Lamu Getting There & Away

Getting There & Away

By Air: Flying is definitely your best bet to get to Lamu. You can fly from Nairobi, Mombasa, or Malindi. Flights from Malindi are not too expensive, and it will be worth it. Lamu town on Lamu island is best reached by air either directly from Nairobi (Air Kenya and a small regional airline fly from Wilson Airport, Nairobi) or from Mombasa or Malindi to the south (operators include Mombasa Safari Air and other small local airlines). The airport is located on an island opposite the main village necessitating a short boat/ferry ride. Tourists are generally charged a premium price for the short trip. By Sea: It is possible to take a dhow from Malindi, but I would not recommend it. The trip can be longer than 12 hours, and there is a chance that you may not reach your destination at all, and you'll have to find another way to make the remainder of the trip. By Road: If the dirt road from Malindi is in passable condition, it's possible to drive to Lamu. Again, this is not recommended because of the frequency of bandit attacks north of Malindi. For those on a tighter budget a daily bus service does run from Mombasa via Malindi. This route was notorious for attacks by Somali bandits and buses have in the past been stopped and robbed. As of Oct 2005 the security situation was deemed to be OK. Armed guards are taken on board the buses for the most dangerous part of the journey close to Lamu.