Manda Island

Manda Island is an excellent destination if you want to fall off the radar but still be in Kenya! Manda is an island of the Lamu Archipelago of Kenya, known for the prosperous 9th-century ports of Takwa and Manda town. The island is now linked by ferry to Lamu and is home to Manda Airport, while Manda Toto island lies to its west. The island is separated from the mainland by the narrow Mkanda channel. Both Manda town and Takwa were probably abandoned due to the lack of water in the first half of the 19th century. In the 1960s the Kenya Department of Agriculture recommended building several concrete catchments called jabias to capture rainwater on the island. Two jabias were built and many families moved onto the island, farming maize, cassava, simsim, and cotton.

Manda Island is a great place to sit outside with the tranquil lake water and enjoy the peaceful environment in the region. Being home to many lizards, intriguing paintings, and the towering Mt. Kwitutu, Manda Island is well worth a day or two. In several ways, it is one of the best islands in Kenya. Located on the south coast of the lake, Manda is an excellent location for holidays and honeymoons.

Location: Lamu Archipelago of Kenya