Lamu is a busy yet peaceful Swahili town of about 20.000 inhabitants, and the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement on the East African coast.
Lamu is a very safe place, too. The events that occurred in 2014 are isolated incidents that happened on the mainland in a non-touristic area.
The Old Town is of great historical interest, with large houses built of coral rag-ston plastered with lime. The outside of these buildings may not be so special - it is the hand-carved beautiful Lamu doors that are impressive. No cars are allowed on the island : only wooden wheeled carts and many donkeys can pass through the narrow streets.
In the year 2001 Lamu Old Town was chosen one of the new sites of Unesco's World Cultural Heritage List.
Lamu inhabitants love to celebrate and Lamu’s weddings are famous for being extravagant and costly. Muslim holidays (more below) leave much space to joy - even during election time there is a lot of poetry, drumming and free Swahili food.
A note on the weather : the rainy season starts at the end of April and goes on until the end of May. June is considered a "cold" month and tourism picks up again in July. In short, our European summertime is the so called Kenyan winter time. High season goes through the months of December, January and February. Temperature then stays around 30-33 degrees C (27 in the ocean).
The Maulidi festival is the main religious event on the island and dates back many years. It celebrates Prophet Mohammed's birthday in a very authentic way, with lots of intense music, chanting and special functions.
The Lamu Cultural festival is usually held annually in November, with activities such as display of traditional Swahili handicrafts, groups of men from the islands around perform their dances in the evenings, Swahili poetry, Henna painting, donkey races and dhow races, culminating with a traditional Swahili wedding and a chance to enjoy various Swahili dishes. At the Mkunguni Square in front of the Fort we will listen to popular Taraab music often from Mombasa or Tanzania.
This annual festival gives one a chance to experience the traditional beliefs that are very deeply engraved in the locals and learn more about their simple and peaceful lifestyle.
The Lamu Art Festival is a weekend on the coastal island that brings together local and international artists, musicians and craftsmen for 3 days of creative inspiration and learning.
The Lamu Yoga Festival offers a variety of yoga classes and meditations over five days at 12 unique venues and studios on the isalnd. From early-bird yoga on the beach to meditation under the moon, the festival offers something for everyone, from experienced practitioners, newbies, to the curious souls and everything in between.
