Setting The archipelago of Lamu 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 many historical sites are proof of the area's long and rich history which, when combined with all the natural attractions of its tropical setting, make Lamu a wonderful place to visit.
	The people of Lamu are devout followers of Islam, and men still wear full length robes known as khanzus with kofia caps while women cover themselves in the black wraparound cloth common in Islamic cultures. Lamu is remote even by Kenyan standards. There are no cars on the island and the narrow, winding streets accommodate only pedestrian or donkey traffic. A way of life from an earlier age is still intact.