Hi there, we use cookies to improve your experience on our website. You can update your settings by clicking the Privacy policy link at the bottom of the page. I will be traveling with my brother, who has gone through some traumatic experiences in life. It will be his first time and I'd like to have him have a great experience. An authentic experience on the kenyan coast which is not overrun by tourists or sextourists.
I don't have anything against tourists but I saw some documentaries that dealt with sextourism in Mombasa, and that is not the vibe I'd like my brother to experience though. I'm looking for a place that is still fun and possible to meet other people and is very authentic in that it is preserved and not expensive due to tourism. I feel very drawn to the country.
I love the music the landscape, the swahili language, and also I was always inspired by the lion king. There are places to stay in all budgets, and no real need to book in advance, just get one of the lads who meet the boats to show you a few before deciding. Lamu is a mess of tiny, twisty lanes, so even if you have booked somewhere in advance, it's helpful to have someone show you the way. You will have many people talking to you about dhow trips when you are new in town, but Lamu folk are very easy going and friendly, so it doesn't feel too much like the hard sell!
And as soon as you arrange something with a 'captain' you like, everyone else seems to know. Maybe I have too many unnecessary prejudices, but I would really like to have an authentic local experience not being too expensive because of tourist resorts as I am on a budget, I heard Lamu is touristic and more expensive than other places is that true? Mombasa is fine. We stayed in the commercial district between the train station and Old Town. It is a lively area and provides a good local experience.
Many points of interest are in walking distance. No resorts on Lamu. There are some very fancy boutique-y places, but there are also cheap and cheerful guest houses. The way to get an authentic local experience is to make friends with the locals. You can do that anywhere on the coast. As Kaz says there are plenty of budget places to stay, the local food is good and affordable etc.
