According to legend, Baitil Aman was built in the 18th century by Hajj Abdalla as a gift for his bride, the beautiful Binti Luali of the Shela clan. The building collapsed, but so great was Hajj Abdalla’s love for Binti Luali that he rebuilt ...

This attractive retreat is formed from a collection of houses set in bright tropical gardens. It offers daily yoga sessions, treatments and courses. The main house, Banana House, has 3 interconnecting en-suite rooms opening onto the garden, 3 en-suite 1st floor rooms with shared terrace and 1 penthouse. ...

On the beachfront of Manda Island, Beach Tower looks across the channel at the attractive whitewashed houses of Shela Village. Beach Tower is privately owned, built in Swahili style, and adorned with Swahili antiques and modern art. There are 2 en-suite master bedrooms on the first ...

Beyt Salaam, meaning house of peace, is an attractive house which combines traditional Arabian and Swahili styles with modern facilities. The hotel opened in 2010, and overlooks the seafront. There are 4 en-suite double rooms. Ndau room is on the ground floor, Pate and Siyu rooms are ...

Set in lush tropical gardens, Fatuma’s Tower is a tranquil retreat. It is named after Fatuma Abu Bakar, a Swahili noblewoman who lived here attended by 5 female slaves during the 19th century. After her death and the abolition of slavery, the house fell into ...

With a name meaning green in Swahili, Kijani House is a lush retreat on the beachfront of Shela. Framed by clusters of frangipani and bougainvillea, this whitewashed Swahili house recreates the atmosphere of the early days of Lamu. There are 9 en-suite double rooms and 2 suites ...

Set on a secluded 12km beach in the south of Lamu Island, Kizingo styles itself a no shoes, no news resort. Committed to the conservation of the environment, Kizingo has been constructed from local materials. There are 8 well spaced en-suite bandas. Each banda has a ...

In charming Swahili architecture, Lamu House is an elegant fusion of traditional style and modern facilities. The house faces directly onto Lamu seafront, and is made up of 2 restored houses surrounding a central courtyard with swimming pool. There are 10 en-suite rooms, made up of 4 singles ...

Lamu Palace Hotel is a whitewashed building with thatched roof, located directly on the seafront in Lamu Old Town. There are 22 en-suite rooms and 1 suite. The rooms are all furnished with Lamu 4-poster beds. They are on the 1st and 2nd floors; both floors have ...

In a sea of whitewashed buildings, Msafini Hotel’s bright yellow façade stands out. The hotel opened in 2009, and combines traditional style with modern architecture. There are 14 en-suite rooms, made up of doubles, twins and triples. Each room has a private balcony. The hotel ...

With a name that means heaven in Swahili, Peponi Hotel is a beachfront paradise. The hotel opened in 1967 and has remained in the hands of the same family ever since. There are 24 en-suite rooms, made up of 14 standard and 10 superior. Each room is individually designed ...

Directly opposite the jetty, Petleys is a landmark on the Lamu seafront. The tall whitewashed building has attractive rooms, a swimming pool with terrace and a glass-fronted rooftop bar with views across the sea. There are 11 en-suite rooms and a penthouse. The rooms all have ...

On the seafront near a cluster of boats, Stopover Guest House gleams white against the palm trees. The hotel’s rooms have lovely views across the harbour and of the daily life of the fishermen and boat captains. There are 6 en-suite rooms, all with sea ...

The idyllic island of Kiwayu is the only place visitors can stay in the Kiunga Marine National Reserve. Stretching along the northernmost part of Kenya’s coastline, Kiunga Marine National Reserve has sparkling seas filled with extraordinary sea creatures whose vivid colours gleam in crystal ...

The Kasbah Clubhouse has traditional Swahili architecture with a modern twist. The white house is reflected in its central swimming pool, and has open air lounges on either side. The 2 apartments and 4 suites are spacious, and elegantly designed, with white walls, open ceiling beams and ...

It’s said that the name of this collection of elegant houses was bestowed on them by fishermen on seeing them glowing with moonlight one night. The houses can be taken together or separately; all have Lamu carved doors, hand crafted Lamu furniture, Zanzibar chests, ...

This imposing and lovely house is in Shela Village on Lamu Island. The house has white walls, traditional niches, spacious balconies, and a rooftop terrace. The house is one step back from the seafront. The 5 en-suite bedrooms have built in double beds, lights set into ...