Managed
by the Heritage group of hotels, overlooking a deserted
14-kilometre beach on the Southwestern tip of Lamu Island,
Kipungani Explorer is a dream destination for those seeking
a true desert island holiday, in a secluded location.
There are 14 spacious and secluded chalets, which sit
above the white sands of Kipungani Bay shaded by palm
trees. Chalets are constructed entirely from local materials,
with grass floors and thatch roofs woven by the neighboring
villagers. The large interiors are a picture of rustic
simplicity, with giant king-size beds and furniture all
hand-made from local woods. Each chalet has an ocean-facing
verandah with local sofas and cushioned chairs. Amenities
include freshwater showers, flush toilets and separate
dressing areas with washbasins. Beach-facing lounge and
bar are furnished for complete relaxation. The dining
room sits in a small tropical garden with an adjoining
library. In front of the building is a horizon-touching
saltwater pool. There is also a gift shop, bottled water
and mosquito repellent in all chalets and early morning
coffee/tea served on the verandah.
Pwani Guest House, Shela Village is situated just a few
metres from Shela Beach, behind Peponi Hotel. It is a
small locally owned and run guesthouse. Accommodation
is very basic; no hot water in the bathrooms, but family
rooms upstairs has the advantage of good sea views from
an open verandah where breakfast can also be served. There
is a small shop downstairs on the ground floor attached
to the guesthouse. Accommodation is on self-catering basis,
the neighboring Peponi Hotel has a bar and snack restaurant
for lunch. Tables should be booked in advance for dinner.
In 1986 Hans Freijd (Swedish) bought this 18th Century
merchant's house, which was formerly owned by the famous
Muawiya family, descendant from the uncle of the Prophet
Mumammed. For many years the house was a private guesthouse
for family and friends. It became a busy place and was
finally commercialized and run as a small hotel by its
3 Swedish owners. Situated in the heart of the Old Lamu
Stone Town, this small hotel has 17 rooms, 5 terraces,
an 'a la carte' restaurant and small salt-water pool in
an interior courtyard with a bar. Rooms are furnished
with African/Arabic antiques. There are several spacious
terraces, some overlooking the pool. Cuisine in the restaurant
is influenced by the Swahili flavour, characterized by
coconut milk and Arabic spices. The restaurant maintains
a smart-casual dress code for dinner. A la carte and barbecue
dinners are common. Some rooms have been recently renovated
and are small but of higher standard than the old rooms.
Some rooms are self-contained, others share bathrooms.
It is situated in the heart of the Old Lamu Stone Town,
just a short walk from Lamu's main street and the waterfront.
A small interior coral-walled garden at the entrance provides
a nice welcome. It is one of the best preserved of Lamu's
famous 18th Century Stone Houses and offers simple, clean
budget accommodation in 10 self-contained rooms and 4
with shared bathrooms. Rooms are decorated with typical
Lamu-style furniture; mosquito nets and fans are provided.
The hotel has its own reliable water supply (no hot water).
The rooftop restaurant offers very good views of the surrounding
town. The restaurant specializes in Swahili dishes and
fresh fish and seafood. No alcohol is available but cold
soft drinks and freshly squeezed juices are sold in the
restaurant. The hotel offers a friendly, relaxed atmosphere,
offering comfortable, clean accommodation at very affordable
prices
It is situated in the centre of Shela Village, just a
few minutes walk through the village to the fabulous 15kilometre
Shela Beach. The hotel is constructed in simple, Swahili
style with 15 self-contained rooms, (no hot water). All
rooms have fans and mosquito nets. The rooftop "Barracuda
Restaurant" specializes in Swahili dishes and fresh
seafood, and is well known for its freshly squeezed fruit
juices and milk shakes. Alcohol is not available at the
hotel, but Peponi Hotel is about 5 minutes walk away and
has a bar and snack restaurant open to visitors during
the day. Shela Village is a lot cleaner than Lamu Town,
sandy lanes, and donkeys and children playing, it is a
friendly and safe village, and visitors are very welcome.
The hotel is ideal for clients looking for budget accommodation,
reasonably priced, simple and clean accommodation with
good food and friendly atmosphere. Excursions and boat
trips are available at the hotel as well as guided tours
to Lamu town. As the hotel is in the village, guests will
have the chance to really integrate with the local community
and get a feel of Swahili village life, the hotel does
not have a sea view but is walking distance to the beach.
It is a basic hotel situated on the waterfront
in Lamu town. It is locally owned with 18 rooms, 11 upstairs
and 7 downstairs (cheaper rates) and all rooms are self-contained.
