Menu
A day in Lamu
One of the best things to do here at The Red Pepper House is to do nothing at all… just relax and let time go by, watch the sun come out, take your time over breakfast, lunch or dinner, go for a swim, stroll through the forest, listen to the birds or to some music if you prefer, watch the sunset whilst having a drink, enjoy the incomparable view of the stars and moon of Lamu, or have a chat in the «circle». But if you’re looking for something a little more active, we can give you plenty of ideas for activities or visits, accompanied when you need, so that you don’t miss a thing.
Swahili culture
Lamu Town is in a class of its own within Kenya and never fails to both surprise and captivate. Our staff will take you on a tour of its incredible labyrinthine streets, its museums and fort, its historical mosques and traditional houses. Discover the market and its daily life, decked out in all its colourful splendour.
Crafts: Visit the workshops where the traditional dhows are built and discover the handicrafts known as Jamwi. The Masai market of Shela, with the typical crafts of the Masai warriors.
Lamu Cultural Festival: Each year, tourists and diplomatic delegations from all around the world come to the cultural festival held here to take in the sights and sounds of the regattas, music, dance, percussion, parades, Bao contest, Swahili poetry, donkey races, and the Somalian and Sudanese camels, amongst other things, that can be found here.
Shela, a fishing village blessed with 12 km of white sandy beaches and large dunes, the retreat for many westerners with their magnificent Swahili-style mansions.
The ruins of the city of Takwa. Take a boat trip out to visit these 14th century ruins which, for the Lamu archipelago, once constituted a nearly impenetrable fortress protecting the local people against their neighbours. Only accessible at high tide and through a peculiar landscape of twisting mangrove canals, the difficulty of reaching it, in combination with the damage caused by an earthquake, gradually separated Takwa from local prosperity and it was slowly abandoned.
At the end of this visit, climbing to the top of a dune, you will be able to enjoy an impressive panoramic view of a wild beach and the Indian Ocean.
At the House
At the house: You can enjoy a whole host of activities that will make you fall in love with Lamu:
Bird watching: enjoy taking a walk and watching the wide variety of bird life that the area has to offer.
Performances: you will have the chance to discover the beauty of the dances, music and drums of the area´s different tribes.
(activity not included in price)
Tattoos: traditional floral and geometric motifs painted with red henna, also known as Koni, or with Pico for the black-coloured tattoos. These tattoos disappear within a few days. (activity not included in price)
Dhow trips
It’s easy to appreciate the beauty of this Arabian-influenced boat, used for hundreds of years along the Swahili coast by merchants and adventurers alike.
Trip around the island, crossing the canals and visiting Matandoni (a traditional village on the seashore, where the Dhows are built, along with Jamwi handicrafts, bags, baskets, rugs, and more), Kipungani, savouring the fish of the day onboard the boat or on a deserted beach. (Activity at additional cost).
Sunset with sparkling wine, wine or whatever you prefer, a charming evening spent watching the wonderful colours of the sunset of Lamu. (Activity at additional cost).
Sunsets
Sunset with sparkling wine, wine or whatever you prefer, a charming evening spent watching the wonderful colours of the sunset of Lamu.
A drink at dusk: At half past five in the afternoon, the pier, the beach are transformed into magical places from which to watch the African sunset, with the beautiful play of light upon the water, whilst listening to the sounds of Africa. You can enjoy the moment with wine, a gin and tonic, whisky, rum, fruit juices or soft drinks and a snack.
And, in our secret place, we will take you to a beach on the island of Manda from where you will enjoy all of the beauty of a sunset over the African continent.
Fishing
From the beach, in motorboat or Dhow: pick up a traditional rod and try your luck in the channel, where jacks, kingfish and barracuda are plentiful, along with rock cod, needlefish and both red and white porgy. (Activity not included in price).
Deep-sea fishing, accompanied by an experienced crew and a 10-metre boat equipped with VHF radio, GPS, depth sounder and all of the necessary fishing kit. You’ll be able to fish for swordfish, black, blue and striped sailfish, which are plentiful here, yellowfin tuna, dorado, wahoo, mackerel and barracuda. And, at night, the giant tersely, with the world-record size specimen being caught here. (Activity not included in price).
Panoramic flights
One of our most spectacular activities, flying at low altitudes in light aircraft over the African continent and the bay, with magnificent views of
the plains and herds of buffalo and zebras in their natural habitat. Flights over lakes filled with hippos and many other species
Live the beauty and size of the country.
An unforgettable experience
Magical Nigths
Private dinner under the stars
Can you imagine a romantic dinner lit by candles and lamps in the intimate surroundings of your private boma, the pool or the beach? We will be delighted to arrange it and provide you with a service fit for the sultans of Lamu’s splendid past.
Let us know in advance so that you can choose the menu or barbecue and dine to the soundtrack of the sounds of the forest and the sea, under a sky filled with millions of glittering stars and the famous moon of Lamu.
Full moon dinner
Enjoy a marvellous evening on the sand whilst you take in the beautiful moon of Lamu – a night to remember.
The perfect way to finish the day.
The Red Pepper House
The Swahili ExperiencE
