Where to Stay While Visiting: Lamu/Kiwayu

Kipungani Explorer Lodge | Lamu Palace Hotel | Peponi Hotel | Kiwayu

Far to the north of Malindi are the lovely sands, the mangroves, secluded creeks and coral islands of the Lamu archipelago. Lamu is an amalgam of twelfth through eighteenth century buildings in Swahili style with its traditional town still impact. There are daily flights available from Mombasa and Nairobi. When you step on Lamu Island, you exotically feel that you are in the 15th century era. Donkeys and dhows are the main transportation and the pace of life is very slow.

The best accessible route recommended to Lamu is via air. This ensures you get the maximum time to enjoy the romantic environment, interesting culture, and profound history that this island has in store. Lamu's Swahili architecture is amazing; the design of the alleys are well designed to "meet" the residential area.

Lamu is a place of fantasy and other-worldliness wrapped in a cloak of medieval romance. With an almost exclusively Muslim population, Kenya's oldest living town has changed little in appearance or character over the centuries. Remote and self-contained, this once thriving port town is now a gloriously relaxed and relaxing destination. No other Swahili town, other than Zanzibar, can offer you such a cultural feast and uncorrupted traditional style of architecture - if you can ignore the TV aerials. A couple of hours spent in the waterfront Lamu Museum is an excellent introduction to the town's culture and history. And if the museum stokes your interest in Swahili culture then you should also check out the beautifully restored building nearby housing the Swahili House Museum. One of Lamu's quirkier attractions is the Donkey Sanctuary - no doubt a haven for all those donkeys seeking political asylum. Taking a trip by dhow is almost obligatory. Nestled away on Lamu Island on Kenya's upper east coast, Lamu itself is reached by boat from Mokowe on the mainland. The airport is located nearby on Manda island.