Manda Island is one of the well-known islands in the Lamu Archipelago of Kenya. Manda Island is for the prosperous 9th-century ports of Takwa and Manda town. Manda Island is connected to Lamu by ferry, which is where Manda Airport is. To the west of where Manda Toto is, Manda Island is a Kenya safari destination offering one of the country’s most relevant sport fishing safaris. This is where the tourists can get various fish species such as the sailfish and marlin. Manda Island is surrounded by the narrow Mkanda channel that separates it from the mainland, yet it has the longest and the most beautiful sandy beaches that provide the beach safari to the visitors of the island a vintage and unique experience.
History Of Manda Island
Image Credit: Bingar1234 for Wikimedia Commons
The Manda town was first discovered by the archaeologist, Neville Chittik in the year 1965, the main trade item found in the town was ivory from elephants, also important was Mbuta grove poles. Manda Island’s early settlers used burnt square brick and stone and lime mortar, and those archaic building techniques were practised only on islands and coast regions of Kenya. It is specific for the mentioned area, where the bricks’ average size is about 18 Cm; the bricks were brought from Sohar and arrived on Manda Island as Ballast in sailing ships entering the port Supplementary from the 9th century till the 11th century. The buildings were also constructed from coral, known as coral rag cut, from dead coral reefs.
Manda is one of the islands of the Lamu Archipelago in Kenya, with the prosperous ninth-century ports of Takwa and Manda town, as well as ferry access linking Lamu and the site of Manda Airport. Manda town and Takwa were typically deserted for want of water in the nineteenth century.
Must Read: Places To Visit In Kenya
Things To Do In Manda Island
Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast or like to stay inside, Manda Island offers something for everyone!
1. Sunset Gaze
Manda Island, mostly deserted and located across the channel from Shela, offers the best viewing points of the great African sun setting over Lamu Island. Discover the village and the Fort of Shela, with palm-lined, extensive, deserted, and untouched shorelines of the Ras Kitau, the treasure of Lamu. In addition, try a sundowner, for instance, at The Majlis, as the sun sets and the African sky turns to purple.
Timing: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Ideal For: Couples, family
2. Takwa Ruined City Tour
Manda Island was once one of the biggest settlements on the coast of Kenya, but the people of the once bustling town left the island in the 17th century. It remains uncertain as to why this happened, though the best guess is that the absence of a source of freshwater on the island led to the cause. Today, it is one of the most frequented all-day trips from not only Lamu but also Shela town.
Timing: Everyday 8 AM – 6 PM
Ideal For: History buffs
Suggested Read: National Parks In Kenya
3. The Beaches and Watersports
Beyond, the island is an ideal destination for beach lovers, with numerous beaches where various water activities like sailing, windsurfing, and wakeboarding can be practiced. Sport fishing, especially for Marlin and Sailfish, is exceptional within the surrounding area of Manda Island. Coastline fishing is also possible on the island for saltwater fishing enthusiasts. Explore the coastline by going to the historically rich town of Lamu or the deserted Manda Settlement site with Baobab trees around.
Timing: Everyday 8 AM – 6 PM
Ideal For: Outdoor enthusiasts
4. Wildlife sightseeing
It is a wildlife and vegetation-endowed region, where game drives present an incredible opportunity to come face to face with an incredible number of bird types and animals like the bushbuck, buffalos, the dik-dik, and many small predators like the civet and mongoose. In addition, the bird life consists of carmine bee-eaters, fish eagles, osprey and eastern nicator.
Timing: Everyday 8 AM – 6 PM
Ideal For: Wildlife enthusiasts
Suggested Read: Beaches In Kenya
How To Reach And Best Time To Visit Manda Island
By Plane
The distance between Nairobi and the two airports is about 2 hours, and several flight carriers operate between Nairobi and Lamu Airport and Manda Airport, which is located on Manda Island. For visitors who are searching for an option to get to Kenya, it is necessary to know that international flights land at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
By Boat
Depending on their chosen lodgings, guests can take a beautiful boat ride, a short 10km, from Lamu Island to Manda Island.
By Road
By bus, one can cover the distance from Nairobi to Manda, and it is likely to take approximately 13 hours to reach Manda Island.
Manda Island does not have specific best seasons because it can be visited at any time of the year. For tourists coming to the Island on a beach holiday – to maximize his/her holiday on the Island, it is recommended that they visit the Island after the Kenyan Safari to the Masai Mara from the end of June to February, considering the dry season. The dry season is between February and April, the climatic conditions are considerably hot, and the average high temperature goes above 40°C. Manda Airport records its highest temperatures in April when the high is 32°C and the low is 26 °C.
Further Read: Kenya In August
Manda Island is an exciting place to visit if they are interested in Kenya’s stunning and diverse coasts. This is a perfect tropical island with clean sandy beaches and deserted mangrove borders by the crystal clear turquoise water of the Indian Ocean on the island of Manda. This tropical paradise should not be missed out! So, do not wait to book your trip to Kenya because it can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Don’t wait any longer. Discover Manda Island all for yourself.
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Cover Image Credit: Maria Hägglöf for Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Manda Island
What should I pack if I am going to travel to Manda Island?
Beach wear, light clothing which are friendly to the tropical weather, sunscreen lotion, insect repellant, a hat or cap, good shoes for trekking, a water flask and a camera for capturing moments around the island.
What is the official language of Manda Island?
The major language used by the people living in Manda Island is Swahili. Nonetheless, English is understood almost everywhere, particularly when it comes to processing services for foreigners and, therefore, travellers should not encounter difficulties when it comes to communications.
Which animals can you find on the island of Manda?
Wildlife can be seen on Manda Island where one can find bushbucks, monkeys, birds, and even dolphins, turtles and a variety of fish. You can get more out of watching wildlife by taking a guided tour.
What kinds of foods need to be tasted in Manda Island?
Do not forget to taste Swahili dishes like pilau a dish prepared with spices, rice, vegetables and meat or fish, samaki wa kupaka which is a dish of fish cooked in coconut soup and fresh sea foods. The food dishes of the island are a unique mix of the African, Arab and Indian styles of cookery.
Is there any festival that is celebrated by the people on Manda Island?
The island of Manda hosts these festivals together with the other islands of the Lamu Archipelago, the Lamu Cultural Festival, the Maulidi Festival, and the Lamu Yoga Festival. Such events include the display of other features of culture and art and other local practices.
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