Kipungani Explorer

Lamu Island


This resort is quite luxurious, in a rustic, end-of-the-world, banda-on-the-beach kind of way. The 13 bandas (thatched-roof huts) are made solely of local materials, and nonmotorised water sports and kiddie-friendly activities are included in the price. The resort deserves a shout-out for employing local villagers as staff, funding school projects, experimenting with solar and wind power, and sourcing food from village fishermen.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Lamu Island attractions

1. Matondoni

4.73 MILES

The best place to see dhows being built is the village of Matondoni, in the island's northwest. It’s a peaceful little fishing village that receives few…

2. Shela Beach

6.87 MILES

Most people are here for the beach – a 12km-long, wide sweep of pristine white sand where you’re guaranteed an isolated spot (at least if you’re…

3. Lamu Market

7.4 MILES

Atmospheric and somewhat chaotic, this quintessential Lamu market is best visited early in the morning. Bargain for fresh tuna and sailfish, wade through…

4. Lamu Fort

7.42 MILES

This squat castle was built by the Sultan of Paté between 1810 and 1823. From 1910 right up to 1984 it was used as a prison. It now houses the island’s…

5. German Post Office Museum

7.42 MILES

In the late 1800s, before the British decided to nip German expansion into Tanganyika in the bud, the Germans regarded Lamu as an ideal base from which to…

6. Swahili House

7.45 MILES

This preserved 16th-century Swahili house, tucked away to the side of Yumbe Guest House, in a tranquil courtyard with a well, is beautiful. The entry fee…

7. Lamu Museum

7.51 MILES

The best museum in town (and the second best in Kenya) is housed in a grand Swahili warehouse on the waterfront. This is as good a gateway as you’ll get…

8. Donkey Sanctuary

7.52 MILES

A man without a donkey is a donkey, claims one Swahili proverb. Or, as the staff of this sanctuary might tell you, a man who doesn’t look after his donkey…