Mosquito nets and fans are provided. No alcohol or hot
water showers. Accommodation is available on bed &
breakfast basis, half board or full board. There is a
safe service free of charge. The restaurant is on the
roof top.
Diamond Beach Village, Manda Island, offers an alternative
to the concrete hotel, more of a rustic Robinson Crusoe
experience. Working closely with the local community and
using only local methods of construction and local materials
to create a laid back, eco-friendly, alternative style
holiday
This is a private house which has developed into a friendly
'Bed & Breakfast' alternative in Shela. Owned and
run by Monika, a Dutch lady who has lived in Lamu for
several years? The house is very spacious, with attractive
sitting and lounging areas, hammocks, and day beds in
a beautiful tropical garden within its walls. The atmosphere
is homely and welcoming. Rooms and living areas are tastefully
furnished and meet a good standard of accommodation.
They are situated overlooking the harbour in Lamu Town.
These are 2 converted and completely rebuilt Swahili Houses,
beautifully adapted for modern use. Spanish owned and
managed. The enchantment of the traditional Swahili architecture
has been preserved, re-designed to meet the needs of guests.
Each house has 5 bedrooms, accommodation between 10 and
12 guests in each. There is a living room open to the
courtyard, an upstairs terrace overlooking the sea and
the old town. There is an interior plunge pool, dining
room and small courtyard. Fully equipped kitchen and Hi-Fi.
Each bedroom is individually furnished, with self-contained
bathroom, dressing area and private terrace. Just one
of the rooms does not have a private terrace. The houses
have a cook and at least two room stewards, laundry is
included. The rooms can be rented individually or the
entire house exclusively for small groups.
Fatuma's Tower and Yoga Centre, Shela Village. Fatuma's
Tower is a renovated 18th Century ruin standing in a walled
garden at the back of Shela Village, near the sand dunes,
last occupied a hundred years ago until her death by the
unmarried Fatuma and her five female slaves. Over time,
all the floors of the building and most of its walls fell
to the ground. Now the tower has been reconstructed to
have four double rooms with washrooms (and hot water)
and two singles sharing a washroom. It is three stories
high and built of thick coral walls with high ceilings.
There is a spacious library, courtyard with mature tamarind
tree fronting the dining area. The rooftop terrace reached
by narrow stairs has a panoramic view of Shela, the dunes
and the sea. Here you can meditate or gaze at the night
sky of brilliant stars and changing phases of the moon.
All rooms are furnished in the traditional Swahili style
with tasteful wooden furniture. The garden, which contains
a spacious and isolated therapy room is surrounded by
high coral walls and is full of palms, tropical birds,
sweet smelling shrubs and a mature acacia tree giving
deep shade.
Secret gardens and stately Swahili retreats: Off the bustling
waterfront of Shela village, dhows sway gently on the
incoming tide as merchants and fishermen cross back and
forth on the shimmering sand. A few steps away, a few
white steps and a small entranceway, framed by clusters
of frangipani and bouganvillea flowers, opens to cool
shade and green shadows. Entering Kijani House is like
stepping into a secret garden. Two aquamarine pools glow
gently in the shade of giant kunazi trees, small tables
and beach chairs lie in the shade of a profusion of different
species of palm trees, and flowering flamboyant and yellow
oleanders branch out over large terraces that face the
ocean. 'Kijani' means green in Kiswahili, at once invoking
the colour of Islam, the small hotel's verdant gardens,
and new growth.
A small resort consisting of six spacious bandas with
shaded balconies and uninterrupted views over the Indian
Ocean. The knowledge and expertise of the villagers was
used to construct the bandas using local materials such
as mangrove poles, star palm leaves and coconut palms.
The lodge is totally eco-friendly and very comfortable,
strongly committed to conservation, ecologically sound
practices and a symbiotic relationship with the local
community. Each banda has a large double bed romantically
draped with mosquito netting, ensuite bathroom with hot
and cold running water, flushing toilets, dressing area,
and solar lighting for lights and fan. Located on a secluded,
private beach, on the Southern tip of Lamu Island, all
bandas have an open Indian Ocean sea view with views of
sunrise and sunset. Delicious lunches and dinners are
prepared using the freshest local produce. Seafood is
the specialty, red snapper, crab and lobster served with
locally grown vegetables and salads. This property opened
on 1st July 2003, very private, personalized and remote
setting, situated directly on the beach. The owners of
Kizingo, Mary Jo and Louis van Aardt, both born in Kenya,
run Kizingo they giving it a very personal touch. Green
turtles come up to the beach to lay their eggs between
late October and June. When the eggs hatch, Louis will
take guests to watch the newly hatched turtles find their
way to the ocean, protecting them from crabs and birds
on the start of their journey. Other activities include:
Creek fishing (May to October); Swimming with Dolphins,
snorkeling, fishing (November to April) and bike rides
on the mainland; bird and bush walks; visits to Lamu town,
visits to local villages (All year round).
