The first Lamu Writing retreat was held in ‘Sep ‘21 on the tiny, secret Lamu archipelago off Kenya’s East African coast. We stayed at the Peponi – the legendary beachfront hotel that has been the epicentre of Lamu’s Shela village since the 1960’s. Daily writing sessions were facilitated by international writing coach and mentor Sarah Bullen, alongside a programme of mangrove channel swims, Banana House yoga, guided Shela Villa and Old Town walks, dhow trips, Manda Island dinners, and a goat stew dance party in the dunes on the final night.