I have been here severally and l have to say “the old town of Lamu is quite a discovery” It is small, quaint, quiet, steeped in history and quite an attraction for many American tourists looking for an opportunity to get away from it all. Did you know that Lamu's history dates as far back as the late 13th Century? Now you know! Mostly, guests come for the sun, and the warm sand, not to forget the hospitality of the Swahili people of the Kenyan Coast. Swimming, surfing, dhow riding, you know, the traditional dhow that the Arabs used to sail from Saudi Arabia to Mombasa for trade and so many more. While at it, you can also explore the natural underwater wonders. Snorkeling will help you explore some magnificent marine life. If you get lucky, or you can time your visit to coincide with some of the festivals. For example, there is the dhow race and the donkey race. Yes, you heard me right. Lamu holds donkey races. You see, the narrow cobbled streets of ancient Lamu can only fit a donkey, and you riding on its back. Lamu town has authentic appeal full of lovely and hospitable people you just enjoy going around the streets. Children on the streets playing while women will be doing their house chores wearing garments with catchy colors. Men will mostly be adorned in their colorful Swahili regalia waiting for the muezzin to call for prayers, or drinking bitter-sweet African coffee on verandas. There is no vehicle traffic so transport is by donkey. The locals live together in harmony ready to assist those in need. Once you get there, treat yourself with a donkey ride and do make sure you take pictures. Otherwise, how will people back home believe that you visited a town that has no vehicle traffic at all? Want to shop? The open-air marketplace is opened daily full of fresh product and trade. Food here is amazing as it whets your appetite as you pass the hotels and the spices tempt your taste buds to no end. Try the local Swahili fare, you know, things like wali, biryani, pilau, coconut rice and others. You will love it. You can also try the local vegetables, packed with nutrients and grown organically. Food is always prepared by vendors or you can choose to go to a restaurant and treat yourself with a Swahili dish. Try some madafu too as you relax on the beach. This is a coconut that is not yet matured and the husk is not formed completely. It is chopped off on one end and you sip the coconut water with a special straw that filters any impurities. This water is packed with electrolytes. It is very refreshing. Visit the Lamu Museum The Lamu Museum is absolutely charming and very well designed. It portrays the history of Mombasa and the local Swahili people who are actually a crossbreed of the Arabs and the Bantus. The historic side of Lamu and other coastal towns is captured in old walls, exhibitions, carvings and other artifacts that are lovingly displayed. It was a prison once! Lamu Museum under the National Museums of Kenya was a prison, which was established by the British colonial power in 1910. It served this purpose until 1984 when it was “rehabilitated”… fancy that, to a museum. Guests from America, Europe, Canada and other places come to Lamu with the notion that this is just another African coastal village, but they are shocked flat out of their wits at the history in this place. Around, you can see the wonderful Arabic architecture adorning the doors and some of the old buildings. The beautiful mosques and above all, the warm and welcoming Indian ocean makes you to just want to laze around and kick sand. Beach camping, swimming, hiking and other activities are available for tourist. If you are a nocturnal animal and would like some nightlife, you will not be disappointed for indeed Lamu has something for everyone. Peponi’s Bar and Petley’s Inn are just two of the awesome places where you can go for drinking. What is the best time to visit Lamu? This is where you hit the jackpot. You can go anytime of the year, and you will not be any worse for it. The weather is wonderful,. But the humidity can peak in January to March. That is not the time that you want to heft your hiking backpack on to you back and hit the trails. Other things to do Do not let your tour to Kenya end in Lamu. There are thousands of other places to see, and many things to do. You can visit the Masai Mara and see the big five beasts of Africa, lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard in their natural habitat. Visit Siyu Fort in Pate Island. Pate is one of the islands in the Lamu archipelago. This fort looks a bit, but only a bit, like the famous Fort Jesus. You can shoot a few photos to wow the people back home. For hiking and trekking, go to Mount Kenya National Park. You can also visit the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Solio Ranch wildlife sanctuaries to see the endangered Northern and Southern white rhinos. The diversity of flora and fauna in this country is not something that you would be likely to see in the Zion National Park, Acadia or any other popular national park in the USA. We could go on and on about the things to do in Kenya and in the Lamu archipelago in particular. However, one thing is for sure; you will not see everything in one, two, or three visits. You have to come back. You will see why tourists who go to Kenya say hakuna matata (loosely translated to mean there is nothing to worry about) as they down heaps of ugali and nyama choma and the wash it down with the popular Tusker beer.
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AuthorHi, I am James, you fellow travel nerd. My thrill in life is learning about new cultures, new people and new food. Archives
December 2018
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