Siyu fortLamu, Kenya
Siyu fort of Pate island1
Said to be the only fort on the Kenyan coast that was built by the locals — a leader named Bwana Mataka.
Built from coral, its use was to safeguard the town from domination by Omani Arabs.
Siyu was one of the last towns on the east African coast to fall under the control of Arabs.
At the compund's centre is a courtyard, with the remains of a small mosque.
Outside are several of the original cannons that were added by foreigners.
The lookouts provide amazing views of the surrounding town of Siyu, the nearby creek and mangrove forests.
What to do thereSee more of 19th century architecture of coastal towns, and learn more about the history of the area.
Open from 8am to 6pm daily.
Best time to visitAny time of the year not in the rainy seasons of March to June.
Location of Siyu fortSiyu fort sits on the northern end of Pate island, about 30 km north east of Lamu town.
It also is on the shores of a Mangrove filled creek, on the northern coast of Kenya.
Nearby and south of it, is the town of Siyu.
How to get thereBy boat, walking or vehicle.
Either way, you need a boat to get to Pate island, with a passenger one available daily from the mainland.
If from the within Pate island, the fort is accessible by vehicle, bicycle or walking from the ferry terminal.
At high tide, you can also get to it by boat from the northern coast, via a channel with mangrove forests on either side.
The nearest airport sits on the neighbouring Manda island.
The nearest bus terminal is at Mokowe on the mainland, with daily buses to Mombasa and Malindi.
References1. By Maina Kiarie, Enzi Museum - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22360464
Built from coral, its use was to safeguard the town from domination by Omani Arabs.
Siyu was one of the last towns on the east African coast to fall under the control of Arabs.
At the compund's centre is a courtyard, with the remains of a small mosque.
Outside are several of the original cannons that were added by foreigners.
The lookouts provide amazing views of the surrounding town of Siyu, the nearby creek and mangrove forests.
What to do thereSee more of 19th century architecture of coastal towns, and learn more about the history of the area.
Open from 8am to 6pm daily.
Best time to visitAny time of the year not in the rainy seasons of March to June.
Location of Siyu fortSiyu fort sits on the northern end of Pate island, about 30 km north east of Lamu town.
It also is on the shores of a Mangrove filled creek, on the northern coast of Kenya.
Nearby and south of it, is the town of Siyu.
How to get thereBy boat, walking or vehicle.
Either way, you need a boat to get to Pate island, with a passenger one available daily from the mainland.
If from the within Pate island, the fort is accessible by vehicle, bicycle or walking from the ferry terminal.
At high tide, you can also get to it by boat from the northern coast, via a channel with mangrove forests on either side.
The nearest airport sits on the neighbouring Manda island.
The nearest bus terminal is at Mokowe on the mainland, with daily buses to Mombasa and Malindi.
References1. By Maina Kiarie, Enzi Museum - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22360464
Continue reading
Popular spots
