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Explore Lamu Stories

Positive stories, interviews and experiences from Lamu Island.

Explore Lamu enables visitors to securely pay local vendors online using credit cards and digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, eliminating the need for cash or MPESA in a region with frequent credit card machine outages. This service benefits both the safety of transactions and supports community projects by donating half its profits to local charities. However, visitors should still hone their bargaining skills for better market experiences and to prevent local inflation.

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How do I pay for local goods and services in Lamu?

Explore Lamu enables visitors to securely pay local vendors online using credit cards and digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, eliminating the need for cash or MPESA in a region with frequent credit card machine outages. This service benefits both the safety of transactions and supports community projects by donating half its profits to local charities. However, visitors should still hone their bargaining skills for better market experiences and to prevent local inflation.

Credit Card payments are mostly available at hotels however in many instances the credit card machines are out of service. In Lamu payment by cash and MPESA (digital currency) are widely accepted but this often causes a problem for visitors who cant easily get cash or pay with MPESA.

Explore Lamu solves this problem making it possible for local vendors to accept secure credit card payments online for their goods and services without the need to have any technology. Visitors can securely process payments using their credit cards, apple pay or google pay without having to hand over their credit card or details and without the need to carry cash.

The Explore Lamu service increases payment security for visitors as no payment details ever change hands and no cash needs to be carried in busy marketplaces.

With every payment you make to local providers via Explore Lamu you are contributing to fantastic community projects as half of all Explore Lamu profits go towards local charities.

Our system does not impact your ability to bargain or negotiate a price with a local service provider.  In formal shops, prices are fixed, but in markets or street-side stalls, they are negotiable. Vendors often attempt to ask tourists for more than the actual value of an item. Therefore, mastering the skill of bargaining is crucial, not only when purchasing curios and souvenirs but also when negotiating fees for services such as taxi rides, guides, and even hotel rooms and excursions (although the latter usually works best during quieter times).

It’s essential to keep in mind that paying an exorbitant price for goods or services can make it more challenging for the next person and contribute to local inflation. Therefore, exercise caution and prudence in your purchases.

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Frequently Asked Lamu Travel Questions:

International flights run daily into Nairobi and Mombassa. You will then need to arrange a local connecting flight to Lamu. 

You can get to Lamu Island in 3 ways. By air, overland or by boat. The easiest way to get to Lamu is via a short flight to the airport on Manda Island and then a short connecting boat ride to the island. 

A flight to the island from Wilson Airport in Nairobi is the easiest. 

No. There are no cars on the island (which is brilliant). You can get around on a boat, on foot, on a donkey or the occasional motorbike. 

Every traveler who wants to cross the Kenyan border must have a separate visa. Apply online for your Kenyan visa here.

Generally you will get about on boats or walk. There are no cars which is lovely. We would recommend booking accommodation close to the beach if you have young children as it can be a bit difficult if you need to carry everyone.