Mombasa – South Coast

TIJARA BEACH

Tijara Beach is a luxury hideaway situated a short distance south of Mombasa Island in Pungu – Kenya.

Only four individually situated cottages nestle in colourful gardens on a seaside bluff overlooking the Indian Ocean. Both the room and the luxurious bathroom open up to a large hardwood deck. At the foot of the cliffs on which the resort perches is its own private beach. A magnificent fresh water outdoor pool is situated at the heart of the complex offering a great way to refresh. Should you be inclined to be pampered, the in-house beauty therapist and masseuse is at your disposal. Freshly-caught fish as well as fresh produce form the basis of Tijara’s delicious dining options, but the chef is more then willing to satisfy any special requests. Recreational activities include snorkelling along the reef, bird watching or beach and cave walks. Plus, for keen golfers, Tijara Beach is close to any of the three Mombasa courses. This sea front retreat provides an upmarket service whose intimate and personal side gives everyone the feeling of being at home.

Historical Lamu Town – 2 Nights

Arrive by scheduled flight at Lamu’s Manda Island Airstrip, in the remote archipelago of Lamu, on the Northern Coast of Kenya. You will be met upon arrival by a representative of the hotel. After a short walk from the airstrip to the jetty you will board a boat for a 10 minute ride across the channel to the historic town of Lamu. After checking in at your hotel, you will have some time to relax and get used to your new surroundings.

Baytulkher – “House of Blessings”

is a majestic Swahili mansion built around a central courtyard and plunge pool in the heart of the Old Lamu Town. The house offers a penthouse rooftop suite with 360 degree views over the island and three other double ensuite bedrooms furnishes with hand carved 4-poster beds, so a total of 4 double bedrooms. Other areas include a large sitting room on the first floor, an open terrace on the second floor, the dining room and an open sitting room overlooking the plunge pool are on the ground floor. Services include a resident housekeeper and a cook, who each have rooms on the ground floor. There is also a visiting European qualified masseur available and payable locally. Laundry services are payable at the house. The house is decorated with stone wall and ceiling carvings, stone niches and antiques and art from the African continent. The walls and floors are beautifully polished. Locally carved wooden louvered windows and high mahogany fanned ceilings add a traditional feel to the house. Private sitting areas throughout the house provide cool relaxation. Satellite TV, home cinema, DVD and CD player are available. Baytulkher House of Blessings is in a wonderful central location for those wishing to experience all that Lamu has to offer. It is a short walk to the vibrant sea front, where boats regularly serve Shela, Manda, Pate and other islands.

Lamu House

Situated overlooking the harbour in Lamu Town. These are 2 converted and completely rebuilt Swahili Houses, beautifully adapted for modern use. 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. The house has a newly added swimming pool and a la carte restaurant which provide a wonderful area for guests to relax . Also included for guests are coffees, teas, soft drinks and juices. Panoramic flights, scuba diving and deep sea fishing are available on request. Basic internet service is available from the office. The house has a large dhow with experienced crew which is used for daily excursions, a variety of up to 10 excursions around the archipelago are available. 8-10 people can comfortably spend the day on the dhow and overnight excursions can be arranged on request. The dhow is equipped with: inboard diesel engine, life jackets, shaded areas, safari shower, small kitchen, cutlery, cool boxes, snorkeling equipment, beach towels, first aid kit. Specially designed with sliding table to seat up to 10 people for lunches on board etc.

Enchanting Shela Village – 2 Nights

After 2 nights exploring the old historic town of Lamu, you will check out of your hotel and take a short 15 minute boat ride 3 kilometres from Lamu town to the friendly village of Shela, where you will be met upon arrival and accompanied to your place of stay. The white sandy beaches of Shela stretch for 12 kilometres on the Southern side of Lamu Island. Here you can swim in safe shallow waters and enjoy walks on the famous Shela Beach. The villagers of Shela are friendly and welcome visitors. Indeed, the trade winds of the Indian Ocean have been bringing visitors to the East African Coast for over a thousand years, and in the remote archipelago of Lamu, the local people have a long established tradition of welcoming travelers. Your hotel will transfer you by boat to the airport for your scheduled depature flight.

