No backpacker trip to Kenya is complete without a few days on Lamu island. Granted its a bit of an effort to get to, being just that bit further north up the coastline, but once there the tropical beaches and world heritage site of Lamu town will certainly reward.
Its an historic place with a history that stretches back 1000 years or more, influenced by various swathes of visitors most notably the Arabs and Portuguese. Its often described as East Africa’s oldest and best preserved Swahili town. There’s plenty of impressive architecture as well as some sober reminders of the slave trade.
As an island there is good, fresh seafood on tap (at least by African standards). I had a wonderful prawn curry in an unassuming restaurant, as well as some shark on the following night. There are also fine beaches all around, although I did chance upon the somewhat shocking site of young local men frolicking in the waves with older, wealthy looking western women. Well I guess it’s a marriage of convenience, if somewhat unsavoury…
