The dhow embarks from Shimoni a small fishing village on the mainland. Shimoni in Kiswahili means the place of the cave.

 It is worth visiting these caves, reputed to extend some 15 kilometres inland. Access for visitors to this historical site is only possible at the main entrance cavern. The cavern immediately behind it, now only accessible via a hole in the roof of the cave, has a spring of fresh water in it. For centuries, the caves were used "Kayas" (shrines) and also as hiding places where local people would go to avoid attack by marauding tribes, often Masaai.  It is almost certain that the caves were used by Arabs in the 18th and 19th centuries as a slave pen, where the slaves were held awaiting the arrival of dhows to take them to Zanzibar. There are also a rare species of bat, the Flying Fox, which have made the cave their home.

The nominal fee of Ksh 400 for a 15 minute tour of the cave goes towards helping the local community with projects.

Shimoni was once the headquarters of the Imperial East Africa Company, long before Kenya became a British colony. Remains of the old headquarters’ building can still be seen, as well as some interesting grave sites dating to the 18th century.