Night in Nairobi vs. Night in Malindi before heading to Lamu

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guabitas
guabitas

Hello every body!

I will be travelling Ethiopia this fall and am planning to spend a couple of days in Lamu to chill and relax before heading home.

I have two options:

1) Either fly Addis Ababa - Nairobi, spend the afternoon in Nairobi and fly next day to Lamu:
ET 801 17DEC Addis - Nairobi / 1040 1245

5H 411 18DEC Nairobi - Lamu / 0940 1140

2) Or I fly to Mombasa, find my way to Malindi and fly next day to Lamu:
ET 813 17DEC Addis - Mombasa / 1040 1305

5H 411 18DEC Malindi - Lamu / 1115 1140

The second version is slighty more expensive (+ USD 80.-) but it's not an issue. I tend towards the second option since I prefer spending a night already at the beach than in Nairobi...

But how easy is it to get from Mombasa Airport to Malindi and how long does it take? Will it be very stressful taking public transportation from the Airport to Malindi?

What would you do?

Thanks for any input!

Cheers and happy travels always!
Eva

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guabitas
guabitas

or actually 3rd option) fly to Mombasa and bus my way next day to Lamu... ???

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jambohouse
jambohouse

Hi Eva, I would go by bus from Mombasa to Lamu. Why? I get on the bus in Mombasa and I don't have to change transport. And you are almost same time in Lamu: around 2 pm by bus - around 12:15 pm by plane. If you prefer to fly take an express matatu to Malindi Airport (less than 90 minutes) and take the flight from there to Lamu at 11:15 am. Do not take the regular matatu because these take up to around 3 hours and most probably you have to change matatus two times. Btw, you could even travel with the night bus (departure times 9 pm or 10 pm). During the last two months I did that three out of four times when I travelled to Mombasa and back. You will reach Lamu at around 4 am depending on the bus company. Do make a reservation for accommodation in advance - December is always very busy in Lamu!

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guabitas
guabitas

Hello Jambohouse! Thanks for the input, I'll definitely consider taking that night bus!! Do I need to make reservation for that in advance? And is it not a problem to arrive Lamu by night? (I will then of course make a reservation for accommodation before!) ...and you always read advice against travelling by night in Kenya... but if you take that regularly I think it should not be an issue...? Thanks!

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jambohouse
jambohouse

Hi Eva, Christmas time busses are full but there are a few bus company relatively close to each other in Mombasa. You will reach Lamu between 4 am and 6 am (depending on the bus company). I travelled several time night busses (Kisumu - Mombasa, Lamu - Mombasa - Lamu). Something could happen always when you are at the wrong time at the wrong place - even in Europe. Between Nairobi and Mombasa is a lot of traffic (trucks,...) but on Lamu Road there's little traffic. Maybe other people have a different opinion but I always travel by bus because for me that's the easiest way to get to Mombasa. For the bus you could make a reservation in advance but the safest way (that you reservation will be ok) is to pay the ticket in advance (mpesa - money transfer through Safaricom).
Otherwise, there's also Mombasa Air Safari which leaves Mombasa at around 4 pm. With that airline you will reach Lamu at 5:40 pm the same day.

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