Travel advisory · KenyaLamu is in or near an area where governments advise against all travel: Lamu county.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Border with Ethiopia · avoid all travel · Spain, France, New Zealand
- Border with South Sudan · avoid all travel · Spain, France, New Zealand
- Coastal areas north of Malindi · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand, US
- Garissa county · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, US
- Lamu county · avoid all travel · Spain, New Zealand, US
- Lamu county excluding Lamu Island and Manda Island · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, UK
- Mandera county · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, UK, US
- Tana River county (except Tsavo National Park) · avoid all travel · Italy, US
- Wajir county · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, US
- Baringo county · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Italy
- Coast between Tana River and Galana River · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, UK
- Coastal areas of Tana River county · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, New Zealand
- Eastleigh (Nairobi) · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy, New Zealand, US
- Kibera (Nairobi) · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, France, New Zealand, US
- Mathare (Nairobi) · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
- Northern Tana River county · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, UK
- Pangani (Nairobi) · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Turkana county · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain
- West Pokot county · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Italy, US
Also named by one government: Areas bordering Somalia (New Zealand), Garissa county excluding Garissa Town, Lagdera and parts of Balambala (UK), Kilifi county north of highway C103 (US), Maritime zone up to 72E and 15S (France), Marsabit county within 110 km of South Sudan and Ethiopia borders (Canada), Marsabit county within 50 km of Ethiopia border (US), Somalia border strip up to 100 km inside Kenya (France), Tarbaj and Wajir East constituencies (UK), Turkana county within 110 km of South Sudan and Ethiopia borders (Canada), Turkana county within 50 km of Ethiopia border (US), Wajir county within 60 km of Somalia border (UK), Western Turkana county (US), Arid and remote regions of northern Kenya (Italy), Baringo sub-counties Mukutani, Muchongoi, Bartabwa, Tiaty East and Tiaty West (Spain), Elgeyo Marakwet county (Italy), Elgeyo Marakwet sub-counties Marakwet East and Marakwet West (Spain), Garissa Town (UK), Laikipia county (Italy), Laikipia sub-counties Olmoran, Ng'arua and Mukogodo (Spain), Lamu Island (Germany), Manda Island (Germany), Marsabit county (Spain), Mombasa (Italy), Outlying areas of Isiolo county (France), Outlying areas of Turkana county (France), Outlying areas of West Pokot county (France), Outlying regions of Marsabit county (France), Overland routes between Lamu and Malindi (Italy), Samburu county areas of Loroki and Kirisia (Spain), Turkana sub-counties Turkana South, Turkana East and Loima (Spain), West of Garissa county (France), West of Mandera county (France), West of Wajir county (France), West Pokot sub-counties Pokot North and Sigor (Spain), Within 75 km of Kenya-Somalia border (Ireland)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider travel | Oct 19, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Increased caution nationwide; partial travel warnings for specific areas (regional advisories) | Oct 19, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | High Degree of Caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Vigilance renforcée (reste du territoire) (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Lamu
Lamu is a small Swahili island town on Kenya's coast, known for its UNESCO-listed old town, its stone houses and donkeys that carry goods.
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Lamu is a small town on Lamu Island in the Lamu Archipelago, off Kenya's coast, and the headquarters of Lamu County. UNESCO listed its old town as a World Heritage Site in 2001 for its well-kept Swahili character. The town is believed to date from 1370, which makes it Kenya's oldest continuously inhabited town. Many of its stone and coral houses were built in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Lamu has no motorized traffic for most purposes. Donkeys carry goods and people. Visitors should dress modestly, with more than shorts or bikinis when walking in town. The Maulidi Festival falls in January or February, and the Lamu Cultural Festival usually runs in the last week of August. The road from Mombasa, about 341 km northeast, ends at Mokowe Jetty, where a boat crosses the channel. Manda Airport on Manda Island has daily flights to Malindi, Mombasa and Nairobi. Two attacks near Lamu in July 2014 killed 29 people, so check current security advice before you go.
Lamu in five
- Lamu County is mostly advised against: read the UK mapFCDO advises against all travel to Lamu County except Lamu Island and Manda Island. For the islands it says to fly to Lamu Airport on Manda Island and not to travel by road.UK regional risks
- Fly to Manda, then take a boatLamu's airport is on Manda Island. A short boat ride crosses the channel to Lamu town or Shela, so check your lodging's boat pickup.Flights via Nairobi
- Walk or ride a donkeyThere are no cars in the old town. Lanes are narrow, so pack light enough to carry your bag.
- Dress modestly in townLamu is conservative. Cover shoulders and knees away from the beach, and ask before photographing people.
- Book a dhow trip only around the islandsSunset sails and trips to Manda and the Takwa ruins leave from the waterfront. Agree the price and route first, and keep outings to Lamu and Manda islands, not the mainland of Lamu County.
Need to know
- Airport
- Manda (LAU), a short boat ride from Lamu town
- Getting there
- Fly to Lamu Airport on Manda; the UK says not by road
- Getting around
- Walking, donkeys, boats and dhows
- Best base
- Lamu Old Town for culture, Shela for the beach
- Time needed
- 3–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Dry, breezyJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, breezy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy4 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Dry, hotFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°Hot, calmMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, calm
- AprilRain24 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Rains startAprilRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 194 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- MayRain24 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Heaviest rainMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 211 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heaviest rain
- JuneRain18 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Wet, windyJuneRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh28°Low24°WindyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Windy
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh28°Low24°WindyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Windy
- SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh28°Low24°DrierSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 36 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°WarmOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- NovemberRain20 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Short rainsNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 155 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Short rains
- DecemberRain17 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Dry, busyDecemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
Average daily high and low in Lamu, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Lamu
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
27
- Feels like
- 31°
- Humidity
- 80%
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Lamu
11:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today32°25°100%Monday: Rain. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue31°26°92%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 92%.
- Wed31°25°41%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 41%.
- Thu31°26°31%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 31%.
- Fri31°25°64%Friday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 64%.
- Sat31°25°100%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun32°25°100%Sunday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 07:19 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 129.9 KES
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Shelaa walk along the shore or a short boat rideLong dunes and beach at the south end of the island.
- Takwa ruins, Manda Islanda boat trip across the channelRuins of a Swahili town among baobabs.
- Matondoniby donkey or boatA village where dhows are still built by hand.
Before you go to Lamu
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Plan around Lamu
Safari parks, Nairobi and the Kenya eTA
Read the guideNairobiWhere most flights to Lamu connect
Read the guideMalindiBeach town on the coast to the south
Read the guideZanzibarAnother Swahili coast island, in Tanzania
Read the guideKenya eTA guideApply online before you travel
Read the guideGetting around KenyaDomestic flights and the road coast
Read the guideLamu FAQ
How do I get to Lamu?
Fly to Lamu Airport on Manda Island, then take the boat across. The UK advice says to fly to the islands and not to travel by road, and it advises against all travel to Lamu County outside Lamu and Manda islands.
Is Lamu good for a beach holiday?
Shela beach is long and uncrowded. The old town is for culture, so many visitors split their stay between the two.
What should I wear in Lamu?
Loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees in town. Swimwear is for the beach and your guesthouse.
How many days do I need in Lamu?
Three or four days gives you the old town, a dhow trip and slow time at Shela. Add a night if you want to visit Takwa and Matondoni, or if your flights are on a loose schedule.
Is Lamu safe for visitors?
The UK advises against all travel to Lamu County except Lamu Island and Manda Island, and says to be particularly vigilant on the islands because of their closeness to the mainland. Read the advice, fly in, stay on the islands and ask your lodging for current guidance.