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    Lamu
    Magnus Kjaergaard / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0

    Kenya

    Lamu

    City

    Lamu, Kenya's oldest continuously inhabited town, is situated on an island in the Lamu Archipelago, at the far northern tip of the coast.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Kenya
    7. Coast
    9. Lamu
    Lamu, Kenya's oldest continuously inhabited town, is situated on an island in the Lamu Archipelago, at the far northern tip of the coast. Its Old Town, built from coral stone and mangrove wood, is recognized by UNESCO as East Africa's oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement. No cars are on the island; donkeys carry loads.The UK FCDO currently advises against all travel to Lamu County, except for Lamu Island and Manda Island. Check the current FCDO travel advice before any planning.

    Sights in Lamu

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Lamu Fort
    Attraction

    1Lamu Fort

    The Sultan of Pate began construction on the bank but died in 1809 before the first floor was completed. The fort was finished in the early 1820s.
    Open in Google Maps
    Lamu Museum
    Museum

    2Lamu Museum

    The Old Town Museum shows Swahili culture and archipelago history, including the island's ceremonial horn (Siwa).
    Open in Google Maps
    Swahili House Museum
    Museum

    3Swahili House Museum

    Small museum on Swahili domestic culture in a traditional house of the Old Town.
    Open in Google Maps
    Donkey Sanctuary
    Point of Interest

    4Donkey Sanctuary

    Opened in 1987 in the Old Town, the facility offers free care for the island's approximately 3,000 donkeys, essential for cargo transport on car-free Lamu.
    Open in Google Maps
    Shela Beach
    Point of Interest

    5Shela Beach

    A roughly 12-kilometre sandy beach at Shela village, backed by high dunes. Reach it from Lamu Town by boat or Boda-Boda.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Lamu

    1

    Moonrise Restaurant

    The restaurant of Lamu House Hotel, also open to outside guests, and praised by tour guides for its fine Swahili cuisine.
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    2

    Bush Gardens

    Restaurant on the promenade near the pier, travellers recommend the Red Snapper with garlic and fries.
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    3

    Seafront Cafe

    A waterside eatery with affordable Swahili dishes. Guests praise octopus in Swahili curry with chapati, and grilled fish and crabs.
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    Dining and Drinks

    Lamu's cuisine is coastal Swahili: plenty of fish and seafood, coconut and spices.

    Fish in Banana Leaf

    Fish of the day, steamed in a banana leaf, as some Old Town restaurants offer it.

    Barbecued Red Snapper

    A common dish from the eateries along the promenade, often prepared with garlic.

    Pilau

    Rice seasoned with cloves and cardamom, often cooked with coconut milk.

    Fish with a Coating

    Grilled fish with a coconut and tamarind sauce.

    Culture and History

    Lamu Old TownThe town was probably founded around 1370 and declared a World Heritage site in 2001. UNESCO calls it the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. The Lamu Museum exhibits, among other things, the island's ceremonial horn (Siwa), while other small museums are dedicated to Swahili culture.Lamu Fort and DonkeysThe Sultan of Pate had the fort built on the shore but died in 1809 before the first floor was completed; it was finished in the early 1820s. Around 3,000 donkeys handle transport on the car-free island; the Donkey Sanctuary, opened in the Old Town in 1987, treats the animals free of charge.Shela and MaulidiThe village of Shela is located at the island's southern tip, along a roughly twelve-kilometer-long beach with high dunes. For the Prophet's birthday, Lamu celebrates the Maulidi Festival. It follows the Islamic lunar calendar, so the date shifts from year to year.

    Getting There and Around

    The FCDO currently advises against all travel to Lamu County, except for Lamu Island and Manda Island, which are not covered by this advice. Check the current FCDO travel advice, linked on the country page, before any planning.ArrivalThe airport is on the neighboring island of Manda, with flights from Nairobi, Mombasa, and Malindi.From the airport, boats take passengers to Lamu Town in minutes. Agree on the price for a private boat before departure.On the IslandLamu is car-free. In the Old Town, you get around on foot; to Shela, you go by boat or Boda-Boda, with prices varying depending on the tides.Dhow excursions lead to the neighboring islands.

    Accommodations in Lamu

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    Nearby

    Malindi

    Malindi

    Malindi is an ancient Swahili port city on Kenya's north coast, some 100 kilometres northeast of Mombasa. Vasco da Gama docked here in 1498 on his way to India; the column named after him commemorates his visit. Today, with its marine national park, long beaches, and a large Italian community, the city is a popular holiday destination.The UK FCDO has specific travel advice for parts of the coast north of Malindi. Check the current FCDO travel advice before travelling.
    Gede Ruins

    Gede Ruins

    The ruins of Gede are the remains of a Swahili town in the coastal forest near Watamu, a few kilometers from the beaches. Since 2024, they have been a UNESCO World Heritage site, with mosques, a palace, and pillar tombs lying here among ancient trees.The town was probably founded in the 11th or 12th century and abandoned in the 17th century.

    Watamu is a small seaside resort south of Malindi on Kenya's North Coast, whose bays are part of one of Kenya's first marine national parks. Coral gardens lie only a few hundred metres offshore, and sea turtles nest on its beaches.Mida Creek with its mangroves, the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, and the Gede Ruins are in the immediate vicinity.
    Arabuko-Sokoke Forest

    Arabuko-Sokoke Forest

    The Arabuko-Sokoke Forest near Watamu, at approximately 420 square kilometers, is the largest preserved piece of coastal forest in East Africa. It is home to rare, globally threatened species like the Golden-rumped Sengi and Clarke's Weaver.For birdwatchers, it is one of the most rewarding destinations on the coast, and it is located directly next to the Gede Ruins and Watamu.
    Coast

    Coast

    Kenya's coast on the Indian Ocean stretches from the Tanzanian border to the Lamu Archipelago, combining white beaches, coral reefs, and a Swahili culture shaped over centuries. Here are several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Fort Jesus in Mombasa, Lamu Old Town, the Gede Ruins, and the sacred Kaya Forests of the Mijikenda.Many travelers combine an inland safari with a few days by the sea, for example in Diani, Watamu, or Malindi.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI