Escape to East Africa’s most enchanting island…
Nestling against the beautiful, unspoilt Indian Ocean coast of northern Kenya, Lamu Island is one of the most beguiling places on earth.
Little changed in centuries, Lamu has long been renowned for the warmth of its welcome to visitors, its rich and colourful maritime trading history and its distinctive Swahili culture – a unique amalgam of African, Arabian, Indian and European influences.
Unique and unpackaged, tranquil and traditional, sleepy yet sophisticated – in a world that is increasingly rushed and regimented, Lamu remains a wonderfully authentic and unhurried retreat.
“Maridhiya House is a very nice place in Lamu’s old town with very helpful staff and a charming setup. Thanks for our stay – it was great. Big thanks to Kahindi and Dixon – they took care of us well. Happy New Year!”
“My favourite house in Shela, filled with gorgeous memories. The best location, the best view, always a lovely breeze. And such lovely people!” 
“We stayed at Full Moon House and it was just perfect. We were two families with kids and we all had a fantastic time relaxing by the pool, going down to the beach, taking boat trips and enjoying the superb seafood prepared by chef Joseph. The whole team of staff were brilliant and made our stay very enjoyable.”
“Wonderful and relaxing – just what the doctor ordered. Five days of perfect seafood, weather and accommodation. Manager Nina provided great customer service and connected us with wonderful excursions (sunset cruise, ancient ruins tour and sea turtle hatching), housekeeper Tom kept us tidy and well-supplied and chef Francis is amazing…. really amazing.”
“The Moon Houses are in one of the best locations in Shela. The decor, the ambience and the views of the ocean are all great. The kitchen staff are very nice and will make an array of sea food dishes tailored just to your liking.” 
“An absolutely beautiful home with lots of stunning terraces and outdoor spaces. Great for a group of friends or a large family to relax in for a few days. The location is perfect, just behind Peponi Hotel which means it’s super easy to enjoy a sunset cocktail at the bar while the wonderful staff at Mnarani House prepare a delicious dinner. The decor is beautiful, the amenities are great and everything, from arriving at Manda airport to organising meals to booking a massage, was easy. I’ll definitely be back soon.”
“We loved staying at Mtende House – it is located within easy walking distance of the beach and restaurants – the narrow winding streets that lead to the house through the small and unique village of Shela made us feel we were really immersed in the community. The house is very clean and welcoming and each of the 3 spacious bedrooms has its own bathroom. Each bed has mosquito netting and the towels are very soft and luxurious. An added bonus was the roof top room which had a loft attached with another bed. We spent much of our time up here enjoying the cool breezes and comfortable relaxing couches. This is where we enjoyed several delicious meals that were prepared just for us by the house chef. I would highly recommend staying here!”
“We booked a last minute break at Kizingoni Beach and it was fabulous. Kieran, the manager was bright, attentive and professional and the chef created delicious food – from small bitings to a full New Years Eve dinner. We went out on a dhow to watch the sun set, ate supper by candlelight on the beach, had massages, visited Lamu Town and took long walks along the beach. It was blissful. The accommodation is well positioned and well cared-for. I would heartily recommend it and cannot wait to go back!”
“Our stay at the charming Moon Houses was extremely memorable. They are the best option in Shela with a fantastic location and service. The food was delicious, inventive and used local ingredients. The property manager also organized a yoga class for us which was highly appreciated.” 
“Nowhere is better for chilling out than palm-fringed Manda Bay- totally laid-back, it is more house party than hotel. Come here for a Robinson-Crusoe encounter – go barefoot all day, walk along bone-white sand beaches, lie by the infinity pool and watch the children try their hand at all sorts of watersports. Forget kids’ clubs – here is an island where your rug rats can run wild and free. Take a trip on the 60-foot dhow, go deep-sea fishing, snorkelling or water-skiing and – most popular – feed bush babies in the bar at night. There’s no aircon and no mod cons, just rough-and-tumble, back-to-basics rustic loveliness. The food is fresh from the sea, simple and delicious – watch your brood tuck into tuna sushi and mangrove crab.”
“Mike’s camp is truly the most amazing, relaxing place on earth. I recently visited this extraordinary place – we were put in gorgeous bandas, ate incredible fresh food and had three miles of beach to ourselves. Mike who runs the camp is utterly charming. We were looked after so well by all the staff. Highly recommended.”
“This is one of the great romantic sea journeys of the world – the tranquillity of life on the dhow will make you shed layers of stress. Spending even one night on board is a magical experience and the chef is a genius, conjuring up extraordinary meals from a tiny alfresco galley on the poop deck.”
“We had the most relaxing time at Kizingoni. The setting is beautiful, with the beach on our doorstep. The staff were friendly and helpful and we felt very safe there. There’s something for everyone – water skiing, dhow trips, fishing, although you can simply do nothing and be happy. I highly recommend it as a really magical place.”
“We are sadly leaving Lamu tomorrow morning. Our stay at Beach Tower has been absolutely fabulous. All my family liked it a lot, the team working for the house was always nice and very helpful and the cook very good. We appreciated all the activities the house offers including pétanque and volley ball. We even played tennis on the tennis court! Thanks again for everything and I wish you all the best for 2019.”
“Our stay at Gaba Gaba over New Year was wonderful and far exceeded our expectations – which were already high! It is a beautiful house and only a few minutes’ walk from the seafront. Tommy and his team were full of energy, cooked incredible food, and could not have been better hosts.”
“Mnarani means ‘near the minaret’ in Swahili and this house stands next to Shela’s historic Friday mosque – 75 metres from the beach. It was renovated in 2014, one of the new additions being a lovely courtyard pool. Expect walls of intricate zidaka niches, decorative plaster friezes and traditional painted hardwood beams. On the ground floor is the kitchen and bar area, while the second and third floors have the four ensuite double bedrooms. Rooms are beautifully decorated and furnished in traditional style, including original antiques and Swahili doors and windows brought from Pate Island.”
“We just returned from Shela and from Full Moon House. We all had a wonderful time and we loved the house. We were well taken care of by the staff – they did a really great job. The chef prepared delicious meals and the housekeeper did everything to make us feel at home. It is definitely a place to keep in mind and to return to.”
