Lamu Islands - Kenya

Kenya`s specific coastal subculture is manufactured from extended and frequently bothered records of Arab, Portuguese and Swahili influences. Nowadays quiet and half-forgotten, the island of Lamu epitomizes this wealthy heritage. So what are the satisfactory activities on Lamu? Peaceful, tropical, quasi-bohemian—and pretty unspoiled with the aid of using mass tourism: Lamu is an area like no other. It`s now no longer a marvel that the satisfactory activities on Lamu encompass lengthy seaside strolls, dhow sailing, and exploration of the antique Swahili settlements—with their specific coral-stone townhouses.

Lying simply off Kenya`s a long way north coast is a string of lovely Indian Ocean islands – Lamu, Manda, Pate, Kiwayu and Manda Toto – regarded together because of the Lamu Archipelago. In the vicinity of archaeological and historic hobby in addition to exceptional herbal beauty, those islands are properly really well worth touring for a greater tranquil and away-from-the-crowds Kenya seashore holiday, specifically whilst in comparison to the busier and greater advanced imperative and southern elements of the coast. 

Largely unvisited till pretty recently, the Lamu Archipelago is now domestic to a few lavishly high-priced lodging in beautiful settings. Popular as a post-safari add-on, sports consist of snorkelling and scuba diving (exceptional among November and March whilst the water is clearest), historic on foot tours, dhow cruising trips, sea kayaking and diving with dolphins. Flying is the exceptional manner to attain the archipelago and the airport is positioned on Manda Island from wherein you’ll be transferred to your inn or resort with the aid of using the boat.

So what`s to peer right here? From overgrown ruins of antique forts to medieval villages you may find out how alternate among Africa, the Middle East, and Europe made this place. Contributing to the appeal of the island is its herbal beauty: coral atolls, mangrove forests, far off archipelagos, and secluded lagoons. But it`s the white sandy seashores that we determined the maximum breathtaking — and that is the object on our satisfactory activities on Lamu list.

 

1. WALK ALONG DESERTED BEACHES

The satisfactory spots for a seaside walk are multiple kilometres south of Lamu Town, at the Japanese tip of the island in which the channel opens to the ocean, across the Shela village. Not lots greater than a quiet waterfront and a jumble of slim sandy pathways, in Shela you're by no means some distance from dunes and the abandoned seaside. 

 

2. EXPLORE THE NARROW STREETS OF LAMU TOWN 

Dating again to the twelfth century, Lamu Town is the oldest inhabited Swahili metropolis in Kenya, similar handiest to Tanzania`s Zanzibar. With its historical fort, its wooden carved doors, bustling markets and the ever-present donkeys the metropolis is captivating and real—no marvel UNESCO diagnosed it as a World Heritage Site. 

 

3. SAIL THE TRADITIONAL DHOW 

Dhow and donkey continue to be the handiest varieties of delivery around Lamu (there are the handiest motors at the whole island: one belonging to the governor, for legitimate occasions, and one is an ambulance, for the donkeys). Hiring a dhow for a leisurely cruise across the archipelago is a must-do. We sailed on a stunning boat with the group from the Red Pepper House. 

 

4. RENT A BEAUTIFUL SWAHILI TOWNHOUSE 

The Shela village is famous with Western ex-pats or even an occasional celebrity, who come right here to unwind — or to live: many very own homes withinside the village. The bulk of townhouses is owned with the aid of using Westerners. They flip them into guesthouses: superbly restored, complete of individual and authenticity—they may be in lots of approaches what makes Lamu specific. Particularly lovely is the Jaha House, which we had been fortunate to have stayed at. 

 

5. GET Lost IN SHELA VILLAGE 

While in Shela, you'll no question ought to navigate the sand-coated maze of pathways of this tiny settlement. It`s a tangle of donkey-extensive alleys, winding amongst tall stone townhouses, small thatched huts, few mosques and ruins and a spacious rectangular ringed with a few marketplace stalls. 

 

6. SUNSET GAZE ON MANDA ISLAND 

Just throughout the channel from Shela, the by and large uninhabited Manda Island affords the satisfactory spots for looking at the extremely good African solar placing in the back of the Lamu island. Looking in the direction of the village and the Fort of Shela, the palm-fringed, vast, empty and unspoiled seashores of the Ras Kitau are the gem of the Lamu area. Plus, you may certainly have a sundowner, as an example in a lovable placing at The Majlis, in which we stayed. 

 

7. VISIT THE RUINED CITY OF TAKWA 

The Manda Island as soon as held one of the Kenya coast`s biggest settlements, however, this as soon as-thriving network deserted the metropolis withinside the seventeenth century. The motive is debated, however, the maximum in all likelihood cause becomes the depletion of clean water at the island. Today the coral stone ruins are a famous vacation spot for an afternoon ride from Lamu or Shela. 

 

8. FEAST ON THE SWAHILI FOOD 

The worldwide alternate with Oman, Zanzibar, India and past added items and stimulated constructing style, however, it additionally altered the delicacies of Lamu. It created a unique and complex combination of the African and the Eastern, greater nuanced than the austere nomadic food plan of mainland Africa. Biryanis and curries, couscous and pasta, coconut rice with mango chutney, and a maximum of all of the numerous seafood: it`s a wealthy palette of flavours more advantageous with the aid of using cinnamon, clove, cumin seed, and clean coconut milk. 

 

9. POP INTO THE VEGETABLE MARKET FOR PEOPLE WATCHING 

Lamu Town`s slim streets haven`t been modified for masses of years—lifestyles movements on the identical tempo because it constantly has in its markets and squares. Lamu`s Muslim populace consists of the manner of lifestyles in their ancestors, with the vital distinction: these days the island`s economic system revolves around tourism. But, the conventional markets nevertheless cater specially to the locals. These are the maximum real locations on the island. 

 

10. MOST OF ALL: “POLE-POLE” 

This phrase—Kiswahili for “take it slowly”—permeates all components of lifestyles in Lamu. You prepare dinner pole-pole, you sail pole-pole, you undertake the laid-again tempo of lifestyles, the pole-pole lifestyles. The time slows down right here—certainly, it`s a piece like a ride again in time, to the heyday of Lamu, a thriving port metropolis of medieval ages.