Things to do in Lamu
Lamu County
Lamu is a car-free island off the north coast. Its 14th-century Swahili Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where donkeys and dhows are still the transport and the architecture carries Omani, Portuguese and Turkish influence.
Best time to visit
December to March and July to October are driest and most pleasant. April and May are wet.
Getting there
Fly from Nairobi or Mombasa to Manda airport, then take the short boat transfer across the channel. There are no cars on the island.
What to do
Old Town walking tour
Narrow coral-stone lanes, carved doors, the fort and the market square.
Dhow safari in the archipelago
Sail to Manda, Takwa ruins and quiet villages, often with lunch on board.
Shela beach
Twelve kilometres of dune-backed sand, usually near-empty.
Lamu Museum and Swahili House
Maritime history, Swahili interiors and the island's trading past.
Swahili cooking and seafood
Coconut fish curry, biriani and fresh crab in rooftop restaurants.
Sunset sail on the waterfront
Lateen-sailed dhows drift past as the muezzin calls.
Good to know
- • No vehicles: pack light for donkey and boat transport.
- • Dress modestly in Old Town out of respect for local custom.
- • Book dhow trips ahead from December to March.
- • Lamu rewards several slow days rather than a rushed overnight.
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