Kenya Vacation Guide

Lamu Kenya

Discover the Oldest town in East Africa

Riding a Dhow in lamu Lamu is Kenya's oldest town. It is an island town comprising of three villages that has retained the charm and character it developed over hundreds of years.

You will find children playing in the narrow streets, men chatting on street corners and women in their black buibui veils busy at their doorways.

Most houses in Lamu have rooftops that are used as a patio, a place to relax and catch the breeze, reinforcing the laid back atmosphere of the town.

Lamu is strictly Islamic and hence it is wise to be modest in your dress when you visit. The best way to reach Lamu is by Air. There are daily flights between Lamu and Malindi. The island has an airstrip in the neighboring Manda Island where aircraft can land.

One can also use a dhow or yacht to reach Lamu town. The island is linked by ferry to the mainland and visitors coming by road can enter Lamu using the ferry.

Relaxing in LamuThere are no vehicles on Lamu Island due to its very narrow streets. The roads are rough, only suitable for walking or riding bicycles. Not bad for an adventurer. So the best way to explore island is on foot. You can walk everywhere, from Shela village to the beaches. For the very adventurous, you can try a donkey ride to take you around the island.

Lamu was founded by Arab traders in the early fourteenth century when they built a port on the Island and later built the Pwani Mosque. By the 1500s it was a thriving port, exporting timber, ivory, amber, and spices.

Then the Portuguese arrived and conquered Lamu and occupied it until the 1800s when it was turned over to the Sultanate of Zanzibar. The Sultan controlled the whole coastal strip of Kenya and Tanzania until 1963 when Kenya became independent and took back control of the region.

Lamu has since become a main tourist spot popular with European and American Tourist seeking a warm relaxing place to enjoy.



References.


(1). Marrakech Travel Guide To The Jet Set Traveler.

(2). LitteBook South Africa: The Ultimate Nationwide Travel Guide.

(3). Local Insider Reveals How To Travel Safe In South Africa.


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