Wasini Island is about 8km at the longest and 5km at the wides.
Always two separate villages, Wasini is one island, but 2 stories. On the western end, facing the mainland and Usambara Mountains is the main village of Wasini. These feudal collections of families have roots here several centuries. Born of the traders that originally came down to Shimoni from north and south , and assimilating locals from the mainland on what is now both Kenya and Tanzania , this village has a distinct so called afro-Shirazi look.
The livelihood here was originally as traders, self employed families that generate trade in any way possible. Sea food, shells, smuggled rice or sugar and pemba cloves during the restricted trade practices. Many of the new generation now are employed as skippers and boat handlers for the tourist trade that dominates life on Wasini. The women have built a formidable and commendable “Board walk” out of mangrove poles to allow a view of the inner mangroves at high tide. There is an entrepreneurial spirit to them. 2 busy restaurants dominate the village, one run by the local Masud family. The other is the so called “Wasini Island“ Charlie’s claw restaurant. This restaurant and marine operation is the busiest and most commercial of all sea operators in Shimoni. Catering to the mass of tourists, its smooth and slick operation is well oiled, and everything will go to plan, as long as you like to be in and amongst crowds.
Further down the island, on the eastern end is Mkwiro. Inhabited almost exclusively by fishing dominated families, and with a more mainland Bantu ethnic backround, there is limited co-operation between the east side Mkwiro villagers and the village of Wasini!
Maybe 500 people live in Mkwiro, and 1000 on Wasini. The lack of fresh water on either Wasini or Mkwiro has always been a test of their determination to their commitment to stay put.
Water catchment reservoirs, hand cut out of solid lime stone are the basis for the water storage when the long or short rains visit. It never lasts long enough so there is an endless stream of dugouts and motorized canoes carrying fresh water to and from the island.
The land is coral rag, sharp coral stone that unless is has soil on it or has been cut is very uncomfortable to walk on. Recently a new dive and snorkel operation, Paradise Divers, opened on the edge of Mkwiro village offering some employment, so Mkwiro too has its own tourist venue.
Read the Story about Mwauzi Tumbe from Mkwiro village
