Culture at Paradise Lost

A visit to Paradise Lost offers a rare opportunity to experience the cultures of the Southern Kenyan coast firsthand, and to be welcomed into the everyday life of a typical traditional Village.

The Shirazi region has a mixture of fishing villages and communities who farm rice, coconuts, sugar cane, cashew nuts, fresh fruits and subsistence crops.

The community that surrounds Paradise Lost is a world away from the fast-paced life of the South Coast resort towns, and the local people warmly welcome visitors to their homes.

 

This community is from the Mijikenda group of tribes, predominantly the Digo people. Digo traditions are centered around sacred areas called Kayas - forest glades, once used as store grounds for sacred objects known as fingos.

The forest at Paradise Lost is also home to the 11th Century ruins of a Persian mosque that played a significant role in the development of the Swahili Culture and the History of the Coast.

To experience the culture of this area firsthand, stay at Paradise Lost or join one of our Day Dhow Excursions orMagharibi Sunset Cruises