Kenya · East Africa
Lamu Island
Seven hundred years of Swahili stone, and no cars
Live destinationIn the East Africa journey
Seven hundred years of Swahili stone, and no cars. Below, everything you need here — grouped by the Wells that matter, with vetted providers and straight pricing.
Stay-Well
Where you rest
Angama Mara
★ PrimeClifftop tented suites with sweeping Mara views
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Governors' Camp
★ PrimeFront-row tents on the Mara River
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Mahali Mzuri
★ PrimeSir Richard Branson's tented camp
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Sarova Mara Game Camp
VettedReliable comfort in the heart of the reserve
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Activities-Well
What excites you
Mara Hot-Air Balloon
★ PrimeSunrise flight + champagne breakfast
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Maasai Village Cultural Visit
★ PrimeMeet the community, respectfully
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Big Cat Tracking Experience
VettedWith a resident researcher
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Walking Safari — Olare Motorogi
VettedOn foot with armed rangers
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Eat-Well
What you savor
Bush Dinner by Angama
★ PrimeCandlelit dining on the plains
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Emakoko Restaurant
VettedFarm-to-table at the park gate
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Talisman, Nairobi
VettedA Karen institution before you fly out
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Affiliate partner. We may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Carnivore Nairobi
VettedThe famous beast-of-a-feast
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Affiliate partner. We may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Move-Well
Getting around
Mara Land Cruiser Safaris
★ PrimePrivate 4×4 with expert guide
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Abercrombie & Kent Transfers
★ PrimeSeamless private transfers
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Scenic Air Transfers
VettedFly between camps
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Nairobi Executive Cars
VettedAirport & city transfers
Not bookable — the travel advisory here says do not travel, and we don't sell against that.
Affiliate partner. We may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Don't-miss jewels
Lamu Old Town — UNESCO-listed 2001
The carved-door and courtyard houses
The car-free town — donkeys and dhows
The Lamu Cultural FestivalEssential
Seven centuries of continuous habitation
Maulidi as Lamu made it
The Swahili house form, with a guideEssential
Peponi, ShelaPremier
Forodhani House, Shela beachPremier
The Shela beach walk
Shela Beach — roughly 12 km of sand (Source: bestkenya.ke, V)
Dhow island-hoppingComfort
The Majlis, Manda IslandUltra
Kizingoni Beach HousesComfort
The donkeys — three thousand of them
Good to know
Why are there no cars on Lamu?
The town predates them and its alleys are too narrow — transport is by donkey, of which there are more than three thousand, and by dhow. · https://www.spiritedpursuit.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-exploring-lamu-kenya
What is Lamu Old Town listed for?
UNESCO inscribed it in 2001 as the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa, citing its coral-stone buildings, inner courtyards, verandas and carved doors. · https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1055/
When is the Maulidi festival?
It falls in Rabi ul Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar, placing it around May to June in 2026, and it moves about eleven days earlier each year — so the dates must be confirmed for the year of travel rather than carried forward. · https://www.exploriada.com/festivals/africa/kenya/maulid/
When is the Lamu Cultural Festival?
30 November to 2 December 2026, over three days. · https://www.instagram.com/p/DWTFoVsiYFK/
How do I get to Lamu?
Fly to Manda Airport on Safarilink — seven nonstop flights a week from Malindi, plus service from Nairobi — then cross to the island by boat, as there is no road link. · https://www.flightsfrom.com/LAU
What does the FCDO say about Lamu?
The FCDO advises against all travel to a list of named areas in northern and eastern Kenya, and its wording for one of them reads "Lamu County, except for Lamu Island and Manda Island." The full quoted text and the page's own updated date are in the safety section, and travellers should read the FCDO's page directly before booking. · https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya
Is there a malaria risk?
Malaria risk is high on the Kenyan coast, and this is a remote island where medical evacuation is by air — prophylaxis, evening bite protection and a travel-health consultation before departure are the planning items. · https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/preparing/yellow-fever-vaccine-malaria-prevention-by-country/kenya
