The Fort

Lamu Island


Built to resemble an Omani-style fort and fully staffed, this former private home overlooks a deserted stretch of Shela Beach. Its glorious isolation, its somewhat rustic rooms and the intermittent electricity are of considerable appeal to those who come to switch off. Bring a torch for the 10-minute evening walk into the village. Online bookings only.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Lamu Island attractions

1. Shela Beach

0.13 MILES

Most people are here for the beach – a 12km-long, wide sweep of pristine white sand where you’re guaranteed an isolated spot (at least if you’re…

2. German Post Office Museum

2.18 MILES

In the late 1800s, before the British decided to nip German expansion into Tanganyika in the bud, the Germans regarded Lamu as an ideal base from which to…

3. Lamu Market

2.21 MILES

Atmospheric and somewhat chaotic, this quintessential Lamu market is best visited early in the morning. Bargain for fresh tuna and sailfish, wade through…

4. Lamu Fort

2.23 MILES

This squat castle was built by the Sultan of Paté between 1810 and 1823. From 1910 right up to 1984 it was used as a prison. It now houses the island’s…

5. Lamu Museum

2.35 MILES

The best museum in town (and the second best in Kenya) is housed in a grand Swahili warehouse on the waterfront. This is as good a gateway as you’ll get…

6. Donkey Sanctuary

2.42 MILES

A man without a donkey is a donkey, claims one Swahili proverb. Or, as the staff of this sanctuary might tell you, a man who doesn’t look after his donkey…

7. Swahili House

2.42 MILES

This preserved 16th-century Swahili house, tucked away to the side of Yumbe Guest House, in a tranquil courtyard with a well, is beautiful. The entry fee…

8. Takwa Ruins

3.91 MILES

What sets these ruins, the remains of a city that existed between the 15th and 17th centuries, apart from other archaeological sites on the coast? Quiet…