Lamu

Lamu Island is one of East Africa's most extraordinary destinations, an ancient island settlement that feels genuinely removed from the modern world. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lamu Town is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in Kenya, a labyrinth of narrow coral-stone alleyways, carved wooden doorways, whitewashed mosques, and rooftop terraces from which you can watch the Indian Ocean trade winds move the dhow sails below.  There are no cars on Lamu. Transport is by foot, by donkey, or by wooden sailing dhow, the ancient ocean-going vessels that have plied these waters since the seventh century, connecting East Africa to Arabia, India, and Persia in a trade network that shaped the language, architecture, cuisine, and culture of the entire Swahili coast.  The accommodation at Manda Bay and Lamu's finest properties sits among the most private and extraordinary in Kenya, with all-inclusive experiences that combine water sports, Swahili cooking lessons, snorkelling, sunset dhow cruises, and guided walks through Lamu's medieval old town.

 The food on Lamu is a revelation: slow-cooked Swahili curries, grilled whole fish, coconut rice, tamarind chutneys, and fresh mango desserts that reflect centuries of ocean-borne cultural exchange. Lamu is the ideal finale for any grand safari circuit, offering a quiet, culturally profound, and deeply beautiful contrast to the excitement of the bush.