Introduction
The island of Lamu feels as though it has an enchantment cast over it. Life is gentle on this Kenyan island surrounded by dhows and lined with deserted sand dunes. Lamu has its own languorous clock - time ticks soft and slow here. The winding streets and intricately carved wooden doors, the lack of cars and the use of donkeys to get around all evoke a centuries old atmosphere.
Entire hours can be lost in Lamu's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which retains the character of the 14th century Swahili settlement it once was, with traces left by Portuguese explorers and Omani Arab traders.
Beach life and soaking up the sights and mood of the Old Town are the point of a holiday here. But there are palm forests and wetlands on Lamu, with coastal waterfowl to enjoy too. And opposite, on the mainland, the Dodori Reserve offers the chance of spotting buffalo, lion and leopard.
