The Tamarind Dhow evening cruise is one of the most renowned of all the coastal trips. An enchanting evening of exotic seafood blended with a romantic cruise aboard an authentic Arab Dhow around the old port of Mombasa Town. The dhow, Nawalilkher, was built in 1977 for trading. At 23 meters, she is the largest dhow on the coast. Purchased in 1986, she was converted for restaurant use by her original builder Fundi Bini on Lamu Island, under the watchful eye of Mohammed Shalle, who is still her captain today.
Your evening begins once you are picked up from your hotel and driven to the pier. As soon as you step off the gangplank, you are met by a traditionally-dressed waiter who shows you to your table, and serves you with a house cocktail made with vodka, lime, honey, sugar and crushed ice. Non-alcoholic drinkers are offered soft drinks or fruit juices.
Once the dhow departs from the jetty, the live band starts playing beautiful rhythms, and soon the swing has majority of guests dancing on the main deck.
After a cruise round Tudor Creek with fine view of Mombasa's Old Town and Fort Jesus, your dhow moors in a sheltered bay at the head of the creek.
Here the fine aroma of grilled lobster and steak starts to fill the air as the chefs pull out the charcoal grills and prepare a four-course gourmet meal.
As your meal draws to a close, the waiters serve aromatic Arabica coffee from a traditional Arab brass pot --the Kahawa Pot. The evening trip on the dhow is an excellent romantic spot for newly weds, and those wishing to propose.
Architect Information and Interior DesignThe Tamarind Dhows "Nawalilkher" and “Babulkher” are authentic ocean going jahazis (traditional Arab sailing boats), formerly used for cargo trading along the Kenyan Coast and to the Arab States. The Dhows have been completely refurbished as floating restaurants, without losing any of the traditional aspects of the original Dhow. They are now moored at the Mombasa Tamarind jetty.
As a restaurant, "Nawalilkher", is available for individual bookings, and has a capacity for 70
people for dinner, which leaves plenty of room for dancing on the night cruises. By removing
some of the tables, the Dhow has ample room to hold a cocktail party for up to 100 people.
"Babulkher” with a capacity of 55 pax for dinner and 70 pax for cocktails is also available for
exclusive hire.
AmbienceThe twinkling lights of Mombasa and the starlit skies provide idyllic surroundings for a delicious seafood dinner meticulously prepared in Swahili style on the deck in front of the guests.
