The Lamu Archipelago

Dating back to the 14th century the island, like its cousin Zanzibar, inspires thoughts of the exotic. Cooled by the trade winds that run north and south along the Kenya coastline, the island has both a thriving fishing population and a few well appointed hotels.

The towns of Shela and Lamu are a maze of winding alley ways, walked by donkeys and their masters taking their wares to and from the market place. Once a trading post for the sultanate of Oman, the island has had a pretty turbid history with the Portugese and then the British moving in to disturb the peace.

Today, however, it is a quiet island once more and has recently become a World Heritage Site. Days can be spent waterskiing in the protected inlet, walking along the wild coastline or exploring the myriad streets of the villages.