Savannah to Coast
A slower, more remote finish than Mombasa or Diani, reached by light aircraft or a longer coastal transfer.
← All DestinationsKenya · 2.27°S, 40.9°E
Lamu
East Africa's Oldest Living Swahili Town
Continuously inhabited for over 700 years, Lamu Old Town is East Africa's oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. There are no cars on the island; donkeys and dhows still carry most of its traffic.
What You'll See
Who Lives Here
Donkey
The island's primary form of transport, in daily use throughout the Old Town.
Reef & Mangrove Marine Life
Dhow excursions run out into the surrounding channels and reef.
The Landscape
Ground That Shapes the Light
Coral-stone and mangrove-timber architecture along narrow, winding streets, with a waterfront lined by dhows and a labyrinth pattern shaped by centuries of Swahili, Arab, Persian, and Indian influence.
Best Season
December to March
The driest, calmest months on this part of the coast; the long rains typically fall April through June.
Weather
What to Pack For
- Dry
- Dec – Mar
- 24–32°C
- Warm, humid, minimal rain.
- Wet
- Apr – Jun
- 23–30°C
- The long rains; quieter, with fewer visitors.
Find Your Bearings
Lamu on the Map
Select any point to see where else the ground leads.
Photography
Lamu, in Detail
Recommended For Lamu
Built for This Exact Ground
Ready When You Are
Start Planning Your Lamu Safari
Tell us a little about how you'd like to travel. We'll take it from there.