Buses from Lamu to Mombasa are operated by multiple carriers. Tickets for buses from Lamu to Mombasa can be purchased from the ticket offices in Lamu Town.
Since there are no buses on Lamu island, you must first take a 30-minute motorized dhow ride to a point on the mainland, then board the bus to Mombasa there.
There are several buses a day from Lamu to Mombasa, all of which stop in Malindi and allow passengers to alight and stretch their legs. Buses are not supposed to stop elsewhere but often do so anyway to let passengers on or off.
The road from Lamu to Mombasa is in disrepair. It starts out as a dirt road, making the bus ride uncomfortable. The bus also travels through territory that the Kenyan government considers to be dangerous, so armed guards travel on the bus for part of the ride.
The total driving time from Lamu to Mombasa on the bus is supposed to be 6 hours, but it usually ends up being at least 8 hours. Some buses from Lamu to Mombasa take much longer. It’s not rare for buses to take up to 13 hours.
Buses from Lamu to Mombasa are generally old and in poor condition, and often break down or have to stop to repair a flat tire.
Because buses from Lamu to Mombasa are so unpredictable, it is advisable to take a flight from Lamu, Nairobi, or Malindi to Mombasa instead.
