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. ...

This traditional Lamu house has been lovingly restored and embellished with genuine antiques. The house is intended for visitors who really appreciate the traditional ambience, style and culture of Lamu. Baytil Ajaib has 2 en-suite double rooms and 2 suites. The rooms have a long sitting area ...

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 ...

Diamond Beach Village is a collection of bandas on the beach. A short boat trip from Shela, Diamond Beach Village makes a relaxing place to chill out. There are 9 traditional en-suite bandas. Created from palm fronds, the attractive, rustic bandas are furnished with locally crafted ...

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 ...

The lovely Forodhani House rises from the seafront of Shela Village, giving it stunning views in all directions. Built in Swahili style, the house combines traditional architecture with modern facilities. With a courtyard garden, swimming pool, plenty of relaxation space and a team of friendly ...

Honeymoon House sits high on the sand dunes, looking down on Shela Beach. This expansive house has a wealth of facilities, including an L-shaped 30-meter swimming pool traversing its courtyard garden, a media room and three boats. The staff of 12 includes a house manager, chefs, ...

Jambo House, in the centre of Lamu Old Town, offers budget accommodation and has friendly and informative staff. The house is situated in the Old Town, a short walk from the town square and Lamu Fort. It opened in 2008. There are 5 rooms, all with either ...

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 ...

Manda Bay is a small boutique lodge offering informal pampering and barefoot luxury. Located on the northwest tip of Manda Island, one of the many idyllic islands of the Lamu Archipelago, and surrounded by miles of soft yellow sand and acres of bush land behind ...

Mike’s Camp, previously known as Munira Island Camp, is on the beautiful and remote Kiwayu Island. It opened in 1992, and has remained since then in the hands of Mike Kennedy, who still hosts the camp personally. There are 7 en-suite thatched bandas, made up of 6 ...

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 ...

Previously called Tausi Guest House, New Bahati Lodge is a thatched building on the seafront of Lamu Old Town. The lodge is attached to Bush Gardens Restaurant; its reception is in the restaurant and its rooms are entered through the restaurant. There are 5 en-suite double ...

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 ...

A spacious house with great character, Shela House centres on an open courtyard, the well and an ancient gardenia. The courtyard is framed by seating and dining areas. The house is furnished with traditional Lamu furniture and adorned with local artefacts. There are 5 en-suite rooms, ...

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 ...

Formerly the house of the Liwali, or governor of the fort, Subira House is unique in style. The current owners bought the house in 1991, when it was in a state of disrepair, and restored it to its former elegance using traditional materials and methods. The ...

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 ...