Sandy beaches, rich history make ideal place to unwind

Historical explorations

The first place that any visitor should go to is the Lamu Old Town. There are several beautiful and historic buildings with unique coral stone decorations.

Dating back to the 14th century, the town is the oldest inhabited Swahili settlement and it is comparable to Zanzibar Island's Stone Town in Tanzania. Lamu Old Town has about 1,200 old structures, and the architecture shows years of influence from Europe, Arabia, India and Persia among others.

While walking through the Lamu town's narrow streets, visitors are greeted with intricately carved wooden doors, coral-stoned buildings, verandas and rooftop patios. There are no vehicles on the island, and donkeys, dhows and motorbikes - which were introduced recently and mostly used during low tides - remain the dominant forms of transport.

Lamu Museum, Lamu Fort, Swahili House and Shela village are some of the must-visit places at the island.

Located at the seafront, Lamu Museum is housed in a grand Swahili warehouse. The museum displays artifacts of the Swahili culture and the archipelago's rich history.

It also exhibits interesting artworks and sculptures such as Chinese porcelain and ceramics - an indication of trade contacts between China and Kenya in the past.

Featuring a central courtyard and located in the center of town, Lamu Fort dates back to 1813.Between 1910 and 1984, it was used as a prison.

Today, the fort has a museum with an environmental conservation exhibition on its ground floor. The second floor houses offices, laboratories, a workshop and a rental conference venue hosting various local functions. It also houses a library with an excellent collection of Swahili poetry and reference material on the island. The courtyard serves as a local community area for meetings, celebrations, weddings and public performances.

The Swahili House Museum gives a glimpse into ancient Swahili home architecture. The house has thick walls, small windows and a high ceiling to provide a cool atmosphere, which does away with the need for air conditioners. The interior of the house features a reception room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen.

Shela Village is one of three villages in Lamu Island, with the other two being Kipungani and Matondoni. Located 3 kilometers from Lamu town, Shela features pristine white sandy beaches and rolling dunes dotted with palms and acacia tortilis trees.

It is also a great spot for photography during sunrise and sunsets, with the sandy pathways of Shela Village as a backdrop.

Shadrack Charo, a front manager at Peponi Hotel, said Shela is a must-see for any visitor to Lamu Island.

"If you come to Lamu and don't step into Shela and specifically the beach, then you have not been in Lamu," Charo said.

"It's very safe to walk on the 12-km beach to Kizingoni at low tide. Peponi Hotel has employed policemen to walk along the beach to ensure safety of visitors. They are mostly in civilian wear."

Shela Village is popular with Western expats and celebrities who visit the quiet settlement to unwind. Most property in Shela are owned by westerners.

In addition to sightseeing, visitors can participate in fun activities like boat rides on traditional dhows, snorkeling and diving.