Kenya: Day 14: From Malindi to Lamu
After the breakfast, as usual an omelette, tea, juice and mandazi, we went to the city to catch the bus to Lamu. Lately we are always a bit early, but it is better to wait a little than to miss the transportation.
We started driving around 9:00 a.m. and the half of the way passed quite quick, but then the fun started. Asphalt road changed to gravel one, with million bumps and after a couple of kilometres we stopped because of the police or army checks. Everyone had to go off the bus, show their ID and then we went back on and we continued. They checked us around 5 times at different places, even though we had their escort around us all the time.
At one point I took the picture of the sign Lamu and a military base behind it and I almost caused an international incident. Army guy started to question me, checking my passport, but in the end they let me go without many times mentioned military court. Luckily I also kept my phone, but without the taken picture and we continued with additional 20 minute delay.
Police and army checks are regular in this area, since Somali extremists attacks are also quite often here and the border is just 50 kilometres away. Well, we survived without an attack and in the afternoon we arrived to Mokowe, and we were less than an hour on a boat away from Lamu.
Boat was totally full and I hoped everybody was able to swim. Luckily the sea was calm and we arrived to Lamu safe and sound. On the docks we picked up a guy, who took us to Yumbe house, where we decided to stay for 2 nights. After we settled in we went on a quick tour around the small city.
We started driving around 9:00 a.m. and the half of the way passed quite quick, but then the fun started. Asphalt road changed to gravel one, with million bumps and after a couple of kilometres we stopped because of the police or army checks. Everyone had to go off the bus, show their ID and then we went back on and we continued. They checked us around 5 times at different places, even though we had their escort around us all the time.
At one point I took the picture of the sign Lamu and a military base behind it and I almost caused an international incident. Army guy started to question me, checking my passport, but in the end they let me go without many times mentioned military court. Luckily I also kept my phone, but without the taken picture and we continued with additional 20 minute delay.
Police and army checks are regular in this area, since Somali extremists attacks are also quite often here and the border is just 50 kilometres away. Well, we survived without an attack and in the afternoon we arrived to Mokowe, and we were less than an hour on a boat away from Lamu.
Boat was totally full and I hoped everybody was able to swim. Luckily the sea was calm and we arrived to Lamu safe and sound. On the docks we picked up a guy, who took us to Yumbe house, where we decided to stay for 2 nights. After we settled in we went on a quick tour around the small city.
View to Malindi from our Ajab Delta Hotel
Our food for the whole day
Regular police checks between the cities
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| Another check, where they almost took me away for taking a picture of a nearby military camp |
On the boat to Lamu
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| From Mokowe to Lamu |
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| Happy |
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| Small boat accepted 27 people |
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| The Lamu island is linked by boat to Mokowe on the mainland and to Manda Island, where there is an airport. There are no roads on the island, just alleyways and footpaths, and therefore, there are few motorized vehicles on the island. Residents move about on foot or by boat, and donkeys are used to transport goods and materials. |
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| Lamu |
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| Yumbe house, our home for next two night |
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| Since the Lamu island has no motorised vehicles, transportation and other heavy work is done with the help of donkeys. There are some 3000 donkeys on the island. |
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| Our dinner |
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| From Malindi to Lamu |
Pre-Pre Day, Pre-Day, Day1, Day2, Day3, Day4, Day5, Day6, Day7, Day8, Day9, Day10, Day11, Day12, Day13.
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