Lamu Island as seen from the Indian Ocean
 

On the North of Mombasa, the island of Lamu is undisturbed by the turmoil of modern times The oldest living Swahili town in Kenya, Lamu is a peaceful tropical island set in an archipelago of coral fringed islands. Lamu began life as a 14th century Swahili settlement, but the island has seen many visitors including Indian, Portuguese explorers, Turkish traders and the Yemeni and Omani Arabs. The Swahili culture and style of Lamu are a mix of East African and these early visitors’ influences. Since this time, Lamu has flourished as a maritime trading centre whose main population, the Swahili, engaged in international trade, fishing and farming.

The architecture of Lamu has remained uniquely Swahili; narrow streets, storied buildings, intricately carved wooden doors and numerous mosques. It's unique social-cultural life has remained unchanged for centuries. For these reasons Lamu is listed as a

UNESCO heritage site. Lamu  is host to three museums and a Fort, namely: Lamu Museum, Lamu Fort ,German Post Office Museum, and Swahili House Museum. Lamu Museum can arrange guided tours to various archaeological and historical sites, Manda Island or to Pate Island, where the ruins of the earliest known Swahili settlement of Shanga – dated to the 8th century AD – can be visited