Banana House, Shela Village,

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, and her Shela-born husband, “Banana”. The house is very spacious, with attractive sitting and lounging areas, hammocks, and day beds in a beautiful tropical garden within its walls. There is a now a swimming pool in the garden to add to the facilities. The atmosphere is homely and welcoming. Rooms and living areas are tastefully furnished and meet a good standard of accommodation. All bedrooms are ensuite, with hot water showers. On the ground floor, there are 3 rooms, two of which are inter-connecting and sharing a bathroom, making these ideal for families with young children if required. The first floor also has 3 double rooms ensuite, open, covered dining area and living area. The top floor boasts a private penthouse with double bedroom, private dining facilities, sun-beds which can also be ideal for star-gazing, as well as a sitting area. The house has sea views from first and top floors and is about 5 minutes walk to the fabulous Shela Beach and Peponi Hotel. Breakfast is provided at Banana House, served outside your room or in dining areas. The house has 2 cooks and a fully equipped kitchen at the disposal of house guests. The cooks will prepare meals of your choice, and will charge only for the ingredients which can make Banana House a very flexible and financially reasonable option for your stay in Shela.

Baytil Amman Guest House:

This wonderful renovated ruin has taken 5 years to complete. Some areas of the ruin remain untouched and intact and add to the character of the building. The hotel is located in the centre of Shela Village overlooking an open garden with a fountain, near the Island Hotel and Kisimani House. The beach is a short walk away through the village. There are a total of 8 rooms in the hotel, 2 suites and 6 ordinary rooms, all with bathroom and solar hot water and fans. All rooms have a double bed and can also be converted into a triple room with an extra single bed. The rooms are large and airy with hand carved wooden doors, window shutters, and furniture. The rooftop terrace gives wonderful views of the sea and the surrounding village, and is often used for special functions, Swahili dinners and other occasions, where guests can enjoy dinner under the stars. The hotel is locally owned. Fresh fruit juices, Swahili dishes and fresh seafood are served here. The restaurant is located on the ground floor in and around the central courtyard of the house. Traditional wall carvings have been beautifully restored to re-create the Swahili feel and décor of the old building. Many walls have been replastered with cool neru in the traditional way, leaving a few areas of the ruin which were still intact at the time of reconstruction.

Kijani House Hotel, Shela Village

On the bustling waterfront of Shela village, the local fishermen moor their dhows in the shallow waters and go about their daily business. A few steps away, some white steps and a small carved wooden doorway, framed by clusters of frangipani and bougainvillea flowers, one enters the cool oasis of Kijani House. 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 flamboyants 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. Swiss owner Pierre Oberson created Kijani House to revive the tradition of stone Swahili houses and create an authentic retreat for visitors looking to experience Lamu’s past. It took Pierre more than ten years to rebuild the hotel from the ruins of three old houses, and he used only traditional methods and materials in the restoration. Kijani’s rooms and gardens are filled with antiques or handmade replicas of the furniture, lanterns, ornaments, and utensils that graced the stately houses of Lamu’s past. Copies of old Portuguese lanterns hang from white archways. An arrangement of ceramic water pots stand – used to carry oil and water aboard ships centuries ago – stand under the shade of a palm tree. Members of the village even borrow Kijani’s ceremonial chair, crafted from hardwood and wickerwork on the nearby island of Siyu, for weddings and special occasions. True to the atmosphere of a Swahili house, Kijani’s rooms and central areas emphasize the aesthetics of privacy and space. Each room has a private veranda shaded from sight by arabesque archways and trees. The 10 rooms are vast and cool, shards of sunlight and ample breeze welcomed through tall shutters. A canopied Swahili bed stands beside antique cupboards and tables coloured with hand-painted Indian tiles and painted glass. In the bathroom, intricately carved mirrors set off the sensuous effect of the walls, ceiling, and floor in warm ochre, its heady oriental effect heightened by shafts of light filtering through shutters from the world outside. Kijani House offers a retreat from the bright bustle of Lamu’s waterfront – a lush oasis of green gardens, pools, and cool rooms in all their Swahili splendour. Kijani restaurant offers an exotic selection of seafood, Swahili dishes and a touch of Italian cuisine. Fruit and vegetables come from the Kijani small farm in the middle of Lamu island.