Lamu Island

The main town on the island of the same name just off Kenya's northeastern coast, tranquil Lamu was founded in the 14th century, making it the country's oldest living town and the best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. Lamu Museum (with its prized siwa horns) and the two-centuries-old Lamu Fort are two of the main attractions. The restored Swahili House Museum is small but quite interesting. About a 30-minute walk north of town, white sandy Shela Beach is one of the island's best.