Lamu Old Town and Shella Village
Lamu Old Town is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa, retaining its traditional functions. 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. Lamu Old Town, located on an island known by the same name on the coast of East Africa some 350km north of Mombasa, is the oldest and best preserved example of Swahili settlement in East Africa.
Unlike other Swahili settlements which have been abandoned along the East African coast, Lamu has continuously been inhabited for over 700 years. Since the classification as a World Heritage Site, the town has seen a renaissance in tourism and has become a major attraction.
In turn, a lot of the magnificent old stone house have acquired new owners and have been extensively renovated. The town is now a haven for artist and has created its own vibrant sub culture. It has though retained its ancient ways of transport as there is no room for cars on the Island.
All transport is by foot, by donkey or by boat. Outside of the Lamu town and Shela Village, Boda Boda (motorbikes for passenger transport) are available.
A short distance along the waterfront, within a forty minute walk or a 10 minute boat ride lies the village of Shella. With no restrictions imposed by the World Heritage Site, Shella has been able to flourish as a haven for artists and the affluent.
The houses have been kept within Swahili Custom but display partially a lavish and stylish interior. It is also host for the famous Peponi Hotel, a not so secret anymore tip for the rich and the famous. Over the years , Shella has become a haven for, and a master in discretion
Due to celebrity influx from the performing arts and it own annual Arts Festival it is sometimes referred to as the St’Tropez of East Africa. Lamu and Shella together create a world of diversity, tolerance and acceptance and play host to a number of annual festivals that depict the cultural melting pot Lamu always was.
- Lamu Cultural Festival (Lamu)
- Maulidi Celebrations (Lamu)
- Lamu Arts Festival (Shella and Lamu)
- Lamu Painters Festival (Shella and Lamu)
- Annual Hat Competition (Shella and Lamu)
- Shella Joga Festival (Shell, Lamu, Ras Kitau
- Lamu Food Festival
To own property in Lamu talk to us Today
- Plot 43, Ras Kitau – Lamu
- +254 723 522131
- info@lamurealty.co.ke
