6 reasons why Lamu should be on your bucket list for 2016
Lamu is a place like no other, a peaceful tropical island where life is lived at its own relaxed rhythm, but a place whose history is a mysterious and fascinating as the winding streets of its medieval stone town. Below are 6 reasons why Lamu should be on your bucket-list for 2016.
1. Lamu Island is a beautiful place of rolling dunes and endless beaches, where tiny villages nestle among coconut and plantations and lateen sailed dhows ply the waters.
2. A part of Kenya’s Lamu Archipelago, Lamu Island is undoubtedly one of the top holiday destinations and has retained all the charm and character built up over centuries. The important inhabited part of this island is known as Lamu Town, there are three villages on Lamu Island which are also very good examples of natural beauty; they are Shela Village, Matondoni, and Kipungani.
3. Lamu town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Swahili culture and style of Lamu are a rich cultural mix of East African, Arab and Indian influences. 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 centre for the study of Islamic and Swahili cultures.
4. Go shopping for beautiful clothes, Kanga’s and kikoys, leather work, carved wooden furniture, and silver jewellery. Snorkelling, dhow sailing, kayaking and dolphin watching are the few activities that one can enjoy in Lamu.
5. Dhow safaris can take you beyond Lamu into the surrounding archipelango, where isolated villages, ancient ruins and a few luxurious and exclusive resorts lie hidden among the islands of Manda, Siyu, Pate and Kiwayu.
6. Lamu’s narrow streets remain unchanged, and in the markets and squares around the fort life moves at the same place as it always has. There are no vehicles on this island.
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