LAU / HKLU — Lamu, Kenya
Manda Airport, Lamu
Manda is Lamu's airport — a strip on the island across the channel, where the aircraft door opens onto a jetty, a boat, and one of the most distinctive arrivals in Africa.
Manda Airport (LAU / HKLU) lies on Manda Island, directly across the water from Lamu town. Its paved runway takes turboprops and some light jets, and it is the only sensible way to reach the Lamu archipelago — there is no road journey worth considering.
The arrival
From the airstrip it is a two-minute walk to the jetty, where boats cross the channel to Lamu town and Shela — a few minutes on the water, luggage handled for you. Hotels and private houses arrange boats to meet flights; we confirm the timing so your crossing is waiting when you land. Lamu has no cars, and the change of pace begins at the jetty.
Flights and aircraft
Direct charters from Nairobi Wilson take about an hour and a half, with the final stretch flown along the coastline over the archipelago's mangrove channels and sandbars:
- Cessna Grand Caravans — the regular Lamu aircraft, ideal for house parties with luggage.
- Beechcraft King Airs — faster and pressurised for smaller groups.
- Light jets — subject to load; we will advise for your party.
Lamu also connects onward — Malindi and Mombasa are short sectors south, and safari-to-Lamu itineraries from the Mara or Samburu are a classic combination.
Good to know
- Daylight: plan to land in daylight — the golden-hour boat crossing is the best possible introduction to the island.
- Festivals: the Lamu Cultural Festival and Maulidi bring heavy demand for flights and houses alike; book early.
- Luggage: soft bags make the boat transfer simplest.
- Peak season: December and January in Shela book out months ahead — aircraft capacity too.
Popular routes