Unless you are part of the rough guys who drive 'the transafrican' from Alexandria to Cape Town, you are most likely to arrive in Kenya by plane, either Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi (NBO), or Moi International Airport Mombasa (MSA).

Several European (KLM, British Airways, Air France, Swiss, SN-Brussels, Austrian, Virgin), African (Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Egypt Air, South African Airways) and Middle Eastern (Emirates, Gulf Air, Saudia, El-Al, Qatar) companies fly to Nairobi. Most charter companies fly to Mombasa, sometimes Nairobi and Malindi. You may check the online travel agents below (free publicity) to have an idea of costs and availability.

From Europe, you are talking of a € 500-800 bracket. From North or South-America, it will probably prove cheaper to buy two tickets online: one from the Americas to Europe, and an other one from Europe to Kenya, although there are talks of a direct Nairobi-New-York on Kenya Airways. From Asia and Australia, a middle-East connection may prove the best deal. An alternative route from the Southern hemisphere passes via Johannesburg or Cape Town(from Atlanta, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Perth and Sydney), or Mauritius. In all cases, you are talking of EUR 1000-1500 bracket.

From Nairobi to Lamu, three options, in decreasing order of practicability: plane, bus, or boat.

   - Plane, situation has improved drastically in the past year, with four to five flights a day from Nairobi, operated by Kenya Airways and fly540.com from JKIA airport, and by Air Kenya and Safarilink from Wilson Airport, at about $ 250 R/T. Two services a day also from Malindi at $ 100 R/T. Mombasa air safari flies twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays, from Mombasa to Lamu

   - Bus: scores of buses from Nairobi to Mombasa and Malindi every day and night (6-8 hrs), of various levels of confort and safety, at KSh 1000-1500 O/W ($ 15-20). Connecting bus to and fro for Lamu (4-5 hrs) at KSh 500 O/W ($ 8); security and road condition have dramatically improved recently between Malindi and Lamu; still, inquire beforehand. Alternatively, take the bus to Malindi, and the plane from there.

   - Boat: several dhows ply the maritime route between Malindi and Lamu, depending on the direction and strength of the wind. Only for the most adventurous travellers.