Lamu Island is located off the coast of northern Kenya and is part of the Lamu Archipelago. The town is clad in a rich history that dates back all the way to the 12th century. Lamu is one of the longest-established and best-preserved remaining settlements of the Swahili tradition in East Africa. It is a major destination for anyone with an interest in East Africa’s colorful heritage.
With no cars on the narrow paved roads on the island, locals and visitors get around by either walking its sandy alleys or using donkeys as has been the norm for hundreds of years.
Yes indeed, a visit to Lamu will feel like stepping back in time.
One can get to Lamu by road or air with the easiest means being air. The Manda Airport (LAU), is located on Manda Island and services the Lamu Archipelago. Several domestic airlines among them fly to the Manda Island Airport daily:
- Skyward Express – Operates daily flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Lamu and back. Visit: https://bit.ly/3zAMfz7 for ticket bookings.
- Jambo Jet – Operates from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with daily flights to Lamu. Visit https://bit.ly/3Mg4npk for ticket bookings.
- Fly Safarilink – Operates daily flights to Lamu from Wilson Airport in Nairobi. Visit https://bit.ly/3ZFJkzF for ticket bookings.
All these airlines operate daily flights to Lamu from Nairobi, Mombasa, and Malindi. Most airlines in Nairobi operate from Wilson Airport with the approximate flight time to Lamu being one and a half hours.
Most visitors come to stay in Lamu, Shela, or Manda and therefore, once you leave the airport, it is absolutely necessary to use a boat to get to your final destination. At the jetty off the airport, one can either hail a public or private boat ride to Manda Island which is a short distance away. Whatever the case, there are always boats waiting by the jetty to take passengers to their destinations whenever a plane lands at the Manda Airport.
Hotels operating on the island can also organize one for their guests. For our guests, we have a boat and a captain ready to do transfers from the airport to our Manda or Ras Kitao Villas.
