Lamu Old Town
The best-preserved Swahili stone town in East Africa and a World Heritage Site, where donkeys and pedestrians are the only traffic in the narrow lanes.
Lamu Old Town was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2001. It has been an Indian Ocean trading port since the 14th century. Built from coral stone and mangrove wood, the town's lanes are only one or two meters wide. Cars are not allowed, so donkeys and walking are the main forms of transport. Highlights include carved wooden doors, rooftop terraces and the call to prayer from the mosques. Entry is free. A licensed guide for a 2-hour walk is recommended, costing about 1,000 to 1,500 Kenyan shillings. Dress so that your shoulders and knees are covered, and ask permission before photographing people.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Lamu Fort
- German Post Office Museum
- Lamu Seafront
- Riyadha Mosque
- Lamu Dhow Sunset Sail
- Lamu Museum
- Swahili House Museum
- Lamu Donkey Sanctuary