Kizingoni Beach is a collection of seven beautifully designed, privately owned, secluded beachfront houses on Lamu Island, part of the Lamu archipelago off the north coast of Kenya. Kizingoni Beach offers a perfect venue for both active and relaxed beach holidays: tropical weather, warm safe seas, friendly people and luxurious accommodation. Kizingoni Beach stretches across 24 acres of golden beachfront, close to the southernmost tip of Lamu Island. One of the last such remaining beaches in the world, it offers seclusion, cooling winds, fresh water and clean seas, with access to Lamu and Shela are a twenty-minute boat ride away. Ecologically friendly, the houses use solar and wind power and grow their own vegetables, fruit and salad items. Fish is sourced for the local village of Kipanguni.
There are seven houses and a selection of small chalets (Bandas). Each house sleeps at least eight guests and is fully catered. All the houses have been positioned to take full advantage of the west facing view for spectacular sunsets and sea views; characterized by exquisite taste of décor, excellence of cuisine and choice of activities, they make the perfect retreat for total privacy and relaxation for families of groups of friends.
Getting there
There are three daily scheduled flights between Nairobi and Lamu. The flight takes between 1hr 40mins and 2 hrs. Transfer by private speedboat. (20 minutes).
Lamu
The Lamu archipelago is a cluster of hot low-lying desert islands, which runs for some 60 km parallel to the coastline of northern Kenya. The last survivor of a one thousand year-old civilization, Lamu was founded by the Arabs in the seventh century and traded for centuries thereafter in ivory, rhino horn and slaves. Today it offers a unique showcase for the traditional Swahili culture, a bustling historic town and some of the most pristine beaches in Africa. The most famous in the archipelago, measuring about 16 km by 7km, Lamu resembles a smaller version of Zanzibar. Here, however, transport is by foot, donkey or dhow – there are no cars on the island. A magnificent Swahili settlement and a World Heritage Site, Lamu Town is a maze of winding streets and intricately carved doorways, which lies to the northeast of the island. The fishing village of Shela lies to the south (with a 12 km beach), while Kipungani is the local centre for dhow-building and palm-mat weaving. Transfers to Kizingoni Beach take around 20 minutes by boat from Manda Island Airport.
Accommodation
Kaskazi House (sleeps 11)
Sumptuous Kaskazi House centers on a 16m-infinity pool and offers four ensuite double bedrooms and a one triple, a games room, TV room, two dining areas, and two reception areas.
Pepo House - Kizingoni Beach (sleeps 8)
Built around its own pool and set in spacious grounds, Pepo House offers three ensuite double bedrooms and a twin, an outside dining area, 12m pool, and two reception rooms.
Kuni Jogoo House (sleeps 10)
Kuni Jogoo house stands on a small sand dune, allowing a 180 panoramic view over the beach and channel. Built in a U shape around the pool and gardens, the house offers three ensuite double bedrooms and two twins, two dining areas, three reception areas and a central pool.
Wazi Dubu House, (sleeps 10, plus 2 children)
Ideal for family, this house is built around a central 14m pool and offers four ensuite double bedrooms and a twin, plus a twin children’s room, a children’s play area, three dining areas and three reception areas.
Kusini House (sleeps 8)
Extensive Kusini House offers three ensuite double bedrooms and one twin, two dining areas and two reception areas plus its own 15m swimming pool.
Jahazi House (sleeps 10)
Standing on the edge of the Indian Ocean, Jahazi House is designed around an inner courtyard with central swimming pool. There are four ensuite double bedrooms and a twin, three dining areas and three reception areas
Kizingoni House (sleeps 8)
Kizingoni House (sleeps 8) has a private pool, three dining areas, three reception areas, and four double bedrooms ensuite.
All the houses are fully staffed and offered fully catered; all have dedicated massage areas and access to the services of qualified health and beauty staff.
Activities include: Excursions, water sports, boat safaris, dhow safaris, sailing, fishing (creek and deep sea), swimming, waterskiing, windsurfing, wake boarding, doughnutting, walking, wildlife safaris on the mainland, camel safaris, donkey safaris, snorkeling, turtle watching, dolphin watching.
The Kizingoni Beach Bandas
Kizingoni Beach also offers a selection of ultra-romantic, couples-only beach bandas (simple chalets), designed to offer cool, comfortable and luxuriously presented accommodation for honeymooners, couples or single travelers. Each banda has a spacious bedroom with king-size bed, an ensuite bathroom and outdoor terrace. Built amongst the sand dunes overlooking a deserted stretch of beach, the three bandas share a raised pool deck and infinity pool with al fresco dining area. The bandas also have their own chef and are offered on a fully catered basis. Meals can be taken on the pool deck, on the private deck of each banda or in a dedicated beach dining area, which is lamp-lit by night. The bandas have access to a speed boat and captain and have full use of all the Kizingoni Beach water sports, safari and massage services.
Child-friendly
The houses are exceptionally child-friendly and baby-sitting is available.
Parties, weddings and honeymoons
The houses make the ideal party and wedding venue and have been the scene of some stunning themed events. Wedding receptions can be staged on the beach at night, around the pool, on the private dhows or in the sand dunes. Kizingoni Beach has considerable experience in hosting such events.
MICE (meetings, conferences and events)
Kizingoni Beach offers the prefect corporate venue and can be adapted to provide meeting and conference rooms, themed dinners, incentives, team building activities and more.
What to see and do
The houses have their own speedboats and two fully crewed dhows plus a watersports center. Each house has its own massage facilities and access to trained health and beauty staff. Sundowners can be arranged in the sand dunes (with optional transport by donkey and Samburu dance displays). Trips can be arranged to Lamu town, Shela, the rest of the archipelago, the nature reserves of the mainland, the stunning coral islands of Manda and the dolphin watching areas around the offshore coral islands. Kizingoni Beach is also famous for its turtles, which swim in the clear waters and nest on the beach.
Activities include: Excursions to historical sites and to the mainland for a mini-safari, water sports, boat safaris, dhow safaris, sailing, fishing (creek and deep sea), swimming, waterskiing, windsurfing, wake boarding, doughnutting, sailing, walking, camel safaris, donkey safaris, snorkeling, turtle watching, dolphin watching.