• Manda & Kiwayu

“You’re guaranteed to have Manda Beach to yourself – except for the fishermen who arrive with baskets of just-caught sailfish, lobster and fat shrimp for your cook to choose from.” New York Times

On the beautiful and low-key desert islands of Manda and Kiwayu, life is even more relaxed and laid back than Lamu. Manda Island is Lamu’s nearest neighbour – its dense, bushy interior quite different to Lamu’s more open landscape. Manda is known for its wonderful bird life and attracts wildlife from the mainland too – its long sandy beach looks across the channel to Shela village and is a lovely place to swim and sunbathe. Kiwayu Island, 30 miles to the north of Lamu is a magical sliver of beach and sand dune – remote, unspoilt and virtually untouched by tourism and the outside world, it is a wonderful place to escape to and relax.

“Kiwayu is almost deserted, except for one small camp – the people, the ambiance and the beach are all perfect and understated.” Vogue

Nyumba Kiru, Manda Beach, Lamu

A luxurious, expansive and imaginatively-designed beach retreat with direct access to the lovely empty sands of Ras Kitau, there’s plenty of space at Nyumba Kiru for larger groups to spread out and socialise around the swimming pool and in numerous living, lounging and dining areas.

East African Retreats

For handpicked holiday houses, boutique lodges, private safari camps and other unique and special places to stay all around the region, both in the bush and at the beach, please see our East African Retreats website

Manda Bay, Manda Island

An idyllic and intimate boutique beach lodge set on the quiet and unspoilt northwestern tip of Manda Island, Manda Bay makes the perfect away-from-it-all retreat and is also known for its excellent ocean fishing and wealth of water sports.

Mike’s Camp, Kiwayu

Get as far away from it all as possible at one of the most unspoilt and authentic places to stay on the East African coast. Mike’s Camp is remote, idyllic, eco-friendly, and set on the beautiful desert island of Kiwayu, home to miles and miles of gorgeous empty beaches.

Kai House, Kiwayu

Perhaps the most remote and laid-back holiday home in the whole of East Africa, charming and rustic Kai House sits in a breezy scenic position high on the dunes of Kiwayu – with Mike’s Camp and the island’s beautiful empty beaches just a few minutes away.