The Cats of the Lamu Archipelago
Cats hold a fascinating place in the history and culture of the East African coast and it’s islands.
No visitor to the islands can miss catching sight of these distinctively thin, shorthaired and long-limbed felines, which bear a strong resemblance to the cats depicted in the history of ancient Egypt.
Ancient Egyptians first begun to domesticate wild cats some 4000-5000 years ago, and despite the fact that this line of cats is extinct in northern Africa, the Lamu cats are believed to be the last true remaining descendants, apparently having found passage to Lamu aboard Arab traders’ dhows centuries ago.
Contact us if you would like to explore the Lamu Archipelago and uncover it’s history, culture and attractions.