I had always wanted to visit Lamu because it seemed like such a relaxing town. However, the negative press around its security made me afraid to go alone. Luckily, Just Rioba organised an all girls trip and I knew I had to join the group! I hadn’t done a trip with people I barely knew before, so I was simultaneously anxious and excited at the same time. The group had such an amazing mix of personailities! Here’s a summary of our itinerary that you can borrow for your next trip to Lamu.
Where to stay
We stayed at Tunusuru House which is in Shella. It can host up to 10 guests as it has 5 bedrooms with double beds. It was self catering, and the chef was AMAZING! You’ll get to enjoy swahili cuisine (and gain a few kilos while at it)
Activities
- Walking tour of Lamu Old Town
Lamu Old Town is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. There are barely any cars (I heard that there was only one on the island wjen we visited), and the main means of travel is by foot or donkey. There is even a donkey hospital! Be sure to take this tour with a guide as there are many places to visit and you can get lost. Start the tour early in the morning when it’s cool, and dress comfortably + decently (out of respect for the Swahili culture).
If you love jewellery as much as I do, make sure you pass by the Lamu Silversmith while taking your Old Town tour. He has nice genuine and affordable jewellery.
2. Visit the Shela dunes
If you love walking, you’ll enjoy the leisurely stroll to the Shela dunes. The view is amazing in the evening as you can watch the sunset
3. Manda Toto full-day snorkelling tour
Manda Toto is an island not too far from Lamu. We went by boat and it was about an hour away. On this tour you get to enjoy snorkelling, fresh lunch made on the boat, seeing the Lamu Port and swimming on Manda Toto island. There is an exclusive beach hotel on the island that you may not be allowed access to, but the beach is all yours! The full tour can run from 8 am – 6:30 pm if you’d like to watch the sunset on your way back, so be sure to carry your sunscreen and all you’ll need (e.g water, bluetooth speaker etc).
4. Visit the Majlis Hotel
This hotel is very pretty, and can be a good change of atmosphere if you’d like somewhere else to relax. If you love photos, its decor is very ‘Instagrammable’, I didn’t like the food, but I hope they improve on that next time.
5. Sunset cruise
You cannot visit Lamu without enjoying the sunset on a cruise. It is the most relaxing way to wrap up your evening. We loved the cruise so much we did it twice on our trip.
Salome Ayugi 