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Lamu Island Kenya
As Kenya's oldest living town it has retained
all the charm and character built up over centuries. There
are no cars so donkeys are the main means of transport.
Children play in the narrow streets, Muslim men chat on
street corners and women in their black buibui eils busy
themselves through doorways.
Lamu island Kenya is
memorable. Most houses have a rooftop
which is used as a patio - indicative of a society where
hanging back‚ and catching the breeze‚ is important. Keep an
eye out for the intricately carved wooden doors and lintels
for which the island is famous.
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The island has a long history and by the 1500s it was a
thriving port, exporting timber, ivory, amber, spices and
slaves.
When the Portuguese arrived, it surrendered without
a murmur and in the mid-1800s it became a subject of the
Sultanate of Zanzibar, which nominally controlled the whole
coastal strip until Kenya became independent in 1963.
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Until the 19th century dawned, Lamu's
economy was hinged on slave labour and with the abolition of
slavery it declined rapidly.
That is until the advent of tourists. In the 1960s
Lamu was up there with Katmandu as a hippy hangout and it
has since been under siege by tourists. There are two banks,
a post office and a book shop, the Lamu Book Centre, which
sells local newspapers and international news magazines,
take a copy of ‘holidays in Lamu’ magazine to take home.
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Lamu is Islamic, so be sensitive in the way you dress. The
best way to get to Lamu is to fly. Otherwise the road to
Lamu is rough and while there are buses, the journey is
tedious. Lamu budget hotels and houses are also listed
below.
No doubt you will find
Lamu as enchanting as the UK Harper's & Queen editor who
wrote, "Lamu is simple, fresh, cheerful and everything
about it is totally original and genuine - no frozen
foods here, nor frozen smiles." |
• Preferred accommodation
options in Lamu as follows.
Lamu town.
Stone
House
Petleys
Inn
Lamu Palace
Hotel
Lamu
House Kenya
Shella beach Lamu.
Peponi
Hotel
Kijani
House Lamu
Island
Hotel
Yumbe
House
Stopover
Guest
House
Mnarani
House
Mtakuja
House
Jasmine
House Lamu
Other private locations in
Lamu suitable for honeymooners.
Kizingo
Lodge Lamu
Kipungani
Lodge
Lamu
Kiwayu
Safari Village
Diani beach Kenya
Lamu island Kenya
Kenya
Safaris Mount Kenya
Hiking
Kenya
Car Hire Africa
Safaris
Budget
Camping Kenya Safaris
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