Manda Island at a glance
Manda is the island across the channel from Lamu and Shela. Lamu Airport (LAU) is here, so almost everyone who flies in touches Manda first and takes a boat on to Lamu Town. Beyond the airport, people come to Manda for a day trip to the Takwa ruins or for a lodge on the shore opposite Shela.
This site is independent and not run by any museum, authority or hotel. Fees and times below are the published ones for 2026, and boat times are rough guides that depend on the tide. Confirm every detail locally before you go.
Travel advice for Manda, as of 21 October 2026
The three governments say different things. Read all three.
| Source and date | Lamu County | Lamu Island and Manda Island |
|---|---|---|
| UK Foreign Office, updated 16 October 2026 | Advises against all travel | Excluded from that advice, with no guarantee of safety. Fly to Lamu Airport and do not travel by road |
| German Foreign Office, valid from 19 October 2026 | Travel warning, with the two islands excluded | Still advises against non-essential travel |
| US State Department, 19 October 2026 | Level 4, Do Not Travel | No island exception in the Lamu County listing |
The reasons given include terrorist groups in the border area and armed militias in the Boni Reserve, which lie on the mainland. Do not read the advice as a statement about one village. See the full safety guide for sources and wording.
Safety guide →Tours and day trips around Manda and Lamu
Dhow sails, island visits and guided walks, with live prices and availability.
The airport and the boat to Lamu
What happens after you land.
Landing on Manda
Lamu Airport is on Manda. From the terminal you take a boat across the channel to Lamu Town. The UK Foreign Office recommends flying to Lamu and not coming by road.
Hotel transfers
One Old Town hotel says its guests get a private boat transfer, about 5 minutes to the hotel, included. A Shela hotel meets guests at the airport and takes them on by hotel boat, with the transfer included in its 2026 rates. Do not treat these as a public fare, because they are hotel services.
Public boats
Agree the price before you board a public boat, and check the current timetable of your flight and the boat before you go.
Getting there →The Takwa ruins
A Swahili trading town in the forest.
Takwa lies in the south-east of Manda. It was a Swahili trading town of the 15th and 16th centuries and was abandoned in the 17th century. The best-known feature is the Friday mosque, which has a pillar by the qibla wall. The National Museums of Kenya describe the site as a National Monument since 1982 and as open to the public every day.
The museum authority gives about 30 minutes by boat from Lamu Town. That is a rough guide, because the channel is shallow and times follow the tide. The boat is not part of the entry ticket, so agree a price with the boatman or book a trip that includes it.
The 2026 entry fee for visitors from outside Africa is $8 for an adult and $4 for a child. Residents and visitors from the rest of Africa pay $6 and $3. Kenyans and East Africans pay KES 200 and KES 100. The sites list opening from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Whether you need to book the boat in advance, and what the camping rules are, are questions to put to a local operator.
Beaches and Ras Kitau
Where Manda faces Shela.
The shore opposite Shela
Ras Kitau is a bay on Manda directly across the water from Shela. The Majlis lodge describes itself as sitting there and offers free boat transfers if you book direct. It sits across from Shela, not in Shela on Lamu Island, so allow for a boat ride whenever you want to go ashore.
Beach days
Beaches on Manda are reached by boat. Landing places and tide conditions vary, so ask your lodge or boatman where you can land and when the tide allows it.
Shela guide →Culture and clothing
Lamu is a mostly Muslim, conservative area. Outside resorts, dress modestly, and ask before you photograph people. This applies to villages on Manda as much as in town.
Manda Island: frequently asked questions
Is the Lamu airport on Manda Island?
Yes. Lamu Airport (LAU) is on Manda Island. A short boat ride takes you across to Lamu Town.
How do I get to the Takwa ruins?
By boat from Lamu Town, about 30 minutes as a rough guide. The channel is shallow, so the time depends on the tide. The boat is not in the entry price.
How much is Takwa?
For visitors from outside Africa in 2026, $8 for an adult and $4 for a child. For Kenyans and East Africans, KES 200 and KES 100.
Is Manda Island safe to visit?
The UK excludes it from its advice against all travel to Lamu County. Germany excludes it from its travel warning but still advises against non-essential travel. The US lists the whole county at Level 4. Read the current texts as of 21 October 2026 before you decide.
Can I stay on Manda?
Yes, at lodges on the shore. The Majlis at Ras Kitau sits across from Shela. Check transfers and boat times when you book.