Lamu

The town of Lamu began life as a 14th century Swahili settlement and the island has seen many influences over the centuries including the Portuguese explorers, Turkish traders and Omani Arabs. now a designated world Heritage sight (2001), it is the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement there in East Africa.

For the traveller, Lamu is a hypnotically exotic experience, made even more enjoyable by the welcome from the locals.
Activities: Lamu Museum, dhow safaris and sea-kayangi trips can take you beyond Lamu into the surrounding archipelago where isolated villages, ancient ruins and a few luxurious and exclusive resorts lie hidden on the islands of Manda, Siyu, pate and Kiwayu.
Getting There: Schedule air services from various locations around Kenya fly into a central airport in Manda Island. All island retreats are accessible from Manda by speed boat or traditional dhow.

Where to stay: several hotels and guesthouse in Lamu town as well as numerous cheap lodgings. Nearby Shela Beach offers 12kms of golden sand flanked by sand dunes and has a handful of hotels, private house and guesthouses. Other islands offer luxury accommodation all accessible by boat from Manda Island.

Lamu Old Town

Lamu Old Town is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa, retaining its traditional functions. Built in coral stone and mangrove timber, the town is characterized by the simplicity of structural forms enriched by such features as inner courtyards, verandas, and elaborately carved wooden doors. Lamu has hosted major Muslim religious festivals since the 19th century, and has become a significant centre for the study of Islamic and Swahili cultures.

Attractions and Activities:

Rich History: Lamu is a place like no other, a peaceful tropical island where life is lived at its own relaxed rhythm, but a place whose history is as mysterious and fascinating as the winding streets of its medieval stone town.

The island itself is a beautiful place of rolling dunes and endless beaches, where tiny villages nestle among coconut and mango plantations and lateen sailed dhows ply the waters. But Lamu’s real attraction is its Old town.

The town of Lamu began life as a 14th century Swahili settlement, but the island has seen many visitors and influences, including Portuguese explorers, Turkish traders and the Omani Arabs. All left their mark, but Lamu developed its own particular culture, which has ultimately endured.

Unspoilt: Lamu’s narrow streets remain unchanged, and in the markets and squares around the fort life moves at the same pace as it always has. There are no vehicles on this island, and the donkey and the dhow remain the dominant form of transport.

The island itself is a beautiful place of rolling dunes and endless beaches, where tiny villages nestle among coconut and mango plantations and lateen sailed dhows ply the waters.

Warm welcome: For the traveler, Lamu is a hypnotically exotic experience, made even more enjoyable by the relaxed and welcoming attitudes of the locals. To visit Lamu is to enter another world, and the visitor finds themselves becoming a part of this world. Life slows down, and long days are spent strolling along the waterfront, exploring the town or relaxing on the beaches.

Dhow Safaris: Dhow safaris can take you beyond Lamu into the surrounding archipelago, where isolated villages, ancient ruins and a few luxurious and exclusive resorts lie hidden among the islands of Manda, Siyu, Pate and Kiwayu.

Getting There:

By Air: Lamu is best accessed by air. There are scheduled flights daily from Nairobi, Mombasa, Diani Beach and Malindi. The island is serviced by an airstrip on neighboring Manda Island.

Private Charters: The strip can also be used by private charters.

A dhow ferries arriving passengers to either Lamu town or Shela. Many yachts also come to Lamu, often sheltering in the channel near Shela.