Thursday, 28th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search
Breaking News:

A Travel Guide To Visiting Lamu Island, Kenya

By Sikemi Ifederu
12 March 2018   |   12:15 pm
Lamu Island, on the north coast of Kenya, is filled with historical sites, nice beautiful villas and empty white sand beaches. This World UNESCO Heritage Site is one of the oldest and most preserved areas in East Africa. Lamu is a peaceful, charming and culturally rich island that is perfect for a relaxing holiday. Discover…

Lamu Island, on the north coast of Kenya, is filled with historical sites, nice beautiful villas and empty white sand beaches. This World UNESCO Heritage Site is one of the oldest and most preserved areas in East Africa. Lamu is a peaceful, charming and culturally rich island that is perfect for a relaxing holiday.

Discover Lamu Old Town

Lamu Island. Photo credit: Travel Plus Style

Lamu Old Town is filled with Arabian architecture, ancient forts and old wooden doors. It is the only place in Kenya that hasn’t been influenced by the Portuguese and mass tourism. It is also Lamu’s main attraction. You can visit Lamu Museum, Lamu Fort, the Donkey Sanctuary and Swahili House Museum. There are also markets where travellers can buy nice souvenirs.

Food

Accomodation. Photo credit: Majlis Resort

Food in Lamu is a mixture of Arabian, Swahili, Indian and African mouth-watering cuisines. You get to eat a lot of seafood from the ocean and watch the fishermen catch your dinner. Do not forget to taste the street food and drink, a local juice Ukwaju also known as tamarind.

Watersports

If you are an adventurous traveller, then Lamu has a variety of water sports to engage in like kayaking, water-skiing, kite surfing and more. Snorkelling is one of the major activities you can partake in. It’s also an opportunity to swim with dolphins and turtles.

Ride A Donkey

Takwa Ruined City. Photo credit: Eric Lafforgue

One cool thing about Lamu is that there are no cars. You have to get around riding a donkey like a locale because the roads are so narrow.

Sail On A Dhow To Manda Island

Dhow. Photo credit: Jody Kingzett

Dhows (traditional sailing boats) are a very important means of transportation in Lamu Island. You can sail to Manda Island or catch the sunset with a loved one while sailing. Visit Takwa, the ruined city, in Manda Island, which used to be one of the largest settlements on the coast of Lamu. Although the town has now been abandoned, you get to explore the coral stone ruins, a popular landmark for travellers.

ExploreAand Relax At Shela Village

Shela Village. Photo credit: Kenya Page

Shela is home to some of the most beautiful beaches and hotels like The Majlis. Relax by the beach and enjoy the cool breeze while sipping on coconut water. Get a henna tattoo for the beauty of it.

Festivals

Accomodation. Photo credit: Majlis resort.

Plan your trip to Lamu in time for a festival. The Lamu Cultural Festival is a major festival that celebrates the culture, history and heritage of the people of Lamu. It is an experience of a lifetime and a chance to get a feel of Lamu to the fullest. Another festival is the Lamu Yoga Festival which starts this month from the 14th to the 18th. The festival period is also filled with beach parties, traditional Swahili dinners and more.

0 Comments

Guardian Life

7 hours ago
American Musician, Taylor Swift, has joined the club of world billionaires, according to Hurun’s world richest people's list. The report revealed that “At 34, Taylor Swift joins the billionaire club with US$1.2 billion, not from typical celebrity side hustles, but uniquely through her music. "Over half her fortune stems from royalties and touring, including US$190…
11 hours ago
Elon Musk has announced a new update for users of his exclusive 𝕏 platform. Starting immediately, accounts with over 2,500 verified subscriber followers will be granted access to Premium features at no additional cost. Furthermore, those with a following exceeding 5,000 will enjoy the benefits of Premium+ — also completely free of charge. The announcement…
17 hours ago
Audio streaming platform, Spotify has revealed that Gen Z are now turning to streaming platforms for a modern way of worship.
1 day ago
When Catherine, Princess of Wales, revealed she was being treated for cancer last week, part of the shock was that an otherwise healthy 42-year-old has a disease that mostly plagues older people. However, researchers have been increasingly sounding the alarm that more and more people under 50 are getting cancer -- and no one knows…
1 day ago
Nigerian superstar Wizkid has acquired a stunning $1 million diamond necklace, custom-made by none other than A Jewellers, the famous Instagram jeweller known for crafting pieces for the elite. A Jewellers, known as Europe’s premier celebrity jewellery designer, has a clientele that contains A-list celebrities in the entertainment industry. Having previously designed pieces for Nigerian…

Music

23 Mar
Barely three weeks ago, Korede Bello returned with a two-track release, one of which was the Minding My Business duet with his former label boss, Don Jazzy.
22 Mar
Popular singer, David Adedeji Adeleke, also known as Davido, has agreed to settle the breach of contract suit filed against him at the High Court of Delta State Effurun by the Amaju Pinnick-led Brownhill Investment Company Limited out of court.
22 Mar
Gospel singer, songwriter, and impactful worshipper, Joy Ezeh, has unveiled her latest work, titled 'I am Healed'.
21 Mar
Mdundo, the unrivalled African music streaming and download platform, strides into the new year with an unwavering mission: empowering artists and reshaping the music industry. Anticipating a remarkable payout of $1.2–$1.5 million for the 2023/2024 period, Mdundo continues to propel the financial success of artists, becoming a driving force in the structural and financial evolution of the African music sector.
16 Mar
Nirvana, the haven of perfect peace, is not really a place that exists, except, well, in the consciousness of life’s romanticists like Godwin Josiah Gaza.

Film

4 days ago
Veteran Nollywood actor, Amaechi Muonagor, has died after a prolonged illness, at the age of 62. Muonagor was said to have suffered kidney failure and was on dialysis. The sudden news of his demise comes just a few days after a viral video where he solicited funds to help him have a Kidney transplant. The…
12 Mar
Nigerian actress Rita Dominic has disclosed that she took a caregiver job in the United Kingdom after taking a break from her acting career in Nigeria. Dominic, who graced the screen with her captivating performances, said she took a step back from her rising acting career to deal with personal challenges between 2001 and 2002.…
11 Mar
From Ryan Gosling's show-stopping "I'm Just Ken" to a naked John Cena coming to the stage, there were several stand-out moments at the 96th Oscars in Hollywood on Sunday. Here are some of the most memorable things that happened on Tinseltown's glitziest evening: John Cena naked As he readied to introduce the award for best…
11 Mar
Here are the winners in key categories for the 96th Academy Awards, which were handed out in Hollywood on Sunday. Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" was the big winner of the night with seven awards, while "Poor Things" -- a female take on the Frankenstein story -- won four. Best picture: "Oppenheimer" Best director: Christopher Nolan, "Oppenheimer"…
11 Mar
"Oppenheimer" swept the board on Sunday at the Oscars, Hollywood's biggest night of the year, with seven awards including best picture and best director, crowning a triumphant year for filmmaker Christopher Nolan. Nolan's masterful drama about the father of the atomic bomb, half of last summer's massive "Barbenheimer" phenomenon, also bagged acting prizes for lead…