Kiwayuu (alternative spelling Kiwayu) is a small island in the eastern part of the

Lamu Archipelago The Lamu Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean close to the northern coast of Kenya, to which it belongs. The islands lie between the towns of Lamu and Kiunga. It is a part of Lamu County. The largest of the islands are Pate Island, Man ...

in the

Kiunga Marine National Reserve Kiunga Marine National Reserve is situated along the Indian Ocean coast of Lamu District, Coast Province, Kenya. Kiunga park covers . The park covers an area with approximately 50 islands and coral reefs in the Lamu Archipelago The Lamu Archi ...

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

. Its main economic activity is fishing, and there is one school, one clinic and one well on the island. Its main tourist attractions are the tidal pools and snorkeling/diving pools on its eastern side, in the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of the water area of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia (continent), ...

. It's mainly populated by people of the Bajuni ethnic community who farm and fish on the island. There are no cars or electricity on the island except solar and wind power. It has two high-end fly-in tourist lodges, and the pristine beauty attracts visitors from all over the world. The island is also famous for beautiful handmade curious created by locals from flip flops that wash onto the beach every rainy season. The weather is hot and dry, with most people remaining indoors from 10am to 3pm due to extreme heat. The beaches on the island are stunning, clean and safe, when compared to many Kenyan beaches. The nearest hospital is on

Lamu Island Lamu Island is a port, city, and island just off the shore of Kenya in the Indian Ocean approximately 150 miles from Mombasa. It is a part of the East African country of Kenya. Lamu was founded in the 12th century. Lamu is one of the longest-est ...

outside of

Lamu Lamu or Lamu Town is a small town on Lamu Island, which in turn is a part of the Lamu Archipelago in Kenya. Situated by road northeast of Mombasa that ends at Mokowe Jetty, from where the sea channel has to be crossed to reach Lamu Isla ...

town. Travel from Kiwayuu to Lamu is 7 hours by

dhow Dhow (; ) is the generic name of a number of traditional sailing vessels with one or more masts with settee or sometimes lateen sails, used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean region. Typically sporting long thin hulls, dhows are trading vessels ...

, or 2 hours by motor boat.

External links

*Jeffrey Gettleman
Bare Feet, Sand Stairs and Isolation to Suit a Prince
July 22, 2007,

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

Kiwayu on Google map (zoom in)
{{Lamu Archipelago Swahili people Swahili city-states Swahili culture Lamu Archipelago Populated places in Coast Province Coastal islands of Kenya

See also

External links