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Kenya: Day 15: Lamu Island

Lamu Island is a part of the Lamu Archipelago of Kenya. Lamu Old Town, the principal inhabited part of the island, is one of the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlements in East Africa. Built in coral stone and mangrove timber, the town is characterized by the simplicity of structural forms enriched by such features as inner courtyards, verandas, and elaborately carved wooden doors. Lamu has hosted major Muslim religious festivals since the 19th century, and has become a significant center for the study of Islamic and Swahili cultures. (reference: Wikipedia)

So after the typical breakfast we went out to explore the Lamu Old Town and we booked a bus for tomorrow to Mombasa. We continued to Shela beach, where we spend the whole day swimming, playing rummy and drinking medica - honey schnapps. We finished the bottle in a shade below a tree.

On our way back we got a little bit lost, since the high tide closed our track to the beach, but as always, we found the right way in the end. A quick shopping for vegetables and drinking water and we were back in our Yumbe House cooking dinner.

Good morning Lamu

 

Yumbe house was built in 17th-century and is made from coral.

 

Narrow streets of Lamu

Towards Shela beach

Tree

We were here

 

Water was warm

  

Abandoned

Garage

Clean water, sandy beach

In the shade

Our tree

View from the "island" to island

Everywhere sand ...

... and Nada.

 

Medica time

On our way back

We found 2 more friends on the way back to the city

Afternoon rest

Boat

People here usually travel by boat

Sunset

Vervet monkey

Play time

The village

Lamu - Shela - Lamu

Previous days on blog of Kenya travel days with Nada:

Pre-Pre Day, Pre-Day, Day1, Day2, Day3, Day4, Day5, Day6, Day7, Day8, Day9, Day10, Day11, Day12, Day13, Day14.