Hey people I'm new to this forum but will be travelling up the coast to Lamu Island and maybe Islands further north. I know its a probably daring and risky venture but I am looking for a place to live that is cheap freindly and beautific. I am from America Harlem that is and and currently residing in Cairo Egypt. I was wondering particularly what apartment cost were for native Kenyans and for foreigners. Like I said I'm looking for cheap options I might stay in Mombasa for a month or two before I head up the coast depending on coast and how shell shocked I am once I get off the plane. If any one can give me advice life on the coast North of Mombasa, cool towns along the way to the Islands I would be awfully appreciative. Also does any one know of any cool towns along the way in which a person looking for small town peaceful existance on the beach might want to go and where he can perhaps get married build a little dwelling and live out the rest of his relatively young life? Well thanks for consideration people. and taking time to help out a fellow travelor take care.

Musa

Musa, you should buy the excellent Rough Guide to Kenya. It will give you all the current info on towns and accommodation etc. If you want to rent an apartment, it all depends on location. In Mombasa town itself, they can be fairly cheap but if you want one by the beach, it all depends on the usual factors - you want a nice place on a nice beach, it'll cost you.

But further up in Lamu, you can rent places in the town itself and they're quite inexpensive. Lamu is definitely the place to be for atmosphere and culture. If you're a certain kind of person, you could spend a long time there...

Further up from Lamu, Kiwaiyu is the main island of note. Kiwaiyu is very idyllic but you couldn't spend very long there, there's not much to do and there's only a couple of very tiny villages on the island.

By the way, its not that daring and risky, as you put it! Unless you choose to venture further north from Kiwaiyu, in which case you'll hit Somalia, and you might be captured or worse...

As for marriage... ?? Its not some 'product' you can just buy off a shelf... can't advise you there I'm afraid! Is that your intention in travelling to Kenya?