The Katharina M & the Yemen Islands in the Red Sea [Archives:2002/13/Reportage]

BY FUTURE TOURS INDUSTRIES
FOR THE YEMEN TIMES
Immersed in the clean and unspoiled water of the Red Sea, near to Salif port lies Kamaran island of Yemen rated among the potential tourist destination in the Red Sea. Rivers of twisted black solid lava flow from the huge volcanic cone of AL-Zubair. Lion island drawing lunar shapes between the deserted stony landscape and the sunset. On the other side of the island, there are spectacular salted pools, deep enough to swim in and between sparse bushes and colonies of giant calm scattered on the sand. In the sky, locke of boobies and gannets and flamingoes circle low protecting their nests and eggs, while a pair of sailing dhows erodes the canal. The area has all qualities of several interesting activities provide an ultimate relaxing experience.
Kamaran: Welcome to Paradise
Welcome to Kamaran, the island of Two Moons in the heart of the southern Red Sea. A mysterious and fabulous archipelago a few miles off the coast of Yemen, isolated for years from the rest of the world. Because of its strategic position Kamaran, with its eight main islands and a dozen smaller ones, has finally opened up to tourism and even with some limitations, it is a favorite spot for sea and nature lovers interested to protect marine wildlife.
Combine sailing comfort with pleasure
An exclusive nature with an invitation to visit the fascinating islands where no buildings exist on the islands (except for a tiny restaurant at Qrand Kamaran), horries or local reliable boats. The only means of discovering this wonderful place is by private boat. The only boat allowed navigating regularly managed by an Italian company with the necessary permit for the transportation of passengers, cruising, and disembarkation at the various islands. Up until last November, Katharina M, a splendid 36-meter wooden teak, built entirely in mahogany in 1994. Is now handled by Future Tours Industries, your partner for a quality tour to true Arabia with aims and assets build close working partnership gaining trust of their clients by providing the best of services in a friendly and efficient manner, that can make all your dreams come true.
Uqban, Al-Badi, Kutman, Antufish, Al-Mudak and further away Az Zubair, Saba and Quoin are spread over radius of fifty miles along the west coast of Yemen, almost at the end of Acquario di Allah. They form an amazing itinerary varying from crystal-clear lagoons and deserted beaches of the nearby islands to the sharp ridges and the volcano cones of Az Zubair, a whole night and day’s journey from the coast.
Make your wishes come true
The port of departure is Salif, a small town five hours drive from Sana’a, the capital of Yemen. Katharina M docks there from October to late April, the only convenient place to fill up with food and fuel. Then, depending on the sea and the wind conditions, the guests together with captain Maurizio Pazzelli 41-year-old Italian of Eritrea origin, with sound experience of the Red Sea, and his professional team can choose to stay along the beaches of Grand Kamaran or navigate up to the bays of Uqban. You can either scoot away in the tender and tangled canals of Ashoura Lagoon, populated with tern, pelicans and eagles or go fishing for tuna and barracuda near Antufish. The boat has two tenders for land excursions and offshore fishing, but snorkeling and diving are the favorite daytime activities: wit equipment for 15 people. Underwater, ray fish, white fin sharks, nurse sharks and hammerhead, turtles, grouper, dolphins and a large number of the barrier reef of the Red Sea are nearly always there.


High-class service and cuisine
The boat navigates by night, choosing a place to go diving in the morning. They find a good anchorage for lunch and maybe disembark on Grand Kamaran for a short walk in the village. The only inhabited villages are Makram, a fistful of houses on the West Side. Ras Al Yemen on the south coast and Kamaran town, the biggest town on the island with three thousand inhabitants, a half-ruined fort on the hill and some military camps. The place deserves a visit, with its streets of earth & woman with traditional veil, great fun meeting interesting people, children with henna decorated hands and fishermen living in colonial style stone houses built by the British in the forties. This is the only contact with the population throughout the entire journey, except for the dhow and houry (the local sailing boats) loaded with fish coming along the Italian Ketch to exchange information, groupers and barracuda with drinks, water and medicine, Katharina M.
In the meantime, remains moored to a block of lava, on a calm sea and the crew prepares aperitif and dinner. The captain is busy on the beach fighting with heaps and crabs, which are soon to become a delicious dinner. And to complete the scene, the moon luminaries the starboard side of Katharina M emerging from the cliffs, while pelicans go and hide in the almost invisible crater of Az Zubair.
The following domestic programs are proposed for exploring these beautiful islands:
1.Weekend cruise: (Wednesday to Saturday) covering Kamaran group of islands.
2.Full week cruise: (Sunday to Sunday): covering Kamaran & Zubair groups of Islands.
3.Ten days cruise: Covering Kamaran, Zubair & Hanish groups of islands.



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