Lamu is enchanting. As Kenya's oldest living town it has retained all the charm and character built up over centuries. There are no cars so donkeys are the main means of transport. Children play in the narrow streets, Muslim men chat on street corners and women in their black buibui eils busy themselves through doorways. Most houses have a rooftop which is used as a patio - indicative of a society where ‘hanging back’ and ‘catching the breeze’ is important. Keep an eye out for the intricately carved wooden doors and lintels for which the island is famous.

The island has a long history and by the 1500s it was a thriving port, exporting timber, ivory, amber, spices and slaves. When the Portuguese arrived, it surrendered without a murmur and in the mid-1800s it became a subject of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, which nominally controlled the whole coastal strip until Kenya became independent in 1963.

Until the 19th century dawned, Lamu's economy was hinged on slave labour and with the abolition of slavery it declined rapidly. That is until the advent of tourists. In the 1960s Lamu was up there with Katmandu as a hippy hangout and it has since been under siege by tourists. There are two banks, a post office and a book shop, the Lamu Book Centre, which sells local newspapers and international news magazines. The best way to get to Lamu is to fly there are daily flights from Malindi.

Lamu, apart from being an island where rest and relaxation can be found to your heart's content, does have a few things to see. There is a small fort which dates back to 1821, having been completed by the Sultan of Oman after Lamu asked for protection. A second site is a fluted pillar tomb, which may date as far back as the 1300s. Lamu's other offering is the Lamu Museum, with exhibits on Swahili culture, the mainland's non-Swahili groups, and two siwa horns which are probably the oldest surviving musical instruments in black Africa. The exhibits explain the history and meaning of the items, allowing visitors to understand the rich culture that Lamu contains. There is even a description and history of the buibui, including the fact that it was only introduced in Lamu in the 1930s. Other attractions are found by simply looking around, with Lamu's beautiful carved doors being a prime example.

With its fascinating history and interesting sites, the main attraction of Lamu is still its beaches. Serene and beautiful, a week on its beaches can relax anyone, making Lamu a good destination if you need a rest.