General Information

Getting Here

There are a number of daily flights to Lamu leaving from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Domestic Airport, Nairobi Wilson Airport, Mombasa’s Moi Domestic Airport and from Malindi Airport.

The operating airlines are, SafariLink, Skyward Express, Jambojet. Please enquire for flights directly through the airline’s websites.

Banking

You will find a number banks and ATM’s in Lamu Town where you can exchange foreign currencies, make use of your credit card, or withdraw cash. The banks operating here are Kenya Commercial Bank, Gulf African Bank, ABC Bank, DTB Bank and Equity Bank. All of them can be found along the seafront of Lamu Town.

Be prepared that there are no banks or ATM’s in Shela Village!

Dress Code

Being in an Islamic community it is advisable to cover up shoulders and legs while spending your time in Shela Village, Lamu Town or the other settlements. On the beach swimwear is fine and you can cover up easily with a Kikoy or Kanga before entering Shela Village.

Weather

Warmed by the equatorial sun and cooled by the monsoon of the Indian Ocean the islands have, with an average temperature of 24-32 degrees Celsius, a pleasant climate for most of the year.

The Lamu Archipelago climate is ruled by trade winds whose patterns have been understood by traders and explorers from as far off as Arabia, Portugal, India and China and who centuries ago planned their routes South and North along the East African coast accordingly.

  • Kazkazi, North/North-East, strong offshore winds from December to March.

  • Matalai, transitional periods during April and November – it can be felt quite hot.

  • Kusi, South/South-East, strong onshore winds starting in May and bringing the rains.
    The winds are getting weaker around mid-September and last till October.