Africa > Kenya > Lamu (LAU)
The Car or no Car advice for Lamu can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Lamu ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Lamu ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Lamu?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
So when asking should you rent a car in Lamu, the answer is unusually clear: no, and in fact, you can’t use one even if you wanted to.
🚶♂️ Getting Around Lamu Without a Car
Lamu Town is best explored on foot 👣. The historic centre is compact, atmospheric, and designed for walking. Getting lost is part of the charm.
For slightly longer distances, donkeys 🐴 are still widely used for transport and deliveries, alongside handcarts. Taxis exist in name only — movement is slow, human-scale, and wonderfully unhurried.
⛵ Water Transport Is Key
Movement between Lamu Town, Shela Beach, and nearby islands is handled almost entirely by boats and dhows ⛵. These act as the island’s version of taxis and buses.
Boat transfers are frequent, inexpensive, and essential for reaching beaches, hotels, and excursions. Timings are often flexible rather than fixed, so patience helps.
✈️ Getting to Lamu
Lamu is reached via Manda Airport, located on nearby Manda Island ✈️. Flights operate mainly from Mombasa and Nairobi, with occasional seasonal services elsewhere.
From the airport, you’ll take a short boat transfer across to Lamu Island — already setting the tone for a car-free stay 🌅.
🚗 What About Cars on the Mainland?
Cars are used on the mainland around Mokowe, but visitors rarely need one unless combining Lamu with inland travel. Even then, you would rent a car before arriving in Lamu, not for use on the island itself.
✅ Conclusion – Should You Rent a Car in Lamu?
No — and that’s the whole point 🌴.
Lamu is one of the rare places where modern transport fades away. Walking, boats, and slow travel define the experience. Renting a car would add nothing and actively detract from what makes Lamu special.
If you’re looking for somewhere in Kenya where you can truly switch off from roads, traffic, and driving — Lamu is it ✨.
