Lamu is a city and an island, part of the Lamu archipelago of Kenya. The archipelago is located on the north coast of Kenya (225 km above Malindi) and has a population of about 12,000 people, half of which consists of Bajuni immigrants from the north. Lamu is a very remote place and the easiest to reach by plane, it is a very special place with its own history which is significantly different from the mainland of Kenya. The authentic atmosphere is present even more because there are no cars on the island or in the city, only boats (dhows) and donkeys! The vast majority of the population is Muslim, and this is clearly visible through the many beautiful mosques. The oldest of the 22 mosques in Lamu is the Pwtani, with a qibla dating from 1370 (dome).
In Lamu Town, many buildings overlooking the sea have pillars in Swahili Arab-style or verandas; behind you will find a maze of narrow alleys that are often no wider than a donkey car (the only means of transportation in Lamu). The old city is completely intact and the rows of tall buildings have heavy, with rich wood carvings decorated, doors and shutters for the windows behind which often an attractive courtyard garden is located. Not only the buildings provide the special atmosphere, the population is equally interesting, with the men who wear long white khanzu with a kofia on the head. The women are dressed in black vestments which are called "bui bui" in the Swahili language.
Near the village of Shela, towards the eastern shore of Lamu, beautiful beaches can be found. At the Peponi hotel a 13 km long stretch of beach starts, flanked by high dunes. At the end of Shela Beach lies the village Kipungani, known for its mango trees, orchards and two ancient mosques. Also in the south there are long and deserted beaches. Lamu is not a typical tropical beach destination, because there is no reef in front of the island and the waves are often quite high. However if you are looking for a unique and exotic place where time stood still and where you can walk on beautiful beaches and enjoy the sun and enjoy peacefulness, Lamu is an ideal destination!
At the beginning of the 16th century Lamu was a prosperous port, despite repeated conflicts with the Sultanate of Mombasa, Zanzibar and Pate (the dominant city in the north). As in other states in the archipelago the production was mainly cereals and vegetables. Highly profitable items were exported to Yemen, countries in the Persian Gulf and India by Dhow via Lamu, like ivory and shields of turtles. In the 17th century nomadic Oromo tribes invaded from the north within and plundered most settlements along the coast, with the exception of the islands. This attracted many people to Lamu, resulting in a major growth period for culture and economy. People went stylishly dressed, and wore richly decorated jewellery. The furniture from that time were decorated with inlays of silver and ivory. In 1813, the army of Pate was defeated and here began a golden time for Lamu with the glory days of the slave trade. In 1873 however, Britain made an end to this by enforcing Zanzibar to sign a treaty against slavery. In 1890 Lamu became part of Zanzibar until the Kenyan independence. When the Sultan of Oman went to Zanzibar, Lamu became a forgotten corner and actually stood still for almost 100 years. The narrow streets and architecture has remained almost identical. It was not until just before the Kenyan independence that the economy started to come back, mainly as a result of the transport of livestock from Somalia to Mombasa.
The following accommodations are recommended by Africa Miracles:
Lamu city: Lamu Palace Hotel
Beach location: Kipungani Explorer, Manda Bay, Peponi Hotel
Distance and location:
The Lamu archipelago is located 225 km north of Malindi at the northern shore of Kenya, about 200 km South of the Somalia border.
Excursion possibilities: water skiing, kite surfing, wind surfing, diving, deep-sea fishing, dhow trips
