Unique Hotels and Places to Stay in Lamu - Kenya
Shela Beach, Lamu, Kenya
House
Stunningly located at the beginning of Shella Beach, 100 meters from the village and Peponi Terrace.
Forodhani House comes with 5 professional, friendly staff, among them an excellent cook.
It features 5 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms (sleeps 10-12 guests), lots of different terraces, lounging areas to take it easy, a airy and spacy main lounge, a garden and a pool.
Prices: starting from 600 USD
Shela Beach, Lamu, Kenya
Hotel
29 rooms, all with ocean view and unique in decor and lay out. Superior or standard rooms.
Swimming pool, swinging hammocks, gardens and massage treatments. The place to be in Lamu. Incredible food.
Prices: starting from 216 USD
Lamu, Kenya
House
Two apartments and four suites are contained within this special property. Rental options are room by room or whole house.
Traditional Swahili architectural styling – albeit with a modern twist.
Prices: starting from 150 EUR
Shela Beach, Lamu, Kenya
House
Shela’s most prestigious private holiday house
Space, calm and luxury beside the island’s beautiful beach
Spectacular infinity pool, gardens, roof terraces and dune-top gazebo
Excellent chefs & staff plus on-site management.
Accommodates up to 12 guests in 5 ensuite bedrooms
Prices: Non-resident accommodation rates – US$1,800 per night for up to 12 guests
This accommodation provides you with special benefits by booking directly with them.
See details below
Lamu, Kenya
House
Free guide tour of lamu town by their own licensed guide to guests who come recomended by no limit ideas. Don’t forget to mention this advantage in your booking
This is one of the most ancient houses on Historic Lamu Island.
Once the home of the Governor of Lamu, who was then the emissary to the Sultan of Zanzibar at the end of the 18th century, it has now been carefully restored with traditional Swahili design and craftsmanship to bring back the elegance, simplicity, and grandeur of the original mansion.
The house can host a total of 8 guests in 4 rooms.
Numerous verandas and terraces, swimming pool and garden
The house comes with a full staff including: a chef, a steward, a gardener and a general manager.
Prices: From 350€
Shela, Lamu, Kenya
House
The Fort has nine principle ensuite double bedrooms of which seven overlook the courtyard. This outstanding beach property can accommodate 18 guests comfortably or as a private getaway.
It’s also an ideal venue for small corporate events and conferences and for private parties, wedding receptions, special anniversaries and birthdays.
Prices: 1-6 guests: 1190€ per day, 7-12 guests: 2390€ per day, 13-18 guests: 3590€ per day. These rates are on self catering basis and include the airport transfer. The team does the groceries and preparation of meals for the guests at self cost
Lamu, Kenya
Hotel&Apartments
Sea front with ten individually designed rooms, several swimming pools, courtyards, terraces and more. The apartment building is minutes away through the narrow streets of town. There are nine apartments with magnificent views, suited with all the comfort of a modern facilities.
Prices: from 150€
Shela, Lamu, Kenya
House
7-room Bed & Breakfast located in the traditional village of Shella on Lamu island and only a 10 min walk away from the beach
The interior design combines traditional Swahili woodcraft, African style and a touch of modern artistry. From the two roof-top terraces one has amazing views to the dunes, the sea and over the islands of Lamu and Manda.
Prices: From 90€
Lamu, Kenya
Hotel
Baytil Ajaib, the house of wonder, is a beautifully restored 18th Century palatial Swahili House located in the heart of Lamu Town.
The result is a stunning stone 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 artefacts.
Prices: From 110€
Shela, Lamu, Kenya
Collection of houses
A delightful collection of neighbouring and interconnecting houses set close to the seafront in Shela Village. All are historic and charming, furnished with local antiques and built in traditional Swahili style. Each can be rented individually – or together with one or more of the adjoining properties – providing flexible and adaptable accommodation for from 2 up to 22 guests.
Prices: From 250€
Kizingoni Beach, Lamu, Kenya
House
Jahazi House is a luxury beach villa located on tranquil Lamu Island in Kenya.
A paradise with a full-time staff including gourmet chef !
The house accommodates up to 10 guests in 5 rooms (4 double ensuite bedrooms each with private terrace and 1 master suite).
A full-time staff (private chef, housekeeper, butler, gardener …) is included in the house price.
