Lamu: World Heritage, Architecture and Maulidi

In Lamu, narrow streets, historic architecture and a long Swahili history come together. Lamu Old Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 2001. The town is best explored on foot; handcarts and donkeys handle transport, as there are no motor vehicles in Lamu. When choosing a holiday apartment, it’s worth first deciding what you want to focus on: town walks, historic architecture, the museum or the Maulidi celebrations each shape a stay in a different way.

On foot through the narrow streets

Lamu’s winding streets are no more than eight feet wide. Rather than driving through town, getting around on foot is the way to go. This gives exploring a different rhythm from a place where visitors travel between attractions in motor vehicles. Long walks along the seafront promenade and exploring the town are among the experiences described for visitors. If you’re looking for accommodation, you can consider whether these walks and the historic layout of the town match the kind of holiday you want.

You can also factor your arrival into your plans: a dhow ferry brings arriving passengers to Lamu Town or Shela. Check current connections before your trip. The winding streets and the different arrival destinations mentioned are useful points of reference when planning your days and looking for a holiday apartment.

Swahili architecture in the townscape

Stone Town in Lamu has more than 160 historic houses built in the traditional style. Described features include central courtyards, long narrow galleries and flat, open roofs. Some houses also have flat roofs shaded by protective roofs made of palm-thatch. Most houses stand out for their elaborately carved wooden doors and intricately decorated niches made of carved plaster.

More details can be found inside the traditional buildings: painted ceilings, large niches called madaka, small niches called zidaka, and Chinese porcelain. The well-preserved houses reflect a Swahili building tradition that uses coral stone, lime and mangrove poles. Along the seafront promenade, arcades and open verandas define the buildings; seen from the sea, they give the town a unified appearance. The different architectural features show just how many facets Lamu’s architecture has to offer.

Lamu Museum and historical topics

The Lamu Museum is housed in a Grade 1-classified Stone-Veranda building dating from the early 20th century. The first floor contains ethnographic collections from the Swahili, Boni, Sanye, Pokomo and Orma communities. Also on display there are the Pate Ivory Siwa, the Maulidi gallery and the maritime gallery. Visitors interested in history, communities and maritime topics will find several different perspectives within a single museum.

The town’s history goes back a long way, too: Lamu has been continuously inhabited for more than 700 years. Nearby are the ruins of Takwa on Manda Island. They are the remains of an important Swahili trading town from the 15th and 16th centuries, which was abandoned in the 17th century. The historic architecture of Lamu and the ruins of Takwa therefore represent different chapters of Swahili history.

Maulidi and choosing your travel focus

The Maulidi celebrations culminate in a three-day festival organized by religious leaders and the National Museum of Kenya. The programme includes recitations of poems of praise, music, dances, calligraphy and art exhibitions. As the dates can vary, it’s a good idea to check them specifically for the festival before travelling.

Architecture, the museum and Maulidi offer different reasons to explore Lamu in greater depth. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can consider whether you’d prefer to wander around town on foot, spend time with the architectural styles and collections, or plan your trip around the festival celebrations. That way, you can start planning with what you want to discover in Lamu in mind.

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