Lamu Island is part of the Lamu Archipelago. This island has a mystical appeal and is very rich in culture and history.

How to get there:

You can drive, take a bus or fly. Highly recommended would be to fly. Since it is an island, you will need to take a short boat ride to the island.

Where to stay:

There is a selection of cheap houses, hotels and hostels. The best ones are the ones facing the promenade. December, January, July and August are the busiest months and therefore the most expensive to visit. Six recommended places to stay are;

Cheap Guest Houses:

• Guesthouse
• Bed and Breakfast Balgis
• Casuarina Rest House

Lodging and Hotels:

• House Amu
• Dodo Villas
• Petleys Inn
• yumbe house

Things to do in Lamu:

a) Explore the city of Lamu

The city of Lamu is small and beautiful. It takes less than a day to get through it all. Old buildings, magnificent architecture and simplicity are the best way to describe this city.

In relation to architecture, the buildings are made of stone and are built in an open, roofless, box-like design with an open courtyard. The houses are two to three stories high and face each other. The cells are supported by huge mangrove tree trunks.

Lamu has no cars. Just donkeys. It has narrow streets and everyone seems to know each other. A walk through the narrow streets of Lamu is simply serene.

b) Lamu Museum:

Built in 1891, the Lamu Museum was the former residence of British governors during colonial times. Here, you will experience and learn about the rich Swahili culture that is so evident in the city of Lamu.

c) Take a dhow trip:

A dhow is a traditional Arabian sailing ship with one or more teenage sails. It is mainly used along the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, India and East Africa. Dhow trips are the best experience in a trip to Lamu. They are relatively cheap and you can go as far as Manda Island, Takwa Ruins or Matondoni.