KIWAYU SAFARI VILLAGE- LAMU HOTELS

 

For centuries the bay of Kiwayu has been a calling point for dhows trading in ivory, carpets and carved chests traveling between Arabia, Mombasa and Zanzibar filling their "debes" with sweet water from Kiwayu's wells. Kiwayu lies on Kenya's East Coast on the Indian Ocean and forms part of the northern Lamu archipelago. Nestling amid the mainland dunes, the oasis of Kiwayu Safari Village lies to the north of a sheltered lagoon off the island of Kiwayu.

 

There are few places in our world, which can boast such total seclusion, visited only by fishermen, the dhow that still comes to collect sweet water and the occasional sports fisherman in search of the magnificent marlin or sail fish.

Kiwayu is surrounded by a Marine Reserve, protected by the Kenya Wildlife Services; to the north and west lies the Dodori and Boni Game Reserves. These wild areas are vital to the protection of the fauna and flora of eastern Kenya.

 

The animals that inhabit these reserves are often migratory such as elephant and buffalo. The permanent residents are lion, cheetah, serval, caracal, lesser kudu and that rare hunting dog. The sea is home to many types of coral fish, dugongs, whale shark, basking whale, tuna, marlin, sailfish, Wahoo, kingfish and many other

Sports fish and edible species.

"Harpers & Queen" recently included Kiwayu Safari Village, amongst the 100 Best Hotels In The World.

Kiwayu Safari Village Located On Kiwayu Island, Lamu Archipelago, as an Indian
Ocean Island Beach Accommodation in Kenya

The only sound you will hear is the sound of the sea and the wind in the palms.
A maximum of 36 guests can stay in 18 spacious and beautifully decorated local-style cottages (bandas) spread out along the shoreline.
Your home is a Banda built in the local Bajuni tradition with palm thatched roof and carpeted floor.

The Banda is a suite consisting of a bedroom, dressing room, and shower with running water and lavatory.
Each hammock-strung veranda offers privacy and panoramic views of the bay. And each one is within a few meters of the water's edge, clustered around the restaurant, the bar and the boats.
Every room is furnished with a Super king-size bed surrounded by a turquoise mosquito net.
It is simple, spacious and well furnished with different sitting areas and tables - with many options for that all-important siesta.

The bandas are designed to blend into the dunes - no concrete, no nails, nothing to jar the senses.

On Kiwayu Island, approximately three kilometers from the existing Safari Village, the hotel has developed "The Baobabs of Kitangani". Nestling between the enormous ageless baobabs, almost invisible from the beach, Kiwayu have created a dream for a couple expecting the perfect setting and total privacy, in the most aesthetically pleasing blend of architecture, comfort and scenery imaginable. A living room perched graciously under a baobab, leading a few steps away to a dazzling bedroom with ensuite facilities, is all that exists on the small hillside. A few more comfortable steps downwards lead to a pavilion on the edge of the water, perfect for daytime lounging, refreshments and shade.
Staff and boatmen are at your service and meals are served on three different locations: bedroom/planetarium, beach house, dining platform. The staffs are invisible and two beaches are exclusively yours. Kiwayu call this spot "A place enough for just two."

Dining Experience At Kiwayu Safari Village Located On Kiwayu Island, Lamu Archipelago

 

Kiwayu Safari Village meals are best described as Mediterranean International Cuisine.

From the sea: charcoal-grilled lobster with tarragon sauce, giant mangrove crabs, crab kalaloo, or crab with fresh basil from Kiwayu's fragrant garden, red snapper, rock cod, tuna, sushimi with wasabi at the bar, sweet rock oysters and other shell delicacies.

Italian touch: pasta in infinite varieties, home made taleteller and lasagna, risotto, tonno tonnato - all simple but superbly prepared. Fresh fruit salads filled with mango, papaya and passion fruit flavored with fresh orange, limejuice, and homemade fruit sorbet.
The dining room and bar are also built in the local Bajuni tradition with palm-thatched roofs and woven matting floors, all open-sided to the beach.

 

Indian Ocean Beach Vacation Experience and Activities At Kiwayu Safari Village Located On Kiwayu Island, Lamu Archipelago

The white coral beach stretches for miles on each side of the camp, and the swimming in the crystal clear water is at all times a delight, offering good snorkeling. Wind surfing equipment is available, with expert instructors for beginners.

Laser sailing in the bay is exciting and water-skiing, in the calm sea protected by Kiwayu Island, is available on request.
Kiwayu Safari Village's boating staff are young men from the vicinity who take African Spice Guests out in fiber glass canoes with out-board engines, to trawl for fish in nearby creeks, and to explore the mangrove forest and surrounding environment; Kiwayu can arrange unforgettable picnics where lobsters and crabs are the norm.
It is possible to go sailing in the camp's Jahazi or dhow, to roam the Kiwayu archipelago of islands and sample some of the undisturbed Bajuni culture in this very sparsely populated area.

Bird watching is particularly rewarding, not only for the great variety of seabirds to be seen, but also for the dry thorn country varieties seen in such abundance within few yards of the beach. So is the wild game, like lesser kudos, buffalo and other species, which can be seen in the reserves.

Deep-sea fishing off Kiwayu is world famous; in Kiwayu's 28 feet fully equipped Bertram sport fisherman "Elusive", knows the local waters intimately after fishing here for many years. Record size sailfish, marlin and tuna are just a few of the trophies to be captured.