Lamu, Town, Island and Archipelago, all of the same name, lie 2
degrees below the Equator on Kenya's northern coast. The archipelago is a
chain of Islands separated from the mainland by a narrow channel bordered
with dense mangrove forest and protected from the Indian Ocean by coral
reefs and large sand dunes. The island has been a port of varying importance
for thousands of years, in the 2nd century, the Greeks knew of this coast
and called it Azania and later, in the 9th and 10th centuries Arab and
Persian traders and settlers called it Bilad-al-Zenj. Their small
settlements grew into fiercely independent city-states, which brought forth
a distinct Arab-African culture called Swahili
A thousand years of trade, settlement and Islamic expansion has resulted in
the people of Lamu being devout followers of Islam and the town is a place
of religious pilgrimage where Muslims from all over eastern Africa gather
every year to celebrate Maulidi, the Prophet's birthday. Lamu is remote even
by Kenyan standards. There are no cars on the island and a way of life from
and earlier age is still intact.
A short boat ride from the town of Lamu is Peponi, a small hotel
established in 1967 by the Korschen family, who still run it today. The
hotel is a collection of small buildings scattered through gardens and
following the line of the coast. Small and personal, it is the perfect rest
after a safari or a hide away holiday from modern life.
Day 1 - Nairobi to Lamu, Peponi Hotel
Depart Nairobi Airport on your scheduled flight to Lamu, flying time is
approximately 1hr 45mins. On arrival you will be met, your luggage collected
and you walk the short distance to the airport's own jetty. From here it is
a lovely 20 minute boat ride to Peponi Hotel.
Days 2 to 4 - Peponi Hotel
Enjoy the lazy mood of this beautiful Swahili Island. For the active there
are plenty of water sports, for the more relaxed there are quiet places in
the hotel grounds, by the pool or on the verandah of your room. Meals served
in the waterside restaurant are delicious, particularly the seafood which
comes fresh from the waters around the island.
Days 5 - Lamu to Nairobi
Sadly you will wave farewell to the new found friends at Peponis. Transfer
by boat to the airport and fly by scheduled flight to Nairobi.
