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Lamu and Kiunga travel info The Lamu Archipelago is a small group of four exotic and enchanting islands off the extreme northern section of the Kenyan coast. Of the four islands, Kiwayu and Lamu offer the best infrastructure. Manda Island, with its local viallges, is an important sanctuary for many birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. Elephant can be found, but they are very few and tend to be shy and secretive. Pate Island is home to a couple of villages, which can make for an interesting day trip.
Founded in the 14th century, friendly Lamu is a hypnotic and magical getaway - with ancient Swahili cultures living an unhurried life among the stone buildings, forts, mosques, courtyards, rolling dunes and endless beaches.The small villages, with their distinctive architecture and carved doors, nestle among coconut and mango plantations. Cars are not permitted here, but donkey carts line the streets and white-sailed dhows dot the coastal waters.
As a historically significant port along the east African trading route, Lamu has a rich culture, having been exposed centuries ago to Arab and Persian traders. The local Arab-African culture is devoutly Islam, and the island bears witness to a religious pilgrimage in celebration of the Prophet Maulidi's birthday every year.
Kiwayu is the most northerly of the islands, and forms part of the Kiunga Marine Reserve. Occupying an area of 250 square kilometers, the Kiunga Marine National Reserve was proclaimed a protected area in 1979. The reserve's lies at the confluence of two major ocean currents, creating three marine habitats - mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs. Kiunga, like other marine reserves in Kenya, allows the local Bajun people access to its resources, a factor that is critical to their survival. Research and monitoring programs have been established with local fishermen to track threatened and endangered species such as the sea turtle and dugong, and turtle nests found by local fisherfolk are reported to the KMNR Headquarters.
Seasons
Winter months (Nov-Mar) are pleasant with the daily temperature at around 30 degrees Centigrade, while in summer (Jul-Sep), the temperatures rise to 35 degrees. The rain falls from Mar-Jun and from Oct-Nov.
The breeding season of the turtles in Kiunga runs from Apr-Nov.
Wildlife
Five species of turtle have been recorded in Kiunga's waters. The Green, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley turtles nest on Kiunga's beaches.
96 bird species have been recorded on the Lamu Archiepleago - some of these include:
Madagascar Bee-Eaters, White-Fronted Plovers, Carmine Bee-Eaters, Blue-Naped Mousebird, African Fish Eagle, Golden-Palm Weavers, Amethyst Sunbirds, Bare-Eyed Thrushes Sulphur-Breasted Bush-Shrikes, Ethiopian Swallows, Speckled Mouse bird, terns, egrets, herons, ibises, and migrant sandpipers and plovers.
Precautions
Malaria area - minimize mosquito bites by wearing light, long sleeved clothing and using effective insect repellents (containing Diethyltoluamide DEET) on exposed skin. Sleep under treated mosquito netting or ensure that the doors and windows of your accommodation are screened against mosquitoes. Having a fan or air-conditioner on at night will further suppress mosquito activity. Currently, the three effective anti-malaria tablets are Mefloquine (Lariam or Mefliam), Doxycycline and Malarone (Malanil). It is still possible to contract malaria while on malaria prophylaxis. Note that Lariam may present serious side-effects - please test before you depart.
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