Lamu Island
One of the most famous of the East African islands Lamu is once more back on the map
Located in northern Kenya, Lamu Island is a hub of history. Like Zanzibar in Tanzania, Lamu Island is often considered alongside Kenya as an entity in itself. As one of the early colonising sites for the sultanate of Oman in the 13th century (before he continued down to Zanzibar and finally settled the colony there), Lamu is steeped in ancient tradition and architecture and offers a very different experience to that of the mainland.
A short hop from Nairobi, the island of Lamu and the capital, Lamu Town, have managed to hold onto their old world charm to a certain degree. Consisting of a series of muddled alleyways and white washed buildings, the central focus for the town is still the town hall (where the market is still held for the surrounding areas on a Saturday) and there remain no cars on the island....only a thriving population of donkeys!
With a stunningly rugged coastline, the rest of the island provides a welcome retreat from the madness of the main town and, with the smaller Shela village just along the shoreline from Lamu being a great pick if you would like to have a look but maybe not get too involved. The island is certainly the perfect pick for a bit of culture and a great beach.
NB. As of 2017 the British Foreign Office has advised that Lamu is again a safe destination to travel to and, with this change, we very much hope there will be a change in the fortunes of the island. We are, therefore, very happy to recommend and offer properties on this stunning island so please ask your consultant about where we would recommend for a few days.