Baytil Ajaib 'House of Wonder', Lamu Town, beautifully
restored 18th Century palatial Swahili House located in
the heart of Lamu town, it took 11 years to renovate the
building in order to remain true to original Swahili style
by studying the architecture and materials used in constructing
traditional stone houses. The result is a stunning house
impeccably restored to its previous splendour, sub-divided
into five unique and private apartments. The mixture of
materials used and the architecture provide the natural
air-conditioning, the house is always cool. Frangipani
flowers float in traditional pools of cool water, scenting
both the water and the air. Secret alcoves, balconies
and terraces provide rooftop views of Lamu town and the
Lamu archipelago. The rooms are all decorated with authentic
Swahili furniture and a mixture of African and Western
art and artifacts. The dining room is on the ground floor,
and for those who can't quite make it to the breakfast
table, it can be served in the apartment. Baytil Ajaib
offers the chance to turn back the hands of time and experience
life as it was at the turn of the century. Bed & Breakfast
or half board available. The whole house is also available
for rental. Alcoholic drinks are not served but guests
are free to bring their own.
Manda Bay, Manda Island, situated on a peninsula on the
Northwestern tip of Manda Island near Lamu, it lies in
calm inshore waters on a long sandy protected beach. The
lodge has 10 spacious bandas with large cedar wood beds
- 5 double and 5 twins (extra beds and baby cots available),
luxurious mosquito nets and ensuite bathrooms. 5 rooms
are set right on the seafront and five are set in-between
and slightly behind the ocean rooms on higher ground.
Andy & Caragh Roberts host guests.
The rooms have makuti roofs, and matting walls and floors
and are set in amongst coconut palms, acacias and tamarind
trees, overlooking the sandy beaches and the bay. The
rooms have been opened up to maximize the views and catch
the breeze. Hot and cold running water is now piped to
all the rooms. The rooms have table fans and individual
safes. 220/240-volt generator power supply. New soft furnishings,
cutlery and crockery give the place a bright new look
and fresh flowers add a colourful touch. The lodge previously
relied on well and rainwater but recently a de-salination
unit has been installed to guarantee fresh water at all
times. Drinking water is provided in the rooms. Manda
Bay has safe swimming, long empty beaches for hassle-free
walking (no beach boys or curio shops) with own security.
Cuisine naturally features a marine flavour - freshly
caught tuna, giant crab or lobster are the order of the
day, but individual needs and flexible mealtimes are designed
to fit in with guests requirements
Kiwayu
Safari Village, Northern Lamu Archipelago, nestled amongst
the mainland dunes, about 30 miles north of Lamu Island,
the oasis of Kiwayu Safari Village overlooks a sheltered
lagoon to the north of Kiwayu Island. Boasting total seclusion,
visited only by fishermen and dhows, accommodation consists
of thatched bandas/cottages which blend into the dunes.
Cuisine centers around fresh catches of fish, excellent
seafood. The theme of Kiwayu Safari Village is informality.
Each banda is a spacious suite consisting of a bedroom,
dressing room, safari-style shower with running water
and lavatory. Each hammock-strung verandah offers total
privacy and panoramic views over the lagoon. The dining
room and bar are also built in the local Bajuni tradition
with palm-thatched roofs and woven matting floors. Each
of the 18 bandas is within easy reach of the water's edge,
the boats and the bar. Beach walks, foot safaris, snorkeling,
dhow trips and picnics, fishing trips, sailing or windsurfing
as well as deep-sea fishing are activities available.
Most excursions except deep-sea fishing are included in
the price of accommodation.
Peponi Hotel, Shela Beach, is probably the most famous
of all Lamu hotels and is the only one situated directly
on Shela Beach. A small, private, family-owned hotel,
it was once a house, which grew into a hotel. The atmosphere
is intimate and low key. The sea-facing bar and snack
restaurant is open to hotel guests and visitors alike,
and is an ideal stopover for cold drinks after a day on
the beach, although there are private verandah's and dining
for hotel guests only. The hotel restaurant is renowned
for excellent fresh seafood and cuisine to cater for all
palates. As in most places in Lamu, service is very friendly.
The hotel has 24 rooms in total and two categories of
accommodation, all rooms have ocean views.
Africa
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