Kenya Beach Holidays
Kenya & East Africa have some of the best beaches in the world. Miles of sun-kissed, tropical beaches and blue skies, in addition to great hotels, makes the coast the perfect compliment to a wildlife safari.

The beaches are reef- protected and therefore safe for swimming. We have a wide selection of Kenya beach holidays, ranging from 5 star hotels to private beach villas and cottages.

Beach locations include Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu and south coast.

Lamu
Lamu is a small, historic coastal town, with narrow winding streets, old mosques, colourful markets and uses donkeys and dhows for transport rather than vehicles.

The slow pace of life here, magnificent beaches and the rich culture make this an exotic place to visit where time seems to stand still. The perfect place for honeymooners and couples.

Kijani House Hotel, Shela Village
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 bougainvillea 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 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 House’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 centures 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 vaste and cool, shards of sunlight and ample breeze welcomed through tall shutters. A canopied Swahiil 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 sensous 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 House restaurant offer an exotic selection of seafood, Swahily dishes and a touch of Italian cuisine. Fruit and vegetable are coming from the Kijani small farm in the middle of Lamu island.

Available from the cellar, a good selection of Italian, South African and Chilean wine’s.
Kijani is closed for of season during May and June.

 

Peponi Hotel, Shela Beach

Peponi Hotel 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.

Superior Rooms: are differentiated by their location, size, private outside area, artwork and Swahili furnishings. No two rooms are the same. Many have swing beds on the verandahs with big soft cushions. Five of the rooms are built right on the beach, with private verandahs overlooking the sea while the rest have a combination of ocean and garden views, private rooftops, a small garden and two adjoining rooms share a spacious verandah. Kikoi toweling robes are provided in these rooms. The Superior room numbers are 17-25.

All rooms have: Overhead fans, mosquito nets, showers (not baths), fresh flowers and personal safes. Peponi toiletries with pumice stones, beach and bath towels, colourful kikois to wear either to the beach or as evening wear for men, a flask of chilled drinking water, writing paper, laundry service (aim is 24hours), the option of room service breakfast. Hairdryers, cots, extra beds and baby baths are available on request.

Standard Rooms: 5 twins and 3 doubles are located in the palm garden, which is a large, private garden area with sunbeds and two hammocks, overlooking the sea. These are room numbers 5-12 which have been built in small units of two rooms per unit.

The hotel has a newly built swimming pool overlooking the sea and a very well-stocked gift shop with souvenirs and gift items from all over Kenya. The hotel dhow departs daily to Lamu town for those wishing to visit the historic town, its museum and shops for a couple of hours before returning to Shela by lunch time.