Lamu Island

Location

Lamu Island is located off the northeast coast of Kenya, around 150 miles from Mombasa and 290 miles from Nairobi. It is a port city, UNESCO-recognized, which boasts a wonderfully-preserved ‘old town’ feeling. Rich in heritage and culture with tales of the gold, spice and slave trade days retold by locals. The city of Shela is home to some magnificent beaches and is a key tourism point for the island.

Size

The size of Lamu Island is approximately 2500 square miles.

History

An important East African destination, founded in the 12th century, Lamu Island has a rich history of trading gold and spice. The port of the ‘old town’ is an important part of the country’s history and cultural influences of today. The island was granted UNESCO status in 2001 and today, preserving the Island’s Swahili culture and traditions is very important, with homes and buildings mostly built out of coral stone and mangrove timber.

How to Get There

By Road

Traveling to Lamu Island is quite the adventure with the distance from Nairobi being around 430 miles via the B8 and A3, an approximate 9-hour journey to Mokowe jetty. Visitors would be transferred by boat to Lamu Island.

By Air

Visitors can choose to fly from either Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson Airport to Mombasa. Lamu Island is 150 miles away, with travel time taking around 7 hours overall. Visitors can also choose to fly from Nairobi to Manda Island which is a 2-hour flight. Manda Island is located just over the canal from Lamu Island.

Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

The weather is mostly warm and dry at Lamu Island, with the average temperature around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Light rains tend to fall between November and January, with heavy rains falling from late March to late May. The dry season between July and October is the best time to visit Lamu Island.

Avoiding Crowds

As the drier time of year, the months between July and October can see more visitors to Lamu Island. It is a good idea to consider visiting and staying on Lamu just before or after the peak season, to avoid crowds.

Value for Money

Lamu Island is one of the smaller islands located off Kenya’s coastline with a few properties on it so less known and therefore less crowded. The beaches are lovely offering a quality beach escape at an affordable price.

Marine Life and Topography

Popular Marine Life Sightings

The marine life in the waters off Lamu Island comprises dolphins and turtles and an array of wonderful fish species.

The Aquatic Landscape

Beautiful white sandy beaches that merge with the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and trees bunched between houses and local markets, this is the topography of Lamu Island.

Experience

Bird lovers will be in awe of the around 480 species of bird while sightings of cheeky vervet monkeys. These can be spotted when walking along the beaches or perhaps from the comfort of your Dhow, a wooden vessel taking guests out to enjoy the wonders of the Indian Ocean, its marine life and spectacular views back on shore. Visitors can walk the sand dunes and swim at the beaches of Shela. Horse riding is a popular activity on Lamu Island too.

Excursions and experiences on Lamu Island can be arranged by Adventure In The Wild Safaris.