Lamu Old Town

Oldest continuously-inhabited Swahili town in East Africa; UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.

Country:Kenya

Language:English; Swahili

Published:2025-09-30

Audience:Travellers, heritage professionals, students

Lamu Old Town is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa, located on Lamu Island off the northern coast of Kenya. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001. Founded in the 12th century, the town has remained continuously inhabited and retains its narrow streets, traditional coral-stone houses with carved doors, mosques, courtyards and dhows. The annual Lamu Cultural Festival celebrates dhow racing, donkey racing, henna and traditional Swahili food.

Keywords

Lamu

Swahili coast

UNESCO

Kenya tourism

dhow

Source & licence

Source: Wikipedia

URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamu_Old_Town

Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

Wikipedia article. CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution required.

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