - language exchange
    - imagining new ideas for the shamba :)
    - helping us as a crew on the dhow, we will show you how to sail a traditional dhow and you will then be responsible for different aspects of sailing the boat

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Swahili (Kiswahili): Fluent
    Spanish: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Accommodation at the moment is basic but we are constructing more facilities. Travellers will be sleeping in one of our tree houses. The rooms are open to the outside but we can provide mosquito net. We can also provide a mattress but you might want to bring a sleeping bag or other bedding.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Lamu is an explosion of life and culture and will give to you whatever you are open to receiving :D we can show travellers around the town, introduce our friends, or give you recommendations on things to do... You will also have your own time to explore and do as you like.

    We can also help you to explore the archipelago with our boat. Tell us where to go, and we can take you!

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

Host ref number: 626377658424

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Photos

The image depicts a small sailboat with a tall mast and a flag, floating on a large body of water under a clear blue sky.
The image depicts three individuals standing outside a doorway, with one person smoking a cigarette, surrounded by cooking equipment and a water filter, in a worn and weathered setting.
Two shirtless men with dark skin and short hair stand behind a wooden table, smiling at the camera while cutting food with knives.
The image depicts a rustic wooden structure with a thatched roof, surrounded by trees and a sandy ground, featuring a person standing in the background.
The image depicts three men on a small boat in the water, with a serene background of a body of water and a clear blue sky.

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