Destination guide
Lamu Old Town
Reviewed 16 Oct 2026 · Each statement is labelled.
The Old Town
Lamu Old Town, on Lamu island, is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
Its buildings are made of coral stone and mangrove timber, along narrow streets, and the town has been continuously inhabited for over 700 years.
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
Lamu has hosted major Muslim religious festivals since the 19th century and is a centre for the study of Islamic and Swahili culture.
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
Festivals
The Lamu Cultural Festival is held for three days between November and December each year. The county also hosts the Maulid Festival, a Swahili food festival and a yoga festival.
Source: The Eastleigh Voice (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
Dates change each year — check before you book.
Getting there
Tourists arrive by air at Manda Airport in Lamu.
Source: The Eastleigh Voice (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
Ask your hotel how to get from Manda Airport to where you're staying.
KenyaPlus planning advice, not from an official source.
Road times
The table below shows KenyaPlus estimates. Lamu is a long way by road from Nairobi and Mombasa.
Worked out as described under the table: from openrouteservice road routes plus an allowance for stops where KenyaPlus holds them, otherwise straight-line distance × 1.3 at an assumed 50 km/h average, including stops.
| To | From Nairobi | From Mombasa |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi | — | ~6½ h (long day) |
| Maasai Mara | ~5 h | ~11½ h (too far for one day) |
| Amboseli | ~4½ h | ~6½ h (long day) |
| Diani Beach | ~7 h (long day) | ~½ h |
| Mombasa | ~6½ h (long day) | — |
| Naivasha | ~1½ h | ~8 h (long day) |
| Lake Nakuru | ~2½ h | ~9 h (long day) |
| Tsavo East | ~5½ h | ~3 h |
| Samburu | ~5½ h | ~12 h (too far for one day) |
| Lamu | ~10 hto Mokowe + boat (too far for one day) | ~5½ hto Mokowe + boat |
| Mount Kenya | ~3 h | ~9½ h (too far for one day) |
| Malindi | ~9 h (long day) | ~2 h |
| Watamu | ~8½ h (long day) | ~2 h |
| Aberdare National Park | ~4 h | ~10½ h (too far for one day) |
| Lake Bogoria | ~4½ h | ~11 h (too far for one day) |
| Kakamega Forest | ~6 h (long day) | ~12½ h (too far for one day) |
| Tsavo West National Park | ~4½ h | ~4½ h |
| Meru National Park | ~6 h (long day) | ~12½ h (too far for one day) |
| Shimba Hills National Reserve | ~11½ h (too far for one day) | ~1 h |
| Mount Elgon National Park | ~6½ h (long day) | ~13 h (too far for one day) |
Driving time on the road route plus 20% for stops and slower traffic (Road routes © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT, map data © OpenStreetMap contributors). Orange: a long day (over 6 h). Red: too far for one day (over 9 h).
Confirm before you travel
- Festival dates for the year you travel
- Flights to Manda Airport and your transfer to Lamu town
Ready to plan?
Turn this into a day-by-day plan and run the Trip Reality Check.
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (opens in a new tab) — Lamu Old Town — World Heritage List (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- The Eastleigh Voice (opens in a new tab) — Lamu intensifies efforts to market region as key tourist destination (20 Mar 2025) (checked 16 Oct 2026)