It is self-catering and menus (local food, vegan, seafood, allergy friendly…) are designed with you.
Prices: From 652€
Kipungani, Lamu, Kenya
Bandas – Barefoot Luxury
Nestled in sand dunes where the Lamu channel meets the Indian Ocean, eight uniquely designed bandas. Emerald mangrove forests, life-sustaining coral beds, sand dunes, sparkling equatorial skies…No shoes, no news!
Eco Features&Sustainability: Solar power, water from a well, low visitor footprint, traditional craftsmanship, sustainable menu, zero plastic, resident goats and chickens, no air-con, no TV, eco-cosmetics, paperless systems, composting….
In 2021 Kizingo established its foundation, Juamwezi Pamoja, with a mission to support the people of their local village and wider community.
Prices: From 332€ full board
Kiwayu, Lamu, Kenya
Bandas in a very special camp
A quiet haven nestled in the Lamu Archipelago, a well-kept secret far from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
A simply unforgettable location and atmosphere.
Mike’s Camp is located on Kiwayu Island, one of the many unspoilt islands of the Lamu Archipelago on the Kenyan coast. You’re essentially offered your own private island, with soft, white sand and turquoise waters on one side, a serene creek system on the other, where you’re completely safe and undisturbed. Situated in the Kiuaga Marine National Reserve you’re immersed in an untouched paradise of natural beauty that you’ll never want to leave.
Totally sustainable. Constructed from local materials. No concrete in sight
Prices: From 200 USD
Kizingoni Beach, Lamu, Kenya
Cabanas – Barefoot Luxury
The Cabanas offer cool, comfortable accommodation for families, couples or single travelers – each cabana has its own large netted double bed, bathroom and private terrace: some made entirely of palm thatch, others with elevated coral foundations. Carefully sited to allow for maximum privacy, the cabanas are surrounded by indigenous trees, shrubs and bird song. Sited on a raised sand dune at the center of a long beach, the Cabanas share a fabulous pool and dining area with panoramic views of the channel and the ocean, where the chefs will deliver a delicious daily menu.
100% off grid, built from natural and local materials, supporting local employments, markets and education, they source local
Prices: Standard full-board rate – US$220 per resident adult sharing per night
Manda Island, Lamu, Kenya
Manda Bay is a small privately owned boutique lodge located on the northern tip of Manda Island in the Lamu archipelago on Kenya’s coast. An unspoilt, secluded location where you can switch off from the rest of the world, take your shoes off and enjoy simplistic beauty in palm thatched cottages and open living spaces. This lodge combines the ultimate bush and beach experience with miles of soft white sand on a private beach and Coconut palms mixed with Doum palms, Acacia Tortilis and a variety of wildlife.
Prices: From 260€
Manda Island, Lamu Archipelago, Kenya
Hotel
The Majlis is ideal for beach holidays, corporate events, business meetings, wedding ceremonies, honeymoons and more. The luxury beach hotel offers panoramic views of Lamu Island and the Ras Kitau beach. Located in front of Shela village (Lamu Island) and only 10 minutes from the Lamu airport (Manda airstrip), is a home away from home that is surrounded by lush green trees, exotic Swahili culture and breathtaking views of the Indian ocean.
Designed and built to reflect Lamu’s heritage tradition, The Majlis combines 39 superbly appointed luxury air-conditioned suites built with Western comforts and local tradition.
Prices: starting from 511€
You can find other curated guides to unique hotels and places to stay around the world in the «Places to Stay» section of my website, filtering by country (Only countries with content are visible)
In Lamu archipelago there are incredible accommodations. This is a small hand-picked selection. If you know of any special places that you think should be added to this section, please contact me to consider including it.
Read about Lamu and see photos of the archipelago in this story I wrote in Medium
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**I only recommend places where I would stay myself. Some of the links in the selection in this guide (not all), are affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and book, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I recommend you to see the accommodation that may interest you in detail and then come back to book from the links in this selection. This way you help me to keep this project alive and I can continue curating these amazing selections of locations in different parts around the world.
The photos are selected from the locations’ websites, their socials or from the platforms where they are advertised. If I know the photographer, I always mention it. I take copyright very seriously and I can’t conceive of not giving credit. You can check it on my Instagram account.