Luxury Travel
Swahili Soul
As your Dhow glides across the water off the sandy shoreline of Shela beach, the Kenyan sun slowly drops, scattering yellow, red, and pink hues over the glittering ocean, the serene archipelago, and the labyrinthine ancient town of Lamu Island. You and your new friends, including a local barista, a Swahili musician, and an expert in marine biology exuberantly reflect on the day’s activities, from the morning’s Yogic breathwork and sipping the best Kenyan coffee while learning about empowering farmers, to the afternoon’s collaborative art workshop. As you anticipate the evening’s farm to table offerings and musical performance, you spy another new friend, the local chef, who you wave to as he races by on another Dhow glowing bright in the evening light. This isn’t travel, you think to yourself, while smiling and laughing along with your companions. It’s a new global community.
Immersive Experiential Tourism
You can expect a highly curated culturally rich celebration of Swahili culture throughout Swahili Soul, with food, coffee, the local community, and sustainability-focused workshops taking centre stage.
Participants will arrive to Nairobi on October 11 and the next day you will enjoy a morning safari and lunch before a relaxing evening in the city before departing to Lamu on October 13.
The group will experience meticulously crafted meals and curated coffee experiences using locally sourced ingredients that emphasize the beauty of Swahili culture and the magic of Kenyan coffee.
Much more than just a trip
Your days in Lamu will be spent in a combination of soaking in the unique Lamu Archipelago vibes while participating in a thoughtfully programmed series of activities, including performances by local artists, market trips, culinary-forward dining and coffee.
October 11th - 17th, 2024
From October 11th - 17th, we invite you to attend this year's Swahili Soul. This vibrant, unique, and immersive experiential program, consists of sustainability-informed travel from Nairobi to Lamu, Kenya. We offer participants a highly curated opportunity to luxuriously engage with the historic culture and people of Lamu Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. At Swahili Soul, we’re weaving a radiant tapestry celebrating continental and diasporic African cultures, from art and science to agriculture and culinary excellence, while building new material and economic infrastructure that positively impacts Lamu’s local community. Come join this living model of pan-African empowerment!
Facilitators From Around the World
This year, we're thrilled to welcome the dynamic PlanetWerx Team, spearheaded by the visionary Nikita Shiel-Rolle! PlanetWerx is at the cutting edge of merging science, community, and technology to drive sustainable blue economies in coastal regions. Get ready to dive into their exciting demonstrations on how harnessing the power of technology can support local communities and drive innovative solutions in climate and marine science. Join us for an inspiring experience that showcases how we can all contribute to a more sustainable future!
PlanetWerx led by Nikita Shiel-Rolle demonstrates how affordable technology can be used to empower communities like Lamu to become leaders in the Blue Economy.
Yoga sessions and creative body and breath work led by Yoga teacher, poet, and co-founder of Regina Family Center and African Artists for Peace Heran Tadesse, who blends Kemetic-Afrikan, Ethiopian, and Hatha styles into a unique fusion of body and mind.
Get lost in the secret garden of La Dulce Toro Cafe where owner Vava Angwenyi and team cultivate creative coffee experiences.
Secure your spot for Swahili Soul 2024
If you choose to attend as a Full Priced Participant you will have the joy of experiencing the entire program’s fantastic curated experience from top to bottom, becoming part of this new living model of transformative travel. Volunteers also experience the entire program. Volunteers attend Swhail Soul with the commitment to share their special expertise, talents, and skills, whether that’s in coffee, technology, science, business, or beyond. Volunteers will have onboarding calls with the leadership team to integrate their talents into the collective impact. Contributing participants experience the entire program, and invest in the mission of Swahili Soul.
Pricing
Volunteer
$2,100
Vacation Package
Full
$2,900
Vacation Package
Contributor
$3,900
Vacation Package
Learn more about what you can expect
What's Included in The Package
~ Round Trip Flight from Nairobi to Lamu Island
~ Comfortable lodging in a Swahili Style guesthouse or hotel
~ Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring local Swahili cuisine inclusive of freshly locally sourced seafood and vegetables
~ Non- Alcoholic Drinks
~ Cultural Immersion inclusive of guided tours of Lamu Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visits to local markets, museums and La Dulce Toro Garden
~ Coffee Experiences
~ Community Engagement: Participation in community projects that support sustainable development, especially for local women and youth
~Ocean Activities: Dhow ride, boat transport, snorkelling, and guided beach walks.
~ Yoga Movement and Meditation
~ Interactive workshops on coffee, ocean science, and culture
~ Local Transport: Transfers to and from Lamu Airport and transportation for all planned activities.
Get in touch!
Do you have questions about this years event?
Don't hesitate to drop us a note.