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    Takwa Ruins

    12 Reviews
    #1 of 1 things to do in Manda Island
    Sights & Landmarks, Ancient Ruins
    Manda Island, Kenya
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    Review Highlights
    “Watch the tides”

    We went on a v hot day SMG got caught by the tide. Any boat will take you there, but haggle over... read more

    Reviewed December 30, 2018
    R6442PCmichaels
    ,
    London, United Kingdom
    via mobile
    “You can feel the history”

    I visited Takwa Ruins on a very hot afternoon and had the place to myself. The ruins are of an old... read more

    Reviewed December 10, 2018
    Nory M
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    4.512 reviews
    • Excellent51%
    • Very good33%
    • Average16%
    • Poor0%
    • Terrible0%
    Travelers talk about
    “an adventure”(2 reviews)
    “lamu island”(2 reviews)
    “old town”(2 reviews)
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    Manda Island, Kenya
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    Reviews (12)
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    Reviewed December 30, 2018 via mobile
    Watch the tides

    We went on a v hot day SMG got caught by the tide. Any boat will take you there, but haggle over the price. Fun going through mangrove canals and then a short walk to ruins. Too hot to take most of it in, and...More

    Date of experience: December 2018
    Thank R6442PCmichaels
    Reviewed December 10, 2018
    You can feel the history

    I visited Takwa Ruins on a very hot afternoon and had the place to myself. The ruins are of an old town that was on Manda Island. It was deserted due to a lack of fresh water and marauding Portugese. I was given a tour...More

    Date of experience: November 2018
    Thank Nory M
    Reviewed August 19, 2018
    A walk into the past

    Takwa Ruins are well worth a visit. Any boatman can take you from Lamu Island. We combined ours with a trip to the Manda Island beach. the ruins provide an insight into the history of East Africa Coast and the Swahili culture, If in Lamu/Mandu,...More

    Date of experience: August 2018
    Thank Expectmoretoday
    Reviewed December 10, 2017 via mobile
    A little adventure...

    Takwa ruins itself was whatever left from a small Swahili settlement, which consisted of few ruins and well preserved small tomb. Ali, the man who looks after it, is a character of his own- having lived there for 20 years. When we found out that...More

    Date of experience: December 2017
    Thank Zer0oo
    Reviewed January 23, 2017
    Takwa, a charming escape

    It was a 45 minute boat ride from Lamu old town to Takwa Ruins on the southern corner of Manda Island, Lamu district in coastal Kenya. We walked across a sturdy raised walkway above the mangroves. This is followed by another section of a slightly...More

    Date of experience: December 2016
    1  Thank Peter K
    Reviewed August 26, 2016
    Back in time, to suprising sophisitication

    Do visit the ruins of this walled village that was once home to 2,500 people - who were forced to leave it and head across to Shela where their descendants now play hosts to the world's tourists. As elsewhere in the Islamic world of centuries...More

    Date of experience: August 2016
    Thank Michael E
    Reviewed August 23, 2015
    Well preserved ruins in a nice setting

    Half the fun of seeing the ruins is getting there. We were staying at Manda island and had considered riding a bike but it was raining most of the day so we took a boat from the Majlis hotel. It was a scenic ride past...More

    Date of experience: July 2015
    Thank Barbara A
    Reviewed November 13, 2013
    Karin

    The dhow trip to Takwa Ruins through the mangroves was awesome. Good day or half day trip to take while visiting Lamu and Manda.

    Date of experience: October 2013
    Thank Karin O
    Reviewed January 20, 2013
    Explore on your own without a guide

    We went to the ruins and we are glad we did so on our own. The ruins have a great history (which we read at the entrance). There was a school group there at the same time as us and at some point we heard...More

    Date of experience: December 2012
    1  Thank alkenya
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