Go Kayaking with no limits

Location Adventure: off-the-beaten track

The Bottom Line: Nice sport, delicious food

Some people are sporty by nature. Others would not dream of paddling with a kayak on the Indian Ocean. The Membe Kayak Club on the southern tip of the Fumba peninsula caters to both groups. The club is best known by locals and expats for its innovative African cuisine like crunchy prawn cocktails and beef tagine with coconut rice, for its beautiful sunsets and drinks – the kayaking comes as a free extra for guests.

“Kayaking is not a dangerous sport but it’s like mountaineering”, says owner Christian Manahl: “Situations can change quickly with the weather”. We are about to experience that, as we head to a tiny neighbouring island in a group of four. One of us, brave Glory, can’t even swim but was ready to join the fun wearing a life jacket. So do most of us. Climbing into the narrow kayak and getting it to move away from the shore is more tricky than imagined but once gravity is replaced by water, the boat actually becomes almost frighteningly independent.

“Go towards the island”, Manahl dryly instructs us; and, although I find that rather lacking as a beginner’s briefing, I do trust the slim guy who has worked decades as a United Nations conflict mediator. Who, if not he, should be able to judge critical situations and keep a clear head. “How do I stop the kayak?” somebody shouts from the back. Good question. “Paddle backward”, Manahl shouts back.

Basic lessons

On land we have learnt four rules for our little sunset sea adventure: Go against the wind. Stay together. If you capsize, don’t panic, grab your paddle and scream for the others to notice you. Wear cheap sun glasses, expensive ones tend to drown. How did crisis-man Manahl get into kayaking? “It was in Goma in the Congo under siege”, he recalls. “I ordered a kayak from Estonia to use it on lake Kivu. Kayaking gives you a new perspective of the coastline”, he continues, “paddling through the mangroves is magic.”

By now we have managed to reach our goal, the uninhabited island only 400 m off-shore, one of twelve isles off the southern tip of Fumba, all part of a protective coral reef system. Ngurure island (Swahili for pig) was named after wild bush pigs once inhabiting it. We spot some white and black birds. The little egret, Manahl says, can also be found in the Caribbean and Indonesia. When it’s time to paddle back, the situation suddenly does change, as he has warned us. A sturdy evening wind creates waves high enough to toss and shake our boats. Now we are earning the sundowners already lovingly prepared for us in the restaurant.

Membe Kayak Club Ph. 0777 328 019 Fumba Beach