Kenya Vacation and Travel Guide

Lamu Kenya Lamu is Kenya's oldest town. Lamu island consists of one town and three villages and it has retained all the charm and character it has built over the centuries. Children play in the narrow streets, men chat on street corners and women in their black buibui veils busy themselves through doorways.

Most houses have a rooftop which is used as a patio, a place to relax and catch the breeze, indicating the laid back atmosphere in this town.

Lamu is strictly Islamic and it is wise to be modest in your dress style.

A Lamu Vacation Spot*

Getting to Lamu

The best way to reach Lamu is by Air. There are affordable flights between Lamu and Malindi every day, with daily flights from Nairobi to Malindi. Therefore getting to Lamu From Nairobi is therefore very easy.

The island is served by an airstrip in neighbouring Manda Island which can also be used by private charter planes.

You can also use a dhow or yatch to reach either Lamu town or Shela.

The island is linked by ferry to the mainland and to Manda Island.

Lamu Dhow Transport**

Getting around Lamu

There are no vehicles on Lamu Island due to its very narrow streets. The roads are rough, only suitable for a rough bike ride. Not bad for an adventure seeker.

So the best way to explore the beautiful island of Lamu is on foot. You can walk everywhere, from Shela village to the beaches. Bicycles or Motor scooters are also a common sight too.

Alternatively dhows regularly carry paying passengers back and forth from Lamu town to Shela.

For the very adventurous ones, try a donkey ride to take you around the island.

Donkeys at a Lamu Beach***

Lamu History

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 intil 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.

Copyright: Mwongera Kioga:

Images under Creative Commons Attribution Licence. * by Sam.romilly ** by sam.romilly *** by sam